Summer Tomato Toasts With Sourdough Bread

Name: Summer Tomato Toasts
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup mayo; 1 ½ tablespoons lemon zest (about the zest of 1 ½ lemons); 3 tablespoons fresh dill (thinly chopped); ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked back pepper; 21 ounces heirloom tomatoes (a mix of varieties and colors); 4 large slices sourdough bread (about ½-inch (1.5 cm) thick); 2 tablespoons capers; fresh chervil (or tarragon / parsley) (chopped, to taste); extra-virgin olive oil (to drizzle on top); flaky sea salt (to sprikle on top); freshly cracked back pepper (to sprinkle on top)

Meet your new summer obsession: juicy heirloom tomatoes on crusty sourdough, slathered with dill-lemon mayo, and topped with capers and fresh herbs. A drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkle of flaky salt, and these vibrant Summer Tomato Toasts are ready in just 15 minutes. Simple, fresh, and irresistibly delicious!

summer tomato toast on a white plate with other toasts on the side.

Table of Contents

Why you should try this recipe

Quick and easy to make – With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep, this Summer Tomato Toasts come together in 15 minutes, making it an ideal choice for a quick lunch, snack, or appetizer served with Whipped Ricotta Dip With Roasted Olives and Halloumi Fries.
Full of fresh flavors – The combination of ripe heirloom tomatoes, zesty dill mayo, aromatic herbs, and briny capers creates a flavor combination that’s light, refreshing, and perfect for summer. Like this flavor combination, check out my Shirazi Salad with Sumac Dressing or Whipped Feta Dip With Roasted Cherry Tomatoes.
Vegan-friendly – This recipe is easily adaptable for a plant-based diet—just use your favorite vegan mayo, and you’re all set to enjoy a satisfying summer snack alongside White Bean Dip With Marinated Artichoke or Muhammara!

Unlock 5 secrets to making vegetarian cooking a breeze – FREE!

The ingredients you’ll need

heirloom tomatoes, slices of bread, capers, lemon, dill, extra-virgin olive oil, mayo, salt and pepper.

Sourdough bread – makes all the difference in this recipe! When toasted, it stays crisp and doesn’t get soggy, even with mayo and juicy raw tomatoes. I wouldn’t suggest swapping it for softer breads, which tend to be too sweet and aren’t sturdy enough to hold the toppings.
Tomatoes – I love using heirloom tomatoes for these tomato toasts, but any type will work! If you have leftover heirloom tomatoes, try using them to make my Puff Pastry Tomato Tart with Whipped Feta!
Mayo — If you can get your hands on some French mayo or Japanese Kewpie mayo, go for it! They’re made with only egg yolks, giving them a richer and tangier flavor than American mayo, which uses whole eggs and tends to be a bit sweeter. If you’re going for a plant-based option, just swap in your favorite vegan mayo.
Herbs — I use chervil because I grow it in my garden and love its hints of licorice and anise. If chervil is hard to find in your area, you can substitute it with tarragon or flat-leaf parsley!

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card at the end of the post.)

Love tomatoes?🍅 Check out Salsa Fresca (Mexican Fresh Tomato Salsa) and Vegetarian Stuffed Tomatoes with Ricotta and Basil.

How to make Summer Tomato Toasts?

(Note: please see the recipe card below for the complete written instructions and measurements.)

mayo, lemon zest, dill and pepper in a white bowl.

Step 1. In a bowl, combine mayo, lemon zest, dill, and pepper.

Step 2. Mix until well combined and set aside.

sliced tomatoes in a tray on top of paper towel.

Step 3. Thoroughly wash the heirloom tomatoes under cold water and pat them dry. Using a sharp knife, cut the tomatoes into ½-inch (1 cm) slices. Lay the slices on paper towel to absorb any extra moisture.

dill lemon mayo spread on top of toasted sourdough bread.

Step 4. Toast the sourdough slices until golden brown. Spread a generous amount of lemon dill mayo on top of each slice.

hand placing capers on top of a tomato toast.

Step 5. Layer the tomato slices on top of the toast and sprinkle with capers.

olive oil drizzled on top of a summer tomato toast with herbs.

Step 6. To finish, add the chervil (or chopped tarragon/parsley). Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt and a crack of black pepper. Serve immediately!

Nim Keys – Useful Summer Tomato Toast Tips

Choose perfectly ripe, high-quality tomatoes. As the main ingredient, they should be fresh, ripe, and smelling delicious.
Use a sharp kitchen knife to cut the tomatoes to prevent bruising or squashing, and handle them carefully, as they are delicate.
Assemble the toast just before serving and slice the tomatoes at the last minute to retain their juices. However, you can prepare the dill-lemon mayo ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
Choose high-quality sourdough bread. As this recipe relies on just a few ingredients, the better their quality, the more flavorful the result. Keep in mind that sourdough loaves come in different sizes; if yours is smaller than the large loaf I used, plan on two slices per person.

Wine Pairing🍷

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Pronounced “Saw-vin-yon blæŋ”

Sauvignon Blanc’s crispness will highlight the flavors of the heirloom tomatoes, while its herbaceous aromas will complement the dill and herbs on these Summer Tomato Toasts.

WINE APPELLATION SUGGESTIONS

Sauvignon from Franschhoek, Elgin, or Stellenbosch (Western Cape, South Africa)
Menetou Salon (Loire Valley, France)
Sauvignon Blanc from Alto Adige (Italy)

a tomato toast with heirloom tomato and herbs cut in half in a white plate.

Recipe FAQs

What to serve with Summer Tomato Toasts?

These toasts can be enjoyed on their own as a delicious snack. For a tapas-style meal, I love serving them with White Bean Dip And Marinated Artichoke, Whipped Ricotta Dip With Roasted Olives or Mediterranean Pearl Couscous Salad With Mint.

Can Summer Tomato Toasts be made in advance?

The dill-lemon mayo can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container. Everything else needs to be prepared at the last minute to ensure the toasts remain as fresh, crunchy, and juicy as possible!