Popping in with a PSA that the recipe for Cucumber Tomato Salad exists and you should be making it as often as possible from now until Labor Day.
The more you know!
This fresh, and healthy side dish featuring garden-fresh herbs and vegetables drizzled in the most luscious homemade Italian Vinaigrette pairs perfectly with any summer dinner.
Made in minutes, and incredibly refreshing — it’ll instantly become a new summer staple!
Italian Cucumber Salad
My Mom served this easy Cucumber Tomato Salad recipe with dinner at least three times a week each summer growing up. This was a change from the iceberg lettuce salad she served at the same frequency during the colder months of the year. (Tell me you grew up in the 80s and 90s without telling me…)
It probably goes without saying that fresh summer tomatoes paired with crispy cucumbers and a handful of fragrant basil, drizzled with tangy Italian Vinaigrette, is a solid upgrade from a ho-hum lettuce salad!
This fresh combo is delicious enough to eat all on its own, especially on steamy summer nights when you’re craving something light and refreshing, but pairs perfectly with grilled or BBQ dinners too.
Ingredients Needed
Raid your garden or Farmer’s Market for the main ingredients in this fresh side salad. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cucumbers: I grew up eating regular ol’ garden cucumbers in this salad, which we’d peel then seed before chopping. Nowadays, English cucumbers and Persian cucumbers (aka mini cucumbers) are readily available and fine to use instead. No need to peel English or Persian cukes before tossing into the salad.
- Tomatoes: My best advice is to use whatever tomato variety looks and smells the best when plucking or shopping for this salad. I love chopping then seeding Vine-Ripened tomatoes for this salad, though Roma tomatoes, Heirloom tomatoes, or even cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes are great too!
- Basil: a handful of torn or chopped fresh basil leaves adds an irresistible and nostalgic aroma and flavor to this fresh summer salad.
Easy Homemade Dressing
You can of course use any store-bought dressing for Cucumber Tomato Salad — I recommend Zesty Italian Vinaigrette or Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing — though nothing compares to homemade for a salad made with fresh, simple ingredients.
That said, I highly recommend whipping up my homemade Italian Vinaigrette. Reader Trish says:
“I am totally loving this dressing. My life feels oddly incomplete if I don’t have a batch already mixed in the fridge and awaiting my next salad. “
#RELATABLE! Feel free to make this vinaigrette up to 5 days ahead of time. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Neutral-tasting oil: like avocado oil, grapeseed oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil. The flavor of extra virgin olive oil overpowers the other ingredients, imo.
- White wine vinegar or Red wine vinegar: provides a puckery tang to the vinaigrette.
- Apple cider vinegar: is a little more mild than red wine vinegar and adds a light, tangy flavor.
- Dijon mustard: helps emulsify the vinaigrette.
- Minced shallot: adds a mild onion flavor to the dressing. I use dried onion flakes in a pinch.
- Fresh garlic: adds SO much flavor. You only need a little bit!
- Honey: helps balance all the flavors. Use pure maple syrup or granulated sugar to keep this dressing vegan.
- Dried herbs and seasonings: salt, pepper, dried oregano, and dried marjoram add lots of craveable flavor.
Switch It Up
We make this salad in such high frequency each summer because all the ingredients are bursting out of our garden. That said, make this easy side salad work with what YOU have on hand! Here are some ideas:
- Herbs: use minced chives, chopped parsley, or chopped fresh dill instead of, or in addition to, fresh basil.
- Onions: add thinly sliced red onion or shallots.
- Veggies: add shredded carrot or diced peppers.
- Tomatoes: I normally use vine-ripened tomatoes, though roma, cherry, grape, or heirloom tomatoes are all delicious. De-seed larger tomatoes before adding to the salad.
- Cucumbers: use English or Persian cucumbers, which don’t need to be peeled nor seeded prior to eating, instead of regular garden-variety cucumbers.
- Cheese: add mini mozzarella balls (also called “pearls”) or crumbled feta cheese.
- Avocado: add a diced avocado for creaminess.
- Olives: give the salad a Mediterranean spin by adding chopped or sliced kalamata olives, or Spanish or Italian green olives.
Fresh Side Dish for Dinner
I try not to overcomplicate dinner in the summer, so often times this salad will be the star of an otherwise simple meal of grilled burgers, dogs, or brats. Here are some other meals this fresh salad pairs well with!
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin
- Perfect Grilled Steak
- Easy Baked Ribs
- Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
- Grilled Pesto Chicken
- Smoked Chicken Wings
- Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
- Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
- Sweet Chili Coconut-Lime Chicken
Try this Fresh and Healthy Salad
How to Make Cucumber Tomato Salad
Step 1: Make the Homemade Italian Vinaigrette.
