Belmonte tomatoes and Tropea onions

What could be better in summer than a salad of tomatoes and onions? If we are lucky enough to be able to use Belmonte tomatoes and Tropea onions, a simple salad becomes a dish with a unique flavour and intense aromas. It is one of the typical recipes to prepare for lunch or dinner when you get home at the last minute, with very few ingredients and flavours that will please everyone, young and old alike.

The Belmonte tomato, included by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in the list of typical foodstuffs of the gastronomic tradition of Calabria, pink with a more pronounced colouring in the lower part of the fruit and greener ribs, takes its name from the seaside town in the province of Cosenza where production is concentrated.

Since 2003, the Belmonte tomato has been the only Italian tomato to bear the DeCO (Municipal Designation of Origin) mark. The crunchy, sweet-tasting red onion from Tropea is combined with this tomato cultivar to create unique flavours, accentuated by the scent of fresh basil or oregano. Let's discover the recipe step by step.

Belmonte tomatoes and Tropea onions. Ingredients for 4 people

  • 4 Belmonte tomatoes
  • 1 Tropea red onion
  • Fresh basil or oregano to taste
  • Chilli pepper (optional) to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt to taste

Belmonte tomatoes and Tropea onions, how to make the perfect salad

Wash and dry the Belmonte tomatoes, then cut them into not too large pieces and place them in a salad bowl. Peel the Tropea red onion, slice it and add it to the tomatoes.

Dress our salad with extra virgin olive oil, a few leaves of fresh basil (alternatively oregano is fine) and salt to taste. For those who like it, adding a few pieces of fresh chilli pepper is extra touch.

Gently toss the salad and allow it to take on flavour for 10-15 minutes before serving.

For a richer dish, add a handful of crushed olives and a few bread croutons which, soaked in the tomato juice, will be an extraordinary discovery for every palate.