Tomato flights are part Martha, part TikTok ~ and a super fun and creative way to celebrate everybody’s favorite summer produce!
It’s summer, tomatoes reign supreme, and I’m going to make the most of them. Tomato flights are part snack board part edible art, and super fun to make and eat!!
In culinary terms, a “flight” is a small lineup of similar items ~ like wine, cheese, mini desserts, or olive oils ~ served together for tasting.
My tomato flights take this concept to the salad course. Each tomato has its own ‘personality’ and theme, and I love to set them out on the table so folks can help themselves. Choosing is the hard part.
Of course I’m using heirloom tomatoes, why wouldn’t I, they’re large and multi-colored, so perfect for a tomato tasting menu.
Assemble your tomato flights
This is the fun part! I’m going to give each slice of tomato a different topping. I choose my toppings based on dishes that classically feature tomatoes, so they all sort of make sense. This can range from the classic (Caprese) to the whimsical (a riff on a BLT or Southern tomato sandwich.)
Not up to all that variety? No worries, you can choose to serve just one favorite combo: I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love a platter of “BLT” tomatoes!
Tomato Flight Tomatoes
- CAPRESE
- TOMATO | PESTO | MOZZARELLA PEARLS | BALSAMIC GLAZE
- SOUTHERN TOMATO SANDO
- THIN WHITE BREAD | TOMATO | DUKES MAYO | FLAKY SALT
- BLT
- TOMATO | MAYO | CRUMBLED BACON | MICRO GREENS
- TRIPLE TOMATO PALOOZA
- TOMATO | SUN DRIED TOMATO | CHERRY TOMATOES | BALSAMIC GLAZE
- GREEK SALAD
- TOMATO | MICRO GREENS | | CRUMBLED OR DICED FETA CHEESE | KALAMATA OLIVES | DRIED OREGANO
- PICO DE GALLO
- TOMATO | RED ONION | CUKE | JALAPENO | LIME JUICE | CILANTRO
More combo ideas
- MARGARITA PIZZA
- TOMATO | PESTO | MOZZARELLA PEARLS | PARMESAN
- CHARCUTERIE
- TOMATO | PROSCIUTTO | BLUE CHEESE | HOT HONEY | MARCONA ALMOND
- GAZPACHO
- TOMATO | RED ONION | BELL PEPPER | SHERRY VINEGAR | OLIVE OIL
- “BEEFSTEAK” SALAD
- TOMATO | MICRO GREENS | ROAST BEEF | HORSERADISH | FRIED SHALLOT
Tomato flight tips
- Choose similar sized tomatoes (ripe but not too soft) for best results.
- Prep all your toppings first, and only slice your tomatoes when ready to assemble.
- Serve your tomatoes soon after assembling.
- Add drizzles, flaky salt, and herb garnishes at the last minute.
How to serve tomato flights
The most practical way to serve tomato flights is to serve them as a salad course for dinner or as part of a summer brunch or lunch buffet. Each individual tomato slice is a basically a small salad; they’re meant to be eaten with a fork and knife.
Serve your tomato flight with chicken salad, burgers, salmon, or, of course, a nice juicy steak!
- Steak Frites with Parmesan Butter
- How to Cook Strip Steak
- Sonoma Chicken Salad
- Perfect Salmon Burgers
- Mediterranean Sheet Pan Salmon
- Falafel Burger Recipe (copycat McFalafel)
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Tomato Flight
Ingredients
- 3 large heirloom tomatos
topping suggestions
- microgreens
- mozzarella pearls
- feta cheese crumbles
- blue cheese crumbles
- Parmesan cheese shavings
- sun dried tomatoes
- olives
- capers
- crumbled bacon
- mini pepperoni
- prosciutto
spreads
- pesto, homemade recipe here
- mayonnaise, vegan mayo recipe here
- olive or artichoke tapenade
drizzles
- olive oil
- balsamic glaze
- pomegranate molasses
garnish
- fresh herb sprigs
- flaky salt and fresh cracked pepper
- dried herbs
Instructions
general instructions
- Decide on your topping theme or themes and gather your ingredients. Do any prep (like making and crumbling bacon) ahead of time.
- When ready to serve, slice your tomatoes. You will want 6 thick slices.
- Arrange the tomatoes on a board or on a platter.
- Layer your tomatoes with 3-4 ingredients. I usually start with some sort of spread, then follow with 2-3 other toppings, ending with a drizzle if appropriate, and a shower of salt, pepper, and/or herbs.
how to make a caprese tomato
- Start with a layer of pesto.
- Top with mozzarella pearls.
- Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
how to make a BLT tomato
- Begin with a dollop of mayonnaise and spread out lightly.
- Next add a heap of micro greens.
- Top with crumbled bacon.
how to make a charcuterie tomato
- Start with a layer of fig jam.
- Top with shreds of prosciutto. Add blue cheese crumbles.
- Top with a marcona almond and a drizzle of hot honey.
what kind of tomato is the blue tomato in the third image? just went down a rabbit hole of tomato genetics but the tomatoes i saw looked more purple/black than that brighter blue color yours had on its top half.
I don’t remember specifically the name of that tomato, but it’s one of the black heirloom varieties. I think the light is hitting it to make it more blue in the photo. And I’ve been down those rabbit holes, fun!!
Your photos are mouth watering!