Make Tomato Salad 10x More Filling And Flavorful With This Asian Addition

While tomato salad is undoubtedly glorious, it's also one of those meals that can see you rummaging through the pantry an hour later because you're still hungry. The fix for turning a humble recipe into a much more substantial meal may not be what you expect: adding a handful of pan-fried frozen dumplings to the mix.

If you're someone who always has store-bought frozen dumplings in the freezer, then this is an even easier upgrade for you to work with. It's taken off online, too, with many recipes seeing creators and chefs pair ripe tomatoes with garlic and herbs before piling warm potstickers on top. And if the tomatoes are salted a little before assembling, even better, as this draws out their juices to help create a salty tomato liquid that then mingles with the dressing for a saucier finish. Pan-frying the dumplings is an easy way to give them crisp edges to contrast with the tomatoes, and luckily, frozen dumplings can go straight from the freezer into the pan. The final dish is something between a salad and a dumpling dinner, which, if you ask us, sounds like a pretty great combination.

The tomato element shouldn't be ignored, even if the crispy dumplings do naturally feel like the star of the show. And some types of tomatoes are just begging to be used in a salad like this — heirlooms are juicier, whilst cherry tomatoes are sweeter, and beefsteak tomatoes bring some real heft. Different tomato varieties will bring different qualities, so if you have them on hand, then a nice mix of ripe tomatoes is best. And alongside tomatoes, throwing in garlic, basil, cilantro, or green onions can ramp up the flavor, while sesame seeds or roasted peanuts add another layer of crunch.

It's a meal that's built around contrast, so bear that in mind as you put it together and consider what you might want to add. The tomatoes bring some sweetness, softness, and plenty of juice, while the dumplings bring the crispy, starchy, and savory elements to balance the tomatoes out. Many recipes dress it with a chili crisp vinaigrette or more elaborate miso dressings, but even just a splash of soy sauce and a squeeze of lime can bring a lot of flavor to the plate.

It's not a traditional Asian dish by any means, but rather a modern mash-up born from the internet, which is part of its appeal because you're therefore free to switch it up. Don't have potstickers? Swap in Japan's favorite dumplings (gyoza) or wontons, but perhaps avoid bao buns, as they don't have quite the right texture we're looking for. Just remember: Keep the dumplings crisp and the tomatoes juicy, and you can't really go wrong.