You won't believe the secret ingredient in this summery tomato salad – it adds a surprising twist

Making a tomato salad is the easiest way to add gorgeous seasonal color to a summer table.

This simple but stunning summer salad is proof that a dish doesn't need to be complicated to deliver unexpectedly intense flavor and impact. And it makes a wonderfully vibrant side for an alfresco lunch menu.

Choosing a mixture of varieties of tomatoes adds not only color, but also a range of textures. Seasoning them with the smoked salt in advance gives the flavor a chance to develop, before the lavender and honey are added. I think it's one of the most impressive summer salads you can make, with minimal effort required.

Ingredients

• Serves 6
• 2 oz ripe tomatoes (a mix of different colours and sizes works best)
• A large pinch of salt or flaky smoked sea salt
• A few lavender flowers
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 2 tsp good-quality honey (we used a wildflower set honey)
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

The Homes and Gardens method

1. Slice the tomatoes and place them on a large platter. Season with smoked sea salt and chill for 15 minutes. Scatter with the lavender flowers (freshly cut from the garden is best), breaking the flowers slightly between your fingers.
2. To make the dressing, combine the vinegar and honey in a bowl or small jug until well combined and stir through the olive oil. Wild flower honey that's locally sourced is best but you can buy flavored wild flower honey from Amazon. Season with black pepper and spoon over the tomatoes to serve.

A beautiful platter that sets off the colors of the tomatoes is key to success when you're serving up to guests. We love to shop Anthropologie's platters for their distinctly European take on ceramics.