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Heirloom Tomato Salad with Vegan Crème Fraîche

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This salad not only delights the taste buds but also captivates the eyes with its burst of vibrant hues and the invigorating freshness of heirloom tomatoes. This crème, ingeniously made from rich cashews and zesty lime juice, provides a velvety contrast that enriches the salad. What isn't to love of a in season, gluten free, oil free and dairy free salad that looks and tastes this delicious!

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An Easy Recipe for Heirloom Tomato Salad

As the warmer days start to become more frequent there is a desire for simplicity in my kitchen. During the days when the kitchen becomes too hot or you’re just not in the mood to be at the stove a salad like this one is what I crave the most! This Heirloom Tomato Salad with Vegan Crème Fraîche is a perfect blend of simplicity and elegance for those spring and summer days. This salad involves minimal cooking and preparation, prioritizing ease without compromising on taste. Each ingredient, chosen for its freshness and flavor, combines to create a dish that’s both invigorating and delightful.

Here in the Jackfruitful Kitchen it’s all about the abundance and versatility of plant-based ingredients. The vibrant heirloom tomatoes provide a juicy, flavorful base, beautifully complemented by the creamy, tangy homemade Vegan Crème Fraîche. This dairy-free cheese is straightforward, blending raw cashews and lime juice into a creamy concoction that adds a luxurious touch to the salad.

What You Need to Make Heirloom Tomato Salad with Vegan Crème Fraîche

Vegan Crème Fraîche Ingredients

Raw Cashews: The raw soaked cashews are the base of the vegan crème fraîche. They provide a rich, creamy texture that mimics traditional crème fraîche. Cashews are chosen for their neutral flavor and ability to become smooth when blended, offering a perfect dairy-free alternative.
Water: Adjusts the consistency of the crème fraîche, helping to blend the cashews into a smooth, creamy sauce.
Lime Juice: Adds a bright, tangy flavor to the crème fraîche.
Salt: Balances the overall taste of the cheese and brings out some of the natural sweetness of the cashews.

Salad Ingredients

Heirloom Tomatoes: The heart of the salad! This delicious variety of tomatoes are celebrated for their diverse flavors, colors, and textures. Each variety brings its own unique taste to the dish, creating a visually stunning and tasty experience!
English Cucumber: Adds a crisp, fresh contrast to the soft, juicy tomatoes. Since cucumber has a mild flavor it does not overpower in this dish, rather just compliments and provides a nice crunch.
Kalamata Olives: Introduce the perfect amount of salt and depth to the salad.
Capers: Taking this salad to another level with capers is totally optional but absolutely delicious! They offer a burst of tangy, salty flavor to the salad.
Pine Nuts: Bring a subtle nuttiness and crunch, adding another layer of texture and a rich, buttery flavor that pairs well with the fresh ingredients.
Dill: Its aromatic, slightly anise-like flavor brightens the salad, adding a fresh herbaceous note that ties all the components together harmoniously.
Quick Pickled Onions: These beauties aren’t just for a pop of color, they also add a burst of bright flavor adding the perfect touch of sweet, savory, and tart. Check out my easy Quick Pickled Onions recipe HERE – no boiling or sugar required!

Lemon Herb Dressing Ingredients

Lemon Juice: Acts as the acidic base of the dressing, offering a fresh, citrusy brightness that enhances the salad’s flavors.
Red Wine Vinegar: provides a complex depth, balancing the dressing’s sweetness and adding a tangy zest.
Roasted Tahini: Provides a creamy texture and a nutty, slightly bitter flavor to the dressing.
Water: Adjust the dressing’s consistency, ensuring it drizzles beautifully over the salad without overwhelming the other ingredients.
Maple Syrup: a touch of subtle sweetness, counteracting the acidity of the lemon juice and vinegar.
Garlic Powder: Introduces a mild, savory depth to the dressing. I like to use powder when it comes to dressings as there is less harshness in the flavor versus raw garlic.
Dried Basil: the dried Basil adds to the herby elements of this salad.

What is Creme Fraiche?

Crème fraîche traditionally crafted from high-fat cream and a touch of bacterial culture to give it that signature nutty flavor and velvety texture. As you know by now; my recipes are dairy free which leads me to get creative when I want to make traditional flavors – this cheese is no exception! It starts by adding raw cashews with fresh lime juice and blending. This concoction, when blended with a bit of water and a pinch of salt, becomes a smooth cream. You can use it in many ways and in this heirloom salad, it is the ideal balance for the tomatoes.

What is Special About Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes, with their odd shapes, vibrant colors, and diverse flavors, stand out in the world of produce because they are so unique. They are often liked for their richer, more complex flavor profile. From the deep, earthy tones of a Black Krim to the sweet, almost fruity notes of a Brandywine, heirloom tomatoes provide a palette of flavors that commercial tomatoes simply cannot match.

