Heirloom Tomato Flight (Viral)

5 from 2 votes

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If you’ve spent any time of FoodTok lately, then you’ve likely seen the viral Heirloom Tomato Flight taking over your feed📱. Bright Summer Heirloom Tomatoes 🍅 are having a serious moment right now, and I’m not mad at it! Back in Bulgaria, we eat tomatoes like apples. No joke – they’re so juicy and sweet, you just sink your teeth 🦷 right in. Bulgaria is known for it’s ridiculous plump and flavorful tomatoes, so to be honest, I’m kind of a tomato connoisseur 😏. Needless to say, when I saw this trend blowing up, I was all in.

This TikTok trend is bold, juicy, and dressed to impress! Each tomato gets its own glow-up with low carb/high-protein toppings – think basil pesto, feta, prosciutto, and hot honey. The best part? You don’t even need to turn on the stove! Just slice, assemble, and live your best #TomatoGirlSummer💅.

Three tomato slices topped with different fillings—cottage cheese with herbs, egg salad, and ham with cheese—are arranged on a white plate. Sunlight highlights the textures and vibrant colors of the ingredients.

Why You’ll Love My Heirloom Tomato Flight

Get ready for peak summer on a plate 🙌. When tomatoes are in season, they don’t need much to bring out their juicy, sun-ripened sweetness. Especially Heirloom tomatoes! In my humble opinion, Heirloom tomatoes 🍅 are the closest thing to those juicy, drip-down-your-chin tomatoes I grew up with. Rich and sweet in taste – it’s the type of flavor you don’t get from an average grocery store tomato. Their texture is soft and tender, never mushy, which makes them the perfect base for this recipe!

I topped my flight with made-from-scratch toppings – think basil pesto, cottage cheese, and baked feta eggs. The best part? This low-carb, high protein no-recipe recipe feels fancy, but literally takes less than 10 minutes to put together. Serve it as an appetizer with a slice of grilled sourdough or as a side dish to grilled fish. Just don’t be surprised when it steals the spotlight 🤩!

Ingredients

Heirloom Tomatoes: I love this variety because they literally taste like sunshine 🌞. Look for different shapes, sizes and colors – purple, green, yellow, and red – for added visual interest and slightly different flavor profiles.

Flaky Salt: All salt is NOT created equal. Some are great for baking, others are better for savory cooking, and one is just for making ice cream 🍦! This Heirloom Tomato Flight showcases flaky salt. Not only is it beautiful, but it brings out the tomato’s natural sweetness and adds melt-in-your-mouth flavor.

Toppings: The toppings are really endless with this viral TikTok tomato 🍅 recipe! I added a variety of toppings like basil pesto, homemade ricotta, hot chili oil, prosciutto, crushed pistachios, and egg salad. Have fun creating your own combinations!

Nonna’s Tip 🍅

Let your heirloom tomatoes sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Cold tomatoes straight from the fridge can taste dull and watery, but once they warm up, their natural sweetness and flavor really shine.

Three tomato slices on a white oval plate, each topped with a different mixture: egg salad, cottage cheese with zest, and a slice of mozzarella with cured meat and herbs. Sunlight casts patterned shadows across the dish.

Heirloom Tomato Flight Variations and Substitutions

  1. Feeding a crowd? Create a tomato flight board! Think charcuterie, but for tomatoes 🍅. Place your sliced tomatoes on a platter, and add a variety of toppings to a separate board so your guests can create their own flights!
  2. Create a vegan version with your favorite vegan cheeses and replace the meats with hearty ingredients like avocado 🥑 or tofu.
  3. Top with microgreens 🌱, fresh herbs, or arugula for added nourishment.
  4. Create mini, bite-sized versions with Campari tomatoes!
  5. Get saucy! Drizzle your creations with your favorite infused olive oil, vinaigrette, chili oil, or hot honey.

Best Served With

Two tomato slices topped with cottage cheese and egg salad, garnished with fresh herbs, arranged on a white plate. Sunlight highlights the textures and colors of the fresh ingredients.

Looking for your next kitchen win? These FoodTok trends are all the buzz for a reason! Discover why these viral recipes deserve to go on your must-try list!

🍜 Meghan Markle’s Pasta Recipe
This pasta stirred up more drama than a family dinner. Some loved it, some roasted it, but the truth? It’s simple, tasty, and surprisingly good. Try it and decide for yourself!

🍓 Dubai Strawberry Cup
This strawberry cup is like a little vacation in a glass – fresh, sweet, and creamy with just enough glam to make you feel fancy. No plane ticket required. 

