Lithuanian Tomato and Onion Salad With Sour Cream

If you’re looking for the kind of salad that screams summer, look no further than this Lithuanian Tomato Salad. Made with ripe tomatoes and other fresh ingredients, it’s the ultimate summery salad that’s as easy as it is delicious. This Tomato and Onion Salad will be your new go-to for any sunny day!

As a kid, summer meant long, lazy days at my grandmother’s house, where the garden was like a jungle of fresh ingredients just waiting to be picked. I’d run around barefoot, plucking the ripest tomatoes straight off the vine, their skins warm from the sun, and racing inside to my grandmother’s kitchen. She’d chop them up with onions, toss them with a dollop of sour cream, and hand me a plate with a chunk of crusty bread on the side. 

It wasn’t fancy—just a simple tomato salad—but to me, it tasted like pure joy. It was the taste of endless summer days, of family, and of the little things that somehow felt like everything.

Jump to:

• Tomatoes & Sour Cream: Lithuanian Summer Staple
• Ingredient Notes
• Step-By-Step Method
• Storage and Leftovers
• Serving Lithuanian Tomato and Onion Salad
• More Lithuanian Summer Salad Recipes
• Lithuanian Tomato Salad

Tomatoes & Sour Cream: Lithuanian Summer Staple

Lithuanians are true tomato lovers, and it shows—many grow summer tomatoes right in their gardens or greenhouses, bringing the freshest ingredients straight to the dinner table. From plain wedges to mixing them with sour cream (Lithuanians are not very adventurous with their salad dressings - it's almost always sour cream), tomatoes are a staple at every meal.

Today's easy tomato salad recipe is the perfect refreshing side dish that pairs with pretty much anything. And if you're feeling adventurous, try combining it with Lithuanian cucumber salad to make a classic cucumber tomato salad. It's the ultimate way to celebrate summer tomatoes and keep things light and delicious!

Ingredient Notes

Here are all the basic ingredients that you will need to make this Lithuanian Tomato salad:

• beefsteak tomatoes: or heirloom tomatoes. Essentially, you need the kind of tomatoes that are meaty, rather than juicy, with lots of seeds. Lithuanians typically use fresh tomatoes from the greenhouse in their garden in the summer months.  Avoid watery cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes.
• green onions: also known as spring onions or scallions. You may replace them with finely chopped red onion or white onion.
• sour cream: or creme fraiche. 
• salt: we love Maldon Sea Salt Flakes. 
• freshly ground black pepper. 
• fresh dill: may be replaced with frozen or fried dill when out of season, or you could use other fresh herbs, like fresh parsley. Fresh basil tastes lovely but isn't traditionally used in Lithuanian cuisine.  

You can find the ingredient quantities as a full method in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. 

TIP: In traditional Lithuanian cooking, it’s customary to remove the green core of the tomato, the small, firm part where the fruit attaches to the stalk, before slicing. This practice is believed to enhance the salad's flavour and presentation, as Lithuanians prefer their tomatoes to be tender and free from any tough or bitter bits.

Step-By-Step Method

1. Place the tomato wedges and sliced onion in a large bowl.

2. Toss everything with sour cream, salt and pepper.

3. Scatter chopped dill on top, and serve immediately!

Storage and Leftovers

If you're planning to make this delicious salad ahead of time, here's the deal: keep the tomatoes and sour cream separate until you're ready to serve. And whatever you do, hold off on the salt—it’ll just make the tomatoes release water and turn everything into a soggy mess. You can chop everything in advance and store it in an airtight container, then mix it up right before serving for the best flavor and texture.

Got leftovers? Pop them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to two days. Just know that the sour cream might get a little watery, but no worries—just give it a good mix before diving back in!

Serving Lithuanian Tomato and Onion Salad

This simple side salad is a versatile addition to any meal. As a child, I loved snacking on it with a chunk of crusty bread, and it’s still a favorite way to enjoy it today. Here are some tasty ways to serve this perfect side dish:

• Summer BBQs: Pair it with grilled meats like chicken shashlik or pork kebabs for a refreshing contrast to smoky flavors.
• Winter Comforts: Serve alongside Lithuanian pork escalopes or roasted dishes to add a fresh, tangy bite.
• Snacking: Enjoy it on its own with some crusty bread for a light and satisfying snack.

More Lithuanian Summer Salad Recipes

We hope you liked this tomato onion salad recipe. For more ideas for your Lithuanian-inspired feast, have a  look at some of the best salads on the blog: