Now that the heat of summer has reached its peak, salads are by far the best choice for a light, breezy meal or refreshing side dish. Raw veggies full of vitamins and water provide hydration and restore lost energy. 

As you know, I am a huge fan of experimenting with ingredients and spices (read about how I got into cooking here) therefore my salads are never a boring, seen-before kind of dish. I come up with various dressings, mix and match foods from similar and unlike food groups, but my number one rule is – color, color and lots of color. Yup, my salads have to be vibrant in color! And it’s not only because I am a visual person, an artist and I like my salad to look beautifully arranged, but because the healthiest vegetables are the ones strongest in color.

I make this Heirloom Tomato Salad quite often, as it is ready in an instant! The pairing of fresh basil and ripe, beefsteak tomatoes is a summery taste that will keep you going all year long, trust me. Give your body and taste buds a treat with a salad which is so deliciously good, I just had to share it!