This is it. This is the perfect summer salad. Refreshing, juicy, sweet, and a little salty, the combination of heirloom tomatoes and watermelon will make your mouth sing.
Don't you just love it when you can layer simple fresh ingredients together and the outcome looks elaborate and fancy? I do.
To make the salad, alternate rounds of watermelon (you can use a biscuit cutter) with slices of ripe heirloom tomatoes and top the stack with basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper and little fleur de sel adds contrast to the sweetness of the melon and tomatoes. Serve it with a medallion of goat cheese on the side (or in the stack, if you like, though it isn't as pretty that way).
love the look of this salad!
Posted by: mimi | August 24, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Lovely presentation! Oh, I doubt it could be not as pretty with the cheese in :) The striped green tomato slice really adds interest.
Posted by: Manggy | August 24, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I never thought of this combination-I have to try it as soon as possible. Like tomorrow morning. Thanks Ann for this!
Posted by: ilva | August 24, 2008 at 11:39 AM
What a pretty stack of such beuatiful, rustic colours. I'm 'much' intrigued by these heirloom tomatoes & tomatillos! They add new dimension to this beautiful tower Ann.Can only dream about how satisfying & fresh this must have been!
Posted by: Deeba | August 24, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Wow. Beautiful photos, beautiful concept... yum! I'm actually salivating, which is saying a lot seeing as I'm in Italy. But your food will always be my favorite! Mehh wish I was there to taste it.
Posted by: Sophie | August 24, 2008 at 02:47 PM
You are so right -- that's a perfect salad! I love the contrast of the yellow tomatoes, too.
Posted by: Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) | August 24, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Gorgeous presentation and photos. And the salad looks tasty too! I bet the contrast of white goat cheese would be lovely too.
Posted by: Julia | August 24, 2008 at 04:00 PM
That is indeed the full blown picture of summer! Looks great and I bet it tasted even more delicious!!
Posted by: Tartelette | August 24, 2008 at 05:02 PM
beautiful... i don't need lobster or caviar... give me some nice ripe tomatoes and I am in heaven. well done!
Posted by: Aran | August 25, 2008 at 06:32 AM
I should make this for myself for dinner some night this week, before the BF comes back from his travels abroad, since it would be lost on him. He doesn't like watermelon. Who doesn't like watermelon?! I think I'd go with crumbled feta for my cheese. Yum and so pretty!
Posted by: ann | August 25, 2008 at 08:38 AM
what a great dish! very aesthetically pleasing and tasty to boot. heirloom tomatoes have officially become my favorite summer product. :)
Posted by: grace | August 25, 2008 at 08:57 AM
oooo! looks so good--i saw one like this once with little mozzerella balls stacked in between like some colorful organic space pod--yours looks delicious!
Posted by: Bonbon Oiseau | August 25, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Beautiful!
Posted by: [eatingclub] vancouver || js | August 25, 2008 at 11:35 PM
The tomato stacks look fabulous. Tomatoes are just now coming into season in Wisconsin, thanks to our cold summer. I haven't had a local tomato yet this year! Soon...
Posted by: yulinka | August 26, 2008 at 12:01 AM
That is just simply beautiful. What a tower of yumminess!
Posted by: noble pig | August 26, 2008 at 01:32 AM
Now that has my mouth watering!
Posted by: Deborah | August 27, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Those are gorgeous! And what's better is that they're so simple too.
Posted by: brilynn | August 27, 2008 at 12:50 PM
this is so cool, I just can stop looking at them! so artistic lovely!
Posted by: Big Boys Oven | August 28, 2008 at 08:01 AM
I never would have thought to combine watermelon and tomatoes, but now that you mention it, it sounds fantastic. :)
Posted by: adele | August 28, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Reminds me of a certain salad we enjoyed...together!! But yours looks even better!!
Posted by: Cakespy | August 28, 2008 at 09:34 PM
That is really gorgeous. My aunt & I always love to eat watermelon and have contests: who could spit the seeds farthest, who could eat a whole one etc. We always salted it.
I just finished a watermelon, now I need another one and tomatoes.
Posted by: MyKitchenInHalfCups | August 29, 2008 at 03:48 AM
Texturally, I think that would be a fascinating salad to eat. And it's certainly beautiful to look at.
Posted by: Sally Parrott Ashbrook | August 29, 2008 at 11:30 AM
How pretty is that on a plate in front of you:D
Posted by: Bellini Valli | August 29, 2008 at 02:37 PM
The display, I must admit, is very impresive. I am not so sure on the combo though-it sounds...not appealing.
I'll have to try it and see. :)
Have a wonderful weekend!
Posted by: Ivy | August 29, 2008 at 04:13 PM
I'm not sure how it tastes, but it certainly looks amazing and very tempting!
Posted by: Pasticcera | August 30, 2008 at 10:38 AM