Description
This Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad is a light, refreshing dish made with fresh tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and red onions tossed in a simple vinaigrette. Perfect as a quick side for grilled meats, summer barbecues, or meal prep, this salad is healthy, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 5 large tomatoes (vine-ripened or Roma), quartered
- 1 English cucumber, peeled and sliced
- ½ large red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
For the Dressing:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon honey or brown sugar (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Rinse the tomatoes, cucumber, and herbs under cold water. Cut the tomatoes into quarters and slice the cucumber into thin rounds. Thinly slice the red onion. Chop the parsley and cilantro. Transfer all the vegetables to a large mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl or a mason jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and honey (if using). Stir or shake until fully combined and emulsified.
- Assemble the salad: Pour the dressing over the vegetables. Use tongs or a spoon to toss everything gently, ensuring that all the ingredients are evenly coated.
- Let it marinate: For the best flavor, let the salad sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the dressing to soak into the vegetables, enhancing their taste.
- Serve and enjoy: Once the flavors have blended, serve the salad immediately, or refrigerate for a chilled version. Garnish with additional fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- If you prefer a milder onion flavor, soak the sliced onions in cold water for 10 minutes before adding them to the salad.
- For a creamier variation, add crumbled feta cheese or diced avocado.
- To make this salad heartier, toss in grilled chicken, chickpeas, or quinoa.
- If substituting vinegar, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice works well for a slightly different tang.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg