This salad is almost embarrassingly simple, but so delicious…and it works alongside just about anything (tonight it’s accompanying linguine carbonara, because a couple of readers wrote in today to say that they made it and loved it, and got me wanting some). This is also my go-to dish for when a friend pops in unexpectedly between meals – it’s done in about thirty seconds, and I serve it alongside a little sliced salami and parmigiana.

Literally all you need for this salad are some great tomatoes (yeah, tomatoes are better in the summer, but if you go to a good market you can find flavorful specimens  all year round), a splash or two of good balsamic vinegar, a few shakes of sea salt crystals (as distinct from the finer version of sea salt, crystals give this salad a wonderful crunch), and a few torn-up basil leaves. Toss, done. 

Sometimes the simplest dishes are the best ones.