Trust me when I tell you that this stuff is better than anything you’ll find at the store! To a mason jar or small bowl add the dressing ingredients — oil, vinegars, Dijon mustard, minced shallot and garlic, honey, and dried herbs and seasonings — then shake or whisk to combine.
I like to make the vinaigrette at least a couple of hours before dressing the salad so the flavors have time to meld, though it will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Step 2: Chop the fresh vegetables and herbs.
Chop then seed the tomatoes and cucumber then add to a large bowl. Tear, chop, or thinly slice (aka chiffonade) fresh basil leaves then add to the bowl.
How to chiffonade fresh basil leaves:
- Nest basil leaves into each other to form a “boat”.
- Roll the leaves into a cigar shape.
- Thinly slice.
Step 3: Dress then serve the salad.
Last step is to pour the Italian Vinaigrette over the Cucumber Tomato Salad, season with a little more salt and pepper to taste, then scoop, serve, and devour.
If you find yourself spooning up every last drop of the homemade vinaigrette after the last piece of cucumber and tomato have been speared — you’re in good company. ;)
More Fresh Side Dish Recipes
- Fruit Salad Recipe for a Crowd
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- The BEST Pasta Salad
- Napa Sweet Corn Salad
- Marinated Vegetable Salad
- Sweet Corn Caprese Salad
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Cucumber Tomato Salad
Description
Cucumber Tomato Salad drizzled with Italian Vinaigrette is the perfect side dish to any summer meal! Quick, fresh, healthy, and delicious.
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and chopped
- 4 vine-ripened tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- handful fresh basil, torn or sliced
- For the Italian Vinaigrette:
- scant 1 cup neutral-tasting oil like avocado, grapeseed, or canola oil (do not recommend EVOO)
- 1/4 cup red wine or white wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinager
- 2 Tablespoons minced shallot OR 1 teaspoon dried minced onions
- 1 clove garlic, pressed or finely minced
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
Directions
- For the Italian Vinaigrette: Combine all the ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid or a small mixing bowl then shake or whisk to combine. Can be made up to 5 days ahead of time. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Add the cucumbers, tomatoes, and basil to a large serving bowl then drizzle with Italian Vinaigrette, season with extra salt and pepper, and serve.
Notes
- Feel free to use an English cucumber instead of a regular cucumber — there is no need to peel nor seed it first.
- Roma Tomatoes are great in this salad too — use what is in season, growing in your garden, and/or looks great at the Farmer’s Market!
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin
JimP 05.13.2024
Can a big batch of this salad be refrigerated?
Kristin 05.14.2024
You bet!
Sue Casey 09.11.2022
Made this with the last of the ripe tomatoes and cukes that were still in the garden. Even the basil is saying goodbye to summer! Delicious – will definitely make this a lot more next summer.
Kristin 09.13.2022
Love that were able to enjoy this with your homegrown crop, Sue! Next summer can’t come fast enough!
Sherry 08.12.2022
The dressing is amazing! I will be making it again.
Kristin 08.12.2022
I’m so glad it will be a repeater for you!!
Tamara 11.05.2023
Loved your story! “Tell me you grew up in the 80’s without telling me you grew up here n the 80’s…” = Iceburg Lettuce salads & asking What picture was on YOUR TrapperKeeper? LOL
Stephanie 07.29.2021
A really refreshing side! Always looking for easy veggie side dishes and this is going to be in my lunches the rest of the summer!
Randy F. 07.10.2021
This is a go to for us. Great dressing! Your recipes rock.
Kristin 07.23.2021
Hope it becomes a summertime staple for you as it is for us. Thrilled you enjoyed it, Randy! Thanks so much for your feedback.
Maureen McFarlane 06.14.2021
I completely agree with your husband about the vinaigrette it is heavenly. I thought I would leave out the honey the next time but I see now why it is there. Thank you for posting this recipe.
Kristin 06.15.2021
For sure! Not sweet, just balances everything out. So glad you enjoyed, Maureen!
Crista 08.09.2020
How long will leftovers of this keep?
Trish G. 08.06.2019
I am totally loving this dressing. My life feels oddly incomplete if I don’t have a batch already mixed in the fridge and awaiting my next salad. Thanks for another great recipe, Kristin! This is awesome!
Kristin 08.08.2019
YAY! It’s a staple in our fridge too! :)
jane 05.26.2019
I wish I had the ingredients to make this tonight! Thank’s Kristin! :-)
Pam Chamberlin 02.23.2019
I made some of your vinegar rat tonight and I do agree it is absolutely delicious and super easy. Thanks for sharing the great recipe.
Kristin 03.01.2019
Oh I’m so glad to hear it, Pam! Thanks for your feedback and recipe review!