The summer potluck dish I take to everything: Tomato, Feta, and some other shit

I bring this dish like every time I need to bring something to a potluck in the summer: it's easy, it travels well, it uses up all those beautiful heirloom tomatoes that I buy way too many of, and it's filling enough to be the only thing I eat in case nothing else is appealing. It's also good to make and throw in your fridge and eat for lunch all week. Infinitely variable: all you really need is the tomato and feta and some olive oil, change up everything else depending on taste/what is currently rotting in your crisper drawer.

• A grain of some sort: barley, bulgur, and farro are my favorites, orzo is OK but can get gummy, quinoa is fine too, try whatever appeals to you

• A big heirloom tomato or three, chopped. Bonus points for interesting varieties. Or use regular tomatoes if you have no one to impress with your tomato prowess

• Some other chopped summer veggies: cucumber, corn, zucchini or squash (blanched), carrot, peas, etc. Pick one or two, don't overload it. Or leave these out and just feature the tomatoes, it's awesome that way

• Some chopped scallions or red onion

• A can of beans: chickpeas are great, cannellini or other white beans are also good. Or leave out the beans if you don't like them

• Minced fresh herbs if you have them, or dried: basil and oregano are classic, mint might be interesting, whatever you've got

• Olive oil

• Lemon juice or red wine vinegar

• Feta cheese, crumbled (the tomato basil flavor that one brand sells is great here)

Cook the grain however it's supposed to be cooked. For extra flavor, cook it in a broth or throw some dried onion and garlic flakes in with the cooking water. Drain and rinse under cool water.

Cook any veggies that need to be cooked. Don't overcook: fresh and crisp is good, soggy and waterlogged is not good.

Chop whatever other veggies you're using. Small pieces. Mix them all together and stir in some lemon juice (use your judgment, juice from one lemon is usually a safe bet).

Once the grain is cool, toss it with olive oil, enough to make it easily stir-able.

Combine grain, veggies, beans, and herbs. Taste and add more lemon juice or oil if it needs it.

Last, top with the feta. I like to leave it on top so it looks nice when you take it wherever and just let people stir it in as they take some.

If you make this ahead of time, you'll probably need to add more oil/lemon juice because it can get soaked up. Ideally, take it out of the fridge at least 30 min before you're going to eat it to take the chill off.