Tomato Cucumber Salad

Tomato Cucumber Salad is the perfect summer side dish to serve at barbecues, cookouts, and picnics. This healthy recipe is made with juicy, sweet tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh basil, which provide tons of flavor. It is quick and easy to prepare this simple, refreshing, and versatile salad.

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This Tomato Cucumber recipe is very similar to my recipe for Tomato Basil Salad, but with added cucumber.

Cucumber adds even more cool, fresh flavor to this salad that is the absolute perfect summer side dish.

It’s delicious as is, but also very versatile. You can also try adding mozzarella or burrata for an Italian caprese-style salad, or try feta and oregano for more of a Greek vibe.

Why This Recipe Works

Tomato Cucumber Salad is quick and easy. It’s the perfect recipe to prepare last minute. Only a handful of ingredients are needed to create this delicious recipe.

This flavorful salad uses fresh and healthy ingredients such as cherry tomatoes, cucumber, basil, and shallot. A simple oil and vinegar dressing is made to toss with the tomatoes or drizzle on top.

This colorful side dish is naturally gluten free, low carb, vegetarian, and vegan.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound tomatoes (halved or quartered): cherry and heirloom tomatoes are delicious for salads, but you can use any tomatoes or a combination of different tomatoes that you like.
• 1/2 pound cucumber (sliced or cut into halves or quarters): mini cucumbers are the perfect size for this salad, but larger cucumbers that have been cut smaller can also be used.
• 1 shallot (finely diced): or small red onion.
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar: or red wine vinegar
• salt
• pepper
• 4 to 5 basil leaves (cut into ribbons): parsley, oregano, or tarragon can also be used.

The full recipe and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Prep!

Cut the tomatoes into halves or quarters and the cucumbers into slices, halves, or quarters.

Finely dice the shallot and chiffonade the basil into ribbons by stacking the leaves on top of each other, tightly rolling them together, and finely slicing across.

Create!

Place the tomatoes, cucumber, and shallots into a medium bowl and toss gently to combine.

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a pinch of salt and pepper until emulsified. Taste and adjust the seasoning, as needed.

Either pour the dressing into the bowl of vegetables and toss to coat, or place the vegetables onto a serving tray and drizzle the dressing over the top.

Let the vegetables marinate for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Present!

Garnish the salad with the ribbons of basil and serve.

Tips and Techniques

• For a more visually appealing salad, use a variety of different tomatoes in different colors. You can also cut the tomatoes in half both vertically and horizontally, like shown in the photos in this post.
• This salad is very versatile. You can add mozzarella or feta cheese or swap out the basil for other herbs like tarragon, oregano or parsley.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3 days, but keep in mind that tomato cucumber salad is best freshly made.

FAQ’s

Can You Make Tomato Cucumber Salad Ahead of Time?

Tomato cucumber salad is best made fresh, however, you can make it up to 3 days ahead of time. You may want to wait to dress the salad and add fresh herbs until immediately before serving.

What Goes Well With Tomato Cucumber Salad?

Tomato Cucumber Salad can be paired with steak, chicken, seafood, pasta and just about any grilled main dish in the summer time. It’s also a delicious side to a simple sandwich or soup.

What Are The Best Tomatoes For Salad?

The best tomatoes for salads are cherry tomatoes because they are sweet and small in size. Heirloom tomatoes also work well in salads because they are very flavorful. Both come in a variety of colors, while heirloom tomatoes can also be found in different shapes and sizes.

More Summer Side Dishes

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