A Simple Recipe for Marinated Tomatoes with Celery, Avocado & Queso Fresco

CA GROWN Blog

Discover. Learn. Connect.

A Simple Recipe for Marinated Tomatoes with Celery, Avocado & Queso Fresco

April 18, 2023
CA Grown Creators

Meet Them Here

Read Bios »
Eat the Season!
Sign Up For Weekly Recipes
Eat the Season!
Sign Up For Weekly Recipes

A Simple Recipe for Marinated Tomatoes with Celery, Avocado & Queso Fresco

This delightful recipe, featuring marinated tomatoes with California-grown celery, avocado, and queso fresco, celebrates the Golden State’s bountiful, year-round produce. Simple to prepare and bursting with vibrant flavors, this versatile dish is perfect as a refreshing appetizer, a scrumptious side, or all on its own as a hearty salad that eats like a meal.

California Sunshine on a Plate: Marinated Tomatoes with Celery, Avocado & Queso Fresco.

Marinating cherry tomatoes is a process that transforms these bite-sized morsels into flavor-packed gems.

To create the perfect marinade, combine high-quality olive oil, tangy lime juice, aromatic garlic, fresh cilantro, and a touch of heat from jalapeño peppers. Allow the tomatoes to bask in this delicious marinade for 12 to 24 hours, ensuring that the flavors all meld together.

As time passes, the cherry tomatoes will develop a deeper, more complex taste profile that will tantalize your taste buds and a tender, succulent texture, making every bite an unforgettable sensory experience, especially when combined with the crunchy celery and creamy avocado in this dish.

Crisp and Fresh: The Unbeatable Taste of California-Grown Celery.

Thriving in the fertile soils and sun-drenched fields of California, this vibrant vegetable boasts a crisp texture and a refreshing, slightly earthy taste. The ideal growing conditions, combined with the expertise of local farmers, result in superior celery that is both nutritious and delicious. In our featured recipe, the California-grown celery adds a delightful crunch, perfectly complementing the marinated tomatoes, creamy avocado, and tangy queso fresco.

How to serve Marinated Tomatoes with Celery, Avocado & Queso Fresco.

This salad is one of those recipes that is completely great on its own, but also it elevates other dishes like flatbread, grilled chicken, and basic leafy greens to all-new heights. Whether you serve it at the table or pack it in your lunch this salad is a total winner that you will be adding to your regular mealtime rotation.

California’s Finest Ingredients: Fresh, Flavorful, and Available Year-Round.

California grows upwards of 400 specialty crops which equates to over half of the nation’s fresh produce! Pretty impressive huh? We think so. In fact, the ingredients in this recipe are available from California year-round, which means you can indulge in this simple dish whenever your heart and tastebuds desire.

Check out the articles below to see what other crops that grace your dinner table are grown in California!

California dried fruit and nuts close-up Always in Season: California Year Round: crops and food available year round from the state of California Always in Season: California Year Round: crops and food available year round from the state of California

Always in Season in California.

We’re big fans of eating seasonally. Here in California, it’s easier than you think! Various California Grown commodities are grown – or available all year round. Dried fruit, canned tomatoes, and nuts might seem obvious, but did you realize that fresh strawberries and even artichokes are grown year-round in the Golden State?

Click here to take a look at a few of the commodities that are always in season, and share some delicious ways to enjoy them!

19 Crops That Are Grown Only in California.

These crops aren’t just California-grown…they’re grown ONLY in California.

California grows upwards of 400 specialty crops, with some of those crops being only grown in California. That’s right!

There are 19 different fruits, vegetables, and nuts that grow exclusively in the Golden State.

Click here to learn what those 19 specialty crops are.
Crops that are grown only in California
California leads the nation

California Grows More of These Crops Than Any Other State.

You know California grows and produces a lot of food – but did you know that the Golden State leads the nation in dozens of crops and commodities?

Around here, we pay a lot of attention to where our food comes from, and we bet you do too!

Click here to learn more about the crops that grow in California.

DID YOU MAKE OUR MARINATED TOMATOES WITH CELERY, AVOCADO & QUESO FRESCO? BE SURE TO SHARE YOUR CREATIONS WITH US BY SNAPPING A PIC AND TAGGING US ON SOCIAL USING #CAGROWN. 

Craving more CA Grown goodness? Follow us on Pinterest for fresh and fabulous recipe inspiration!

Marinated Tomatoes with Celery, Avocado & Queso Fresco

Meg van der Kruik
This delightfully simple recipe, featuring marinated tomatoes with California-grown celery, avocado, and queso fresco is almost addictive.
4.34 from 9 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Marinating time 12 hours
Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 6 servings
Calories 316 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Marinated Tomatoes

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1 jalapeno finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup cilantro chopped
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1 large garlic clove minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

To assemble.

  • 1 bunch celery chopped into pieces about the same size as the cherry tomato halves
  • 2 avocados pit and peel removed, sliced
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds toasted
  • 1/4 cup queso fresco crumbled

Instructions
 

  • Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and place them in a bowl. Add the jalapeno, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, but for 12-24 hours for maximum flavor.
  • Once the tomatoes have marinated, bring them to room temperature while preparing the remaining ingredients.
    Toss the prepared celery with the marinated tomatoes to coat. Add the avocado and stir to combine.
    At this point, the salad can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before serving. When ready to serve, top with pumpkin seeds and queso fresco.

Nutrition

Calories: 316kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 4gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 446mgPotassium: 571mgFiber: 6gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 676IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mg
Keyword avocado, Celery, Cherry Tomatoes, dip, garlic, Jalapenos, lime juice, marinated tomato, olive oil, salsa
Tried this recipe?Mention @cagrownofficial or tag #CAGROWN!

New Member Sign Up

Your participation is appreciated. Please fill-out the form below and a Buy California Marketing Agreement (BCMA) representative will contact you. Or, you may contact the BCMA at info@californiagrown.org.

Download Pdf Form

Licensing Sign Up

Your participation is appreciated. Please fill-out the form below and a Buy California Marketing Agreement (BCMA) representative will contact you. Or, you may contact the BCMA at 916-441-5302.

Certification Mark Licensing Agreement Service Mark Compliance agreement