Tomato Salad on Cumin-Spiced Yogurt

Tomato Salad on Cumin-Spiced Yogurt

This simple tomato salad is ready in minutes, and works best with a mix of ripe tomatoes from the market that are delicious enough to eat raw. Layered on cumin-spiced yogurt, and slathered in a bright herb dressing, it’s hearty enough to have as a late summer meal with a piece of grilled bread. The recipe comes from chef Preeti Mistry, who ran a restaurant in Oakland called Juhu Beach Club, inspired by her unique experience as an Indian-American born in London to Asian parents from East Africa, raised in the American Midwest, who was cheffing in northern California.
  • Total:
  • Serves: 4 persons

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1

    In a small, dry saucepan over medium heat, toast the cumin seeds until they are toasted and aromatic (do not let them burn!), about 2 minutes. Use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder to grind into a powder. In a small bowl, mix toasted cumin with 2 tablespoons yogurt, turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon salt, until no streaks remain. Set aside.
  2. Step 2

    To make the dressing, put the garlic, herbs, yogurt, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper in a food processor, and purée until smooth. With the machine running, pour the oil into the bowl in a slow steady stream. The dressing will become a thin, light green vinaigrette.
  3. Step 3

    To assemble the salad, spread the remaining 1 cup yogurt on the bottom of a large serving dish. Toss the cut tomatoes with the vinaigrette, and pile them on top of the yogurt. Pour any remaining dressing all over the tomatoes and yogurt. Finish with a sprinkle of Maldon or other crunchy salt, and serve, spooning up the yogurt, tomatoes and dressing all together.