🥪 Viral Pickle Sandwich
Crunchy pickles, melty cheese, and…no bread? This sandwich is proof that sometimes the best recipes come from the most unexpected combos.

🧅 Onion Ring Chips
Crispy, cheesy, and full of sweet onion flavor, these chips come together with just two simple ingredients. They’re an easy snack that’s fun to make and even better to share – or keep all to yourself (we won’t judge 😉).

Similar Recipes

Three tomato slices topped with different ingredients sit on a white plate: one with cottage cheese and herbs, one with prosciutto and soft cheese, and one with an egg salad mixture.

Heirloom Tomato Flight (Viral)

Juicy, sweet, and FoodTok-approved 🍅 – this no-cook Heirloom Tomato Flight is summer on a plate in under 10 minutes!
5 from 2 votes
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Makes: 3
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 heriloom tomato, sliced
  • flaky salt, generous sprinkle on each slice

Fight 1

  • 1 teaspoon basil pesto, or any pesto
  • ¼ cup cottage cheese, or ricotta
  • hot pepper oil, drizzle as much as you'd like

Flight 2

  • 2 slices Coppa, or prosciutto
  • 1 slice Fior di latte cheese, any mozzarella
  • 1 teaspoon crushed pistachios, or walnuts
  • hot honey, drizzle as much as you'd like

Flight 3

Instructions 

  • Slice a ripe heirloom tomato into thick rounds and sprinkle each slice with a pinch of salt to bring out the natural flavor.

Assemble

  • Top each slice with one of the following combos:
  • Flight 1: Basil pesto + cottage cheese (or ricotta) + a drizzle of hot pepper oil
  • Flight 2: Coppa or prosciutto + crushed pistachios or walnuts + a drizzle of hot honey
  • Flight 3: A generous scoop of egg salad (try my baked feta egg salad recipe!)

Serve

  • Arrange the topped slices on a platter and serve immediately for the freshest flavor. Optional: garnish with fresh herbs or microgreens for extra flair!

Video

Notes

  • Nutrition note: My version comes to around 350 calories for all three flights, but exact nutrition will vary depending on your ingredients and portions. Be sure to calculate based on the specific brands and amounts you use. Use the app ‘lose it” to scan the ingredients if needed. 
  • Create a board: Feeding a crowd? Create a tomato flight board! Think charcuterie, but for tomatoes. Place your sliced tomatoes on a platter, and add a variety of toppings to a separate board so your guests can create their own flights!
  • Vegan substitutions: Create a vegan version with your favorite vegan cheeses and replace the meats with hearty ingredients like avocado or tofu. 
  • Greens: Top with microgreens, fresh herbs, or arugula for added nourishment.
  • Mini flights: Create mini, bite-sized versions with Campari tomatoes! 
  • Finishing touches: Drizzle your creations with your favorite infused olive oil, vinaigrette, chili oil, or hot honey.
  • Room temp = max flavor: Let your heirloom tomatoes sit out for 30 minutes before slicing. Cold tomatoes taste dull, but room-temp tomatoes bring out all that juicy, sweet summer flavor.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
COOKED IT? SLAYED IT? 💅
Tag @themodernnonna so I can hype you up 👏 and don’t forget to rate ⭐, drop a comment 💬, and show some love right here on the recipe!

Common Questions

Can I use regular tomatoes instead of Heirloom?

Yes, you certainly can! Heirloom tomatoes are coveted for their texture, flavor, and rainbow of colors. But truly any variety will work. Just be sure to look for a large tomato that is firm, but gives slightly when pressed with your thumb. Beefsteak and vine ripe tomatoes are good alternatives.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

Of course! Simply substitute any cheeses with your favorite vegan versions. Avocados and tofu are great alternatives whose flavors play well with this tomato flight.

Can I make these ahead of time?

You can make the pesto and baked feta eggs ahead of time. But given the watery nature of tomatoes, it is best to assemble your flights when you’re ready to serve.

How do I store the leftovers?

These are best enjoyed fresh. If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container and enjoy the same day. Depending on your toppings, you could also potentially repurpose any leftovers into a pasta dish the next day.

What should I serve with my Heirloom Tomato Flight?

Serve with grilled sourdough or baguette slices, a homemade Caesar salad, or as part of a summer snack board. It’s also perfect alongside grilled fish or chicken.

Do I need to peel the tomatoes?

No need! The skins of heirloom tomatoes are soft and tender, and the salt also helps break down the fibers to help you digest them more easily.

Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

Keep up to date with me on social media! Follow @themodernnonna

5 from 2 votes

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    It gets soooo hot where I live … like makes-you-not-want-to-eat hot! This recipe is so light and refreshing that it’s about to be on repeat! 🙌