The first time I ate this great summer salad, I could not figure out how the raw garlic flavor could be strong without being overpowering, but the reason is simple: the garlic is mixed with the dressing, then strained out. Peeling the tomatoes is far from necessary, but it’s a nice refinement. More important is to use delicious ripe tomatoes.

　　

Ingredients

makes 4 servings

　　4 to 6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed

　　Salt and black pepper to taste

　　1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

　　3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

　　2 pounds tomatoes, preferably plum, cored, peeled if you like, and sliced

　　20 fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces

　　

Step 1

Whisk together the garlic, salt, vinegar, and olive oil. Place the tomatoes on a platter and strain the dressing over them.

　　

Step 2

Top with the basil leaves, a little more salt, and some pepper. Serve immediately.

　　

Fresh Tomato and Green Bean Salad (France)

Step 3

Trim the ends from 1 pound of green beans. Cook them in a large pot of boiling salted water for 2 minutes or until bright green, then immediately drain and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking. Instead of dressing the tomatoes, toss the green beans with the strained dressing and place on top of the tomatoes. Top with the basil, salt, and pepper and serve.

　　

Spicy Fresh Tomato Salad (Mexico)

Step 4

Use the same dressing, along with 1/2 red onion, chopped, and 1 stemmed, seeded, and chopped fresh chile (jalapeño or Thai, for instance) or hot red pepper flakes to taste. Basil is still good here, but so is cilantro, mint, or a combination.

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.