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Indonesian Tomato Salad

Serves 4 to 6 Salad vegetarian, Salads

Indonesian Tomato Salad

Indonesian Tomato Salad is a staple on home tables across the archipelago, capturing the essence of everyday Indonesian cooking. It's prepared with intuitive measures and a generous hand, embodying the informal yet thoughtful approach of family meals. This is not the version found in restaurants, but the one lovingly prepared by home cooks who know the balance of flavors by heart, without the need for rigid recipes.

The salad offers a vibrant interplay of fresh tomatoes and crisp cucumber, enlivened by the brightness of lemon juice. Olive oil adds richness, while a sprinkle of fine sea salt and fresh herbs tie everything together. It's a dish meant for sharing, enjoyed as a refreshing accompaniment to the main meal, embodying the simplicity and warmth of Indonesian home cooking.

Ingredients

  • 3tomatoes
  • 1cucumber
  • 80 mlolive oil
  • lemonjuiced
  • herbs — chopped
  • to tastefine sea salt

Method

  1. Begin by washing 3 tomatoes and 1 cucumber thoroughly under running water. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel to remove excess moisture. This ensures the vegetables remain crisp and fresh when combined.
  2. Slice the tomatoes into thin wedges and the cucumber into thin rounds. Aim for uniform thickness to ensure even flavor distribution and a pleasant texture in every bite. Place the sliced vegetables into a large mixing bowl.
  3. In a small bowl, combine 80 ml of olive oil with the juice of one lemon. Whisk them together until the mixture is well emulsified. This will be the dressing that adds richness and a bright, tangy flavor to the salad.
  4. Pour the dressing over the sliced tomatoes and cucumber in the mixing bowl. Sprinkle fine sea salt to taste, keeping in mind that the salt will enhance the natural flavors of the vegetables.
  5. Gently toss the salad using two large spoons or your hands, being careful not to break the tomato wedges or cucumber slices. The goal is to coat each piece evenly with the dressing while maintaining their shape.
  6. Finely chop a handful of fresh herbs of your choice, such as cilantro or basil, and sprinkle them over the salad. The herbs will add a fresh, aromatic element that complements the acidity of the lemon and the richness of the olive oil.
  7. Transfer the salad to a serving platter, ensuring an even distribution of tomatoes and cucumbers. Serve immediately with crusty bread on the side, allowing diners to scoop up the salad and enjoy the vibrant, refreshing flavors.
Cover of Authentic Indonesian Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Indonesian Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Indonesian Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Indonesian volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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