Cucumber Tomato Salad Recipe

When it’s blazing hot outside, this cucumber tomato salad is exactly what I want to eat. This recipe is crisp and refreshing, light yet satisfying. This salad features fresh cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, not-too-much red onion, fresh herbs and optional feta cheese. Once tossed in Greek dressing, this basic combination is further proof that summertime produce doesn’t need much help to taste spectacular.

Bring this tomato cucumber salad recipe to your next get-together, or serve it at home as a side salad. It keeps well for several days in the refrigerator. I love leftovers with sandwiches—this salad would be perfect with my Caprese Sandwich, Vegetarian “BLT” Sandwich or Green Goddess Hummus Sandwich. Hope you’ll make it soon!

Cucumber Tomato Salad Ingredients

Cucumber

But of course! Use one English cucumber or two Persian cucumbers for this salad. I prefer these varieties to standard garden cucumbers because their skin isn’t bitter and they are extra crisp. That said, you can use a regular cucumber if that’s what you have—taste it first, and peel off half or all of the skin if it tastes bitter.

Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are perfect for this salad because they’re small, flavorful, and more fleshy than watery. Cut them in half if they’re small-to-medium in size, and quarter any larger tomatoes.

Red Onion

Red onion can be overpowering, so we’ll tame its intensity by soaking it in ice water before using. Simply slice the onion and place it in a bowl of ice water while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Soaking also makes the onion extra crisp and nice.

Optional Feta Cheese

You’ll love this salad either way. Feta offers little bursts of creamy, salty flavor. Without it, this salad tastes extra light and refreshing, like a spa salad!

Fresh Basil or Dill

This salad is not complete without fresh herbs. Use a combination of the two or all basil, whichever you prefer.

Greek Dressing

Finally, we’ll toss this salad with my go-to Greek salad dressing. It’s bold and zippy, so you can get by with less. Sometimes salads of this nature are swimming in oil, but not this one. You can either cut the salad dressing ingredients in half for the perfect amount for this salad, or better yet, make the full batch to enjoy on green salads throughout the week.