Heirloom Tomato Flights Trend Alert! It’s The Must-Have Summer Appetizer!
Trend alert!! Who knew that tomatoes would feature in the food trend of the summer?! Well, according to TikTok they do… yep, Tomato Flights are the way to wow a crowd or just one other at parties, dinner dates and even showy-offy kitchen suppers!
So, hot foot it down to your local farmer’s market to grab a bag full of the biggest, fanciest tomatoes you can find and then give them wings… well ok, there are no wings involved, just the layering on of other food stuffs.
What Exactly Is an Heirloom Tomato Flight?
Think of it like those beer or wine flights where you get small samples of different varieties. Each tomato slice becomes a little platform for complementary toppings that bring out its natural flavours.
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The concept is brilliantly simple:
- Slice several varieties of heirloom tomatoes into chunky ‘flight bases’
- Top each with different flavour combinations
- Arrange them beautifully on a platter or board
- Let everyone taste away
Why Heirloom Tomatoes?
Unlike their perfectly round, uniformly red supermarket cousins, heirloom tomatoes are:
- Each variety has a different flavour to savour
- They each have different colours, so there’s a whole aesthetic thing going on
- They even have different textures, some are more meaty, some more juicy…
- Ultimately, they are way more delicious than standard issue supermarket toms!
Alessandra Brontsema explains Heirloom Tomato Flights
How to Build Your Tomato Flight
Step 1: Choose Your Tomatoes
If you really want to make a statement tomato flight, aim for 3-5 different varieties with contrasting colours and shapes.
Here are some varieties to look out for:
Cherokee Purple
A pretty soft purple with a rich flavour
Green Zebra
Green with yellow stripes (hence the name!). They have a sweet aromatic flavour
Brandywine
These are the classic large pinky red beefsteak-like tomatoes. They have a great balance of sweetness and earthiness
Black Krim
Dark browny/red/purple, these guys have an intense tangy tomato flavour. Often thought of as having the OG classic tomato taste.
Step 2: Slice Them Properly
Cut tomatoes into thick slices (about ½ inch) to create a sturdy base for toppings. Too thin and they’ll simply flop when picked up, not a good vibe!
Step 3: Create Topping Combos
Here’s where the creativity happens. Each tomato slice gets its own special topping combination. Some classic pairings include:
- Fresh mozzarella + basil + balsamic drizzle + flaky salt
- Cream cheese, smoked salmon lox, red onion, capers, and fresh dill
- Hummus + cucumber + za’atar + olive oil
- Cottage cheese + dill + smoked salmon + capers
- Goat cheese + peach slices + hot honey + black pepper
- Burrata cheese, thinly sliced peaches, prosciutto, and a drizzle of hot honey
- Greek yoghurt, kalamata olives, cucumber, red onion, sprinkles of feta
- Good olive oil + flaky salt + cracked pepper + fresh herbs
- Feta cheese, cucumber slices, halved black or Kalamata olives, flaky salt, and olive oil
- Mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, balsamic glaze, flaky salt, and olive oil
- Cottage cheese, turkey deli meat, cucumber slices, and salt and pepper to taste
Some fun ideas from The Modern Nonna
Novel ideas from This Healthy Table
Some big bold ideas from Kayla Zenner
Serving Tips
- Bring tomatoes to room temperature before serving for the best flavour
- Provide small forks for easy eating
- Label each variety/topping combination if you’re feeling fancy
- Serve with crusty bread on the side to soak up any tomato juices
Why Tomato Flights Make Perfect Party Food
Heirloom Tomato Flights are perfect for entertaining because they:
- Require zero cooking (just assembly)
- Can be prepped ahead and assembled last minute
- Look impressive with minimal effort
- Accommodate different dietary preferences
- Spark conversation as guests compare favourites
- Celebrate seasonal produce at its peak
I’m so in love with tomato flights, they’re impressive enough for a dinner party but simple enough for a casual weekend lunch… and easy enough to make without breaking a sweat!
Also read: Summer Finger Food Appetizers That Wow!
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Hello, I’m Luci, founder of Mums Make Lists. The site is full of useful and fun ideas for life and seasonal celebrations. Plus a growing selection of instantly downloadable fun printables and party planners. Read more.