This cucumber tomato salad is a refreshing summer side dish! A tangy vinaigrette brightens juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, onions, and herbs.
This cucumber tomato salad recipe is the simplest summer side dish! Making it is as easy as tossing sliced cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, crisp onions, and herbs with a tangy 5-ingredient dressing.
I make some version of it every week in the summer, changing up the herbs to use what looks best in my garden or tossing in fun add-ins like avocado or cheese. Bright and refreshing, it pairs well with almost any meal, from fresh summer pastas to veggie burgers off the grill.
Whether you make it as written or make it your own, this recipe is a great one to have in your summer rotation. It’s a quick, delicious way to enjoy the season’s best produce. I hope you love it as much as I do!
How to Make Cucumber Tomato Salad
You can find the full recipe at the bottom of this post, but for now, here’s a quick overview of how it goes:
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Details |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Use whatever kinds look best at your farmers market or grocery store. Heirloom, cherry, grape, or vine tomatoes all work well. |
| Cucumber | Typically made with English cucumber which has small seeds and thin skin. No peeling required. |
| Onion | Red onion is preferred, but white onion can also be used. |
| Fresh herbs | Basil, mint, parsley, dill, oregano, cilantro, or thyme work well. |
Dressing for Cucumber Tomato Salad
The dressing is a simple vinaigrette made from fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
For alternatives, you can use:
- Distilled white vinegar
- White wine vinegar
- Sherry vinegar
Preparation Tips
To enhance flavor, chill the salad for 10 minutes before adding oil and herbs. This helps reduce excess water from the cucumbers and tomatoes.
Mix cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions with lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper and let chill. Transfer to a fresh bowl before serving, add olive oil and herbs, and season to taste.
Recipe Variations
This salad is delicious as is, but you can easily customize it with the following add-ins:
- Mini mozzarella balls
- Cubed or crumbled feta cheese
- Diced avocado
- Olives
- Chopped bell pepper
- Thinly sliced celery
What to Serve with Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad
This salad pairs wonderfully with a variety of summer meals such as grilled proteins or fresh pasta dishes.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
This salad is best enjoyed on the day it’s made, but it can be prepared a few hours in advance.
- Make-ahead: Mix cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper and chill until ready to serve.
- Storage: Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
More Summer Salads to Try
If you enjoyed this cucumber tomato salad, consider trying:
- Watermelon Feta Salad
- Quinoa Salad with Veggies
- Chickpea Salad with Avocado
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- 1 large English cucumber, sliced thin (2½ cups)
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped (about 1½ pounds)
- ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup chopped fresh herbs (basil, parsley, dill, mint)
- Flaky sea salt for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Chill for 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, leaving behind excess juices. Add olive oil and herbs, toss, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Season to taste and serve.