Tomato Cracker Salad Recipe A Summer Dish

A Memory in a Bowl

My grandpa taught me this recipe. We made it on hot summer afternoons. The kitchen felt like a happy, sunny place.

He would wink and say it was our secret. I still laugh at that. It is the easiest dish you will ever make. What is a food memory that makes you smile?

Why Such a Simple Salad?

This salad matters because it is real. It is not fancy. It is about using what you have.

It reminds us that food does not need to be perfect. Good food is about sharing and feeling good. That is a lesson we all need sometimes.

Let’s Get Mixing

First, cut your tomatoes and scoop out the seeds. This keeps your salad from getting too watery. Put them in a medium bowl.

Add the mayo and mix it gently. Now, break a sleeve of saltines right into the bowl. Toss it all together with a good pinch of salt and lots of black pepper. Doesn’t that smell amazing?

The Secret is in the Crumbs

You must serve this right away. The crackers get soft but still have a little chew. It is the best part.

I once waited too long to serve it. The crackers turned to mush. It was a sad, soupy mess. So learn from my mistake. Do you like your crackers crunchy or soft?

A Fun Little Fact

This dish is a classic in many Southern homes. It is a lesson in not wasting food. A few simple things can make a wonderful meal.

Fun fact: This recipe is sometimes called a “poor man’s salad.” It was born from needing to feed a family with just a few pantry items.

Make It Your Own

The best part of cooking is adding your own touch. You could add a tiny bit of onion. Or some fresh herbs from the garden.

This recipe is like a blank canvas. It welcomes your ideas. What would you add to make it special for your family?

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Garden-fresh tomatoes	4 medium	Seeded and coarsely chopped
Mayonnaise	3/4 cup
Saltine crackers	1 sleeve	Coarsely broken
Salt	To taste
Pepper	To taste	Generous amount

My Summer Tomato Cracker Salad

Hello, my dear. Come sit with me a moment. I want to tell you about my favorite summer dish. It is called Tomato Cracker Salad. My own grandma taught me this when I was a girl. We would make it after picking tomatoes from the garden. The sun made them so warm and sweet. Doesn’t that smell amazing? It is the easiest recipe. You just need a few simple things. It always reminds me of happy, sunny afternoons. I still laugh at how quickly it disappears.

Let us get our bowls ready. This salad comes together in just minutes. You have to be a little quick with it. The crackers can get soggy if you wait. But that soft crunch is part of the magic. Are you ready? Let us begin.

Ingredients

• Fresh tomatoes
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise (not sweet)
• 1 sleeve of saltine crackers
• Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1: First, we need to prepare our tomatoes. Cut them in half. Use a small spoon to scoop out the seeds and juicy bits. This keeps our salad from getting too watery. Now, just chop them into little chunks. I like the pieces to be a bit uneven. It makes the salad feel more homemade and special.

Step 2: Put all those beautiful tomato pieces into a medium bowl. Now, add the mayonnaise. I use about three-quarters of a cup. Gently stir them together until the tomatoes are dressed. (A hard-learned tip: Do not use a sweet mayo. A simple, creamy one is best for this). The white and red look so pretty together.

Step 3: Time for the crackers! Take a sleeve of saltines. Do not just drop them in whole. Coarsely break them up with your hands right over the bowl. You want different sizes. Then, toss everything together lightly. You just want to coat the crackers. Do you like lots of black pepper? I always add a generous amount.

Step 4: This is the most important step. You must serve it immediately! The crackers will start to soften. They get this wonderful texture that is not too hard, not too mushy. It is the taste of summer in a bowl. What is your favorite summer food? Share below!

Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Category: Lunch, Side Dish

Three Tasty Twists to Try

This recipe is like a good friend. It is happy to change things up. You can add so many little extras. It is fun to play with your food sometimes. Here are a few ideas I love. They are all so simple and delicious.

• The Garden Patch: Add some finely chopped cucumber and red onion. It gives a nice, fresh crunch.
• The Little Smoky: Stir in a handful of crispy, crumbled bacon. It adds a salty, savory punch.
• The Herby Delight: Mix in a tablespoon of fresh, chopped basil or dill. It makes it smell like a summer garden.

Which one would you try first? Comment below!

How to Serve Your Salad

This salad is perfect just as it is. But I love thinking about the whole meal. It makes dinner feel like an event. For a simple lunch, I serve it with a slice of cold ham. Or pile it on top of a hot, buttery baked potato. The flavors just melt together. It is so good.

What should we drink with it? On a hot day, a glass of iced sweet tea is perfect. For a special evening, a crisp glass of chilled white wine is lovely. It cuts through the richness of the mayo. Which would you choose tonight?

Keeping Your Tomato Cracker Salad Fresh

This salad is best eaten right away. The crackers love to soak up the tomato juices. They will get soft if you wait too long.

I do not recommend freezing this dish. The tomatoes will turn to mush when they thaw. It is a sad sight in a bowl.

You can prepare the tomatoes a few hours early. Just keep them separate from the mayo and crackers. Mix everything together right before you serve.

I learned this the hard way. I made a big batch for a picnic once. We had a lovely, but very soggy, lunch.

This matters because a little planning makes a better meal. It saves you from a disappointing crunch-less salad. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!

Simple Fixes for a Perfect Salad

Is your salad too watery? The trick is to seed your tomatoes first. Just cut them in half and scoop out the seeds with a spoon.

Are the crackers getting soggy too fast? Do not mix them in until the last second. I remember serving it too early once. We ate tomato soup with cracker bits!

Does it need more flavor? Do not be shy with the black pepper. A good amount makes the tomatoes taste sweet and bright.

Fixing small problems builds your cooking confidence. It also makes your food taste exactly how you want it. Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Tomato Cracker Salad Questions

Q: Can I make this gluten-free?
A: Yes! Just use your favorite gluten-free crackers instead of saltines.

Q: Can I make it ahead of time?
A: Chop the tomatoes early. But mix in the mayo and crackers right before eating.

Q: What can I use instead of mayo?
A: Plain yogurt is a tasty and tangy swap. It makes the salad feel lighter.

Q: Can I double the recipe for a crowd?
A: Of course! It is easy to make a big bowl for everyone.

Q: Any extra tips?
A: A sprinkle of fresh chopped basil is lovely. Fun fact: This recipe is almost one hundred years old! Which tip will you try first?

My Kitchen Table is Always Open

I hope you love this simple summer recipe. It always brings back happy memories for me. I would love to see your own creations.

Share a picture of your beautiful salad. You can show all your friends and family. Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest!

Thank you for spending this time with me. I am so glad we could cook together.

Happy cooking!
—Elowen Thorn.