This easy cucumber tomato salad recipe makes a healthy side dish that compliments any meal. Freshly chopped vegetables and ripe fruit are tossed in a tangy red wine vinaigrette. It’s a simple salad to make that tastes even better the longer the ingredients marinate together.
Looking for more side dish ideas? Try my watermelon salad or fresh fruit salad.
Table of Contents
If you’re looking for a light and refreshing side salad, this dish is a quick and easy option. Each enticing bite uses vibrant fresh ingredients, complemented with robust herbs, plus plenty of olive oil and vinegar for seasoning. No fancy equipment is required. Just chop and whisk! Paired with a homemade vinaigrette, the vegetables and juicy tomatoes take on the herbaceous and tangy taste.
To ensure that the most flavor infuses into the sliced cucumbers, I let them briefly soak in the dressing before serving. The pungent vinegar rapidly marinates the salad. It’s definitely worth the short wait. Adding in some briny olives, creamy feta cheese, and chopped herbs add a Mediterranean twist to each serving.
Picking the right cucumber
English cucumber is my top pick to use for this summer salad. It provides a crunchy texture even after marinating. The tender dark skin doesn’t need to be peeled, which adds color and more fiber to the dish.
Use a chef’s knife to swiftly cut the vegetable into hearty ½-inch-sized wedges. It’s the base of the recipe, so we want nice chunks instead of thin slices.
Tomato selection
I use ripe Roma tomatoes for their balance of sweet and tangy taste with mild acidity. The thick flesh, juicy centers, and small seeds add a delightful fruity taste to complement the crisp cucumbers. I cut them into thick slices so that they don’t become mushy when tossed with the acid in the vinaigrette.
Other types of tomatoes can be substituted, like small cherry tomatoes cut in half or cocktail tomatoes. Just make sure they’re mature for the best flavor.
Homemade vinaigrette
To enhance the natural flavors of the produce, I paired it with a bold dressing. Red wine vinegar is whisked together with Dijon mustard, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
Make sure to slowly pour in the extra-virgin olive oil while constantly whisking. This ensures that a proper emulsion forms, which creates a thicker consistency that clings to the ingredients.
How to make cucumber tomato salad
In a large bowl, combine the chopped cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, sliced kalamata olives, fresh basil, and mint. Pour the vinaigrette over the ingredients and allow it to marinate for about 15 minutes.
This will give the fruit and vegetables more time to absorb the tangy flavor into each piece. Right before serving, stir the salad and then top with crumbled feta cheese.
Storing and make ahead
The cucumber tomato salad can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. In fact, the longer marinating time makes each serving tastier, however, the tomatoes will begin to soften due to the acidic vinegar and salt.
For the best taste when making ahead, chop the ingredients a day before. Make the dressing the day you plan to serve and toss them together.
What to serve this with
Recipe Science
Vinegar enhances the flavor of foods
Using vinegar in the dressing balances the rich olive taste. It’s also a flavor enhancer by bumping up the natural sweetness in the tomatoes. The acidity helps to mellow out that strong sulfurous burn from raw red onions. Balsamic vinegar can also be used in this recipe. It will make the dressing darker in color and have a sweeter taste.
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound English cucumber
- 1 pound Roma tomatoes
- ½ cup red onion, ⅛" thick slices
- ¼ cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1 tablespoon basil leaves, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon mint leaves, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano, plus extra for sprinkling
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables – Cut the cucumber by halving it lengthwise, then chopping it into ½-inch thick slices. This should yield about 3 cups. Cut the tomatoes into quarters lengthwise, then into ½-inch thick wedges.
- Combine the Vegetables – In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olives, basil, and mint. Set aside.
- Make the Dressing – In a medium bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and oregano. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, constantly whisking until an emulsified and lightly thickened dressing forms. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as desired.
- Toss the Salad – Pour the dressing over the vegetable mix, and toss to combine. Allow the salad to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
- To Serve – Stir the salad and transfer it to a serving dish. Sprinkle it with crumbled feta, salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
Notes
- Recipe Yield: 7 cups
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Storing: The salad can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Renee M Heffner says
This is my new base for many recipes. The dressing is wonderfully simple and delicious. Thanks!
Anna Leah says
This was indeed the perfect accompaniment for Greek lemon chicken and potatoes. We especially loved the fresh mint and basil in it!
Jessica Gavin says
Yes, the herbs add a nice refreshing touch to the cucumber salad!
Shiv Prakash Pandey says
Wonderful, tasty and healthy recipe. It was so so so much delicious. Thanks a million to you Jessica Gavin. Members of my family are full of thanks to you. As you may know, we admire veg. food because of many reasons. India is full of thousands of tasty recipes. But yr. art is superb.
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you for your lovely feedback! So happy that your family is enjoying the recipes.