How to Make Heirloom Tomato Salad

Start making your tomato salad recipe by soaking your cashews overnight (if possible) or boiling them for quick softening. This step is necessary for achieving the smooth, creamy texture of the vegan crème fraîche. When the time comes to prepare the salad you’ll want to slice and cube the heirloom tomatoes and cucumber, halve the kalamata olives, and finely chop the fresh dill, setting them aside to be assembled later.

When cashews are softened (whatever process you choose to use) , place them in a high-speed blender with water, lime juice, and a pinch of salt, and blend until you achieve a smooth, creamy consistency akin to traditional crème fraîche. This dairy-free version not only adds a luxurious texture to the salad but also introduces a refreshing tanginess that complements the natural sweetness of the tomatoes.

To assemble the salad, spread a generous layer of the vegan crème fraîche at the bottom of each serving dish. Then arrange the heirloom tomatoes, cucumber slices, olives, and capers over it. Sprinkle toasted pine nuts and fresh dill for an extra layer of flavor and texture. Finally, drizzle the lemon herb dressing over the top, allowing the dressing to meld harmoniously with the other ingredients, enhancing their flavors without overpowering them. If you’re in the mood a little drizzle of extra virgin olive oil could also really compliment this dish.

Tips for the Perfect Heirloom Tomato Salad

Choose a Variety: The beauty of this salad lies in the diversity of the tomatoes. Select a mix of colors and sizes for a visually appealing dish.
Quality Ingredients: With such a simple recipe, the quality of each ingredient shines through. Opt for the freshest produce to maximize the taste and essence of each ingredient.
Seasoning: Heirloom tomatoes have a range of flavors, so season your salad gently to enhance rather than overpower their natural tastes.

Other Recipes Featuring Tomatoes

Heirloom Tomato Galette

Vegan Roasted Tomato Soup

Grilled Peach with Avocado and Heirloom Tomato Salad

Jackie Akerberg

Author of the Clean Vegan Cookbook, Food Blogger and Recipe Developer from Des Moines, Iowa.

Jackfruitful Kitchen has proudly been featured in Forks Over Knives, Vegan Bowls, Vegan Food and Living, and DSM Magazine.

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Jackie Akerberg

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Vegan Creme Fraiche

5 from 1 vote

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Indulge in the vibrant flavors of a refreshing heirloom tomato salad accompanied by velvety vegan crème fraîche. This delightful dish celebrates the natural beauty and diversity of heirloom tomatoes, showcasing their rich colors and robust flavors. Sliced heirlooms, ranging from deep crimson to golden yellow, are delicately arranged atop a layer of creamy vegan crème fraîche, crafted from cashews and tangy lime juice, which adds a luscious contrast, elevating the salad to a symphony of tastes and textures that embodies both elegance and sustainability.

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 10

Total Time 40

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish

Calories: 305

Equipment

stove

Ingredients

Vegan Creme Fraîche Ingredients

1 cup raw cashews
½ cup water
2 large limes, juiced
½ tsp salt

Salad Ingredients

3 medium heirloom tomatoes, cubed
½ English cucumber, sliced
¼ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
2 tbsp capers
1 tbsp toasted pine nuts
2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
¼ cup quick pickled onions

Lemon Herb Dressing Ingredients

½ lemon, juiced
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tbsp roasted tahini
2 tbsp water
2 tsp maple syrup
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp dried basil
salt and pepper, to taste

Method

Soak cashews over night, or add to a pot of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes. Drain and cool.
While cashews are boiling, prepare all the ingredients for the salad. Set aside. Add ingredients for dressing to a jar and whisk to combine. Season to taste.
Add the cashews, water, lime juice and salt to a high speed blender, like a vitamix, and purée until smooth and creamy.
To serve, spread a layer of creme fraîche in 4 shallow serving bowls or plates and top with tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, capers, pine nuts, dill and pickled onions. Drizzle with dressing and enjoy.

Nutrition

Serving 1servingCalories 305kcalCarbohydrates 26gProtein 9gFat 22gSaturated Fat 3gPolyunsaturated Fat 5gMonounsaturated Fat 11gSodium 550mgPotassium 629mgFiber 5gSugar 9gVitamin A 889IUVitamin C 32mgCalcium 70mgIron 4mg

*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.

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2 Responses

Jen W. says:

March 15, 2024 at 10:17 pm

This recipe is absolutely delicious!!! I’m obsessed with the Crème Fraiche and I want to use it on tacos too. I didn’t have any heirloom tomatoes, so I used cherry tomatoes, I also threw in some bell peppers. Everyone loved it and I will definitely be making it again. Salty, tangy and crunchy….. the perfect salad!

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1. jackfruitfulkitchen says:
  
  March 18, 2024 at 7:43 pm
  
  Hey Jen, Love that you were able to improvise for this recipe with what you had on hand! I can only imagine the Crème Fraiche would be the perfect addition to a taco!
  
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