Farmer's Market Inspired Summer Salad

I've been meaning to check out my town's farmer's market for a while now - this past weekend I was able to. It's not the biggest in my area, but definitely one with the friendliest vendors. If you live in the area - come check it out: Highland Park, NJ - Fridays from 11a.m. - 5p.m. - June thru December. More info here:  Main Street Highland Park. Jersey Tomatoes are in season right now and I wanted to take advantage of local produce to make a quick and nutritious summer salad. Most of the stands were selling all types of plump and ripe tomatoes, but one caught my eye...German Heirloom Tomatoes...of course I had to get those! The star of this recipe in my opinion isn't even the choice of tomatoes, but rather the fresh herbs that I added. My favorite part of making this salad, was chopping up the basil and parsley - the entire kitchen was filled with the fragrance of fresh herbs!












The original recipe calls for cooked, shredded chicken - to save some time, I bought a rotisserie chicken, but you can obviously cook some lean chicken breast, if you prefer! This dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or to bring to a BBQ! Enjoy - Love, Lena
Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Salad (inspired by Southern Living - 58 Summer Farmer's Market Recipes)

Ingredients:

2 pounds heirloom tomatoes - cut into 1/2 inch wedges
2 cups shredded chicken
1/2 cup thinly cut sliced red onion
2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil
2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
1 cup fresh mozzarella balls - cut into quartered pieces

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Preparation:

Gently toss together the tomatoes, chicken, onion, herbs, and mozzarella. Set aside. Whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper...if it is to thick for your liking, add a splash of water to thin out the consistency. Pour dressing over salad and enjoy by itself or with some fresh, crusty bread! Guten Appetit!!!


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