• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Healthy Recipes Blog
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility Statement
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility Statement
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Vegetable Recipes » Cucumber Tomato Salad

    Cucumber Tomato Salad

    Last updated: Feb 16, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Card

    This incredibly flavorful and fresh-tasting cucumber tomato salad is the perfect summer side dish and a lifesaver during those months when turning the oven on is unthinkable.

    Ready in about fifteen minutes, it takes advantage of beautiful ripe summer tomatoes and firm, seedless English cucumbers.

    Tomato cucumber salad served in a white plate with a silver serving spoon.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tips
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this cucumber tomato salad. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    English cucumber: These are the elongated cucumbers that are tightly wrapped in plastic.

    An English cucumber.
    An English cucumber

    Cherry tomatoes: Try to pick tomatoes that are red and ripe yet firm.

    Red onions: Just ¼ cup and thinly sliced, to add sharpness to the salad without overwhelming it.

    Cilantro: While parsley is an acceptable alternative, cilantro is much more flavorful.

    To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic granules, and dried oregano.

    Olive oil: It's really important to use high-quality olive oil in this recipe.

    Lemon juice: Make sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best, freshest flavor.

    The ingredients needed to make a cucumber tomato salad.

    Instructions

    This cucumber tomato salad is so easy to make and it's ready in about 10 minutes. The detailed instructions are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of the steps:

    Place the cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro in a large bowl.

    A photo collage showing steps 1-4 for making a tomato cucumber salad.

    Sprinkle the vegetables with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic granules, and dried oregano.

    Drizzle the salad with olive oil and lemon juice. Gently toss to combine.

    Serve immediately, or let the salad rest at room temperature for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

    A photo collage showing steps 5-8 for making a tomato cucumber salad.

    Expert tips

    • Don't skimp on the olive oil! It's what makes the salad so flavorful. I've seen recipes that add 1 or 2 tablespoons of it. I highly recommend using the full three tablespoons. It will make a big difference. And definitely use good olive oil in this recipe.
    • Make sure to slice the onions very thinly. No one wants to bite into a big chunk of sharp onion in their salad.
    • When you sprinkle the spices over the salad it might seem like a lot, but I do recommend using all of them. They make the salad very flavorful.

    Frequently asked questions

    What are English cucumbers?

    English cucumbers are long, thin, and elongated. They are firm and seedless. Their texture is perfect in a salad because they're not as mushy as other cucumber varieties. They're also more flavorful because of their lower water content.

    Should I slice the tomatoes?

    If your cherry tomatoes are small like the ones I use, there's no need to slice them. If they're larger, you should cut them in half, since those larger ones have a tendency to slide right off one's fork when one tries to eat them.

    If you use regular tomatoes, you should cut them into bite-size wedges.

    Can I use yellow onions instead of red?

    You could, but they are sharper than red onions, so make sure to slice them very thinly and use a little less of them. Red onions are better and they also look prettier in the salad.

    Variations

    Here are a few ways for you to vary this recipe:

    • Add ¼ cup of crumbled feta cheese.
    • Add ¼ cup of pitted kalamata olives.
    • You can use parsley instead of cilantro, although I feel that cilantro really elevates this salad in terms of its flavor.
    • You can use dried thyme instead of dried oregano.
    • One minced garlic clove can replace the garlic granules.
    • Scallions are a good substitute for red onions.
    • You can use red wine vinegar instead of lemon juice, although I really like the fresh flavor of freshly squeezed lemon juice in this salad.

    Serving suggestions

    I serve this salad as an easy side dish. It goes well with many main courses, but it goes especially well with Mediterranean-style dishes and with simple grilled meats and seafood. Here are a few examples:

    • Grilled chicken skewers
    • Beef kabobs
    • Grilled salmon
    • Oven chicken kabobs
    • Grilled shrimp
    • Grilled chicken breast
    • Skirt steak

    Storing leftovers

    This is not a good recipe to make ahead of time. It's best enjoyed when freshly assembled or after a short rest for allowing the flavors to meld.

    But if you find yourself with some leftovers, they'll keep alright in the fridge, in an airtight container, until the next day. I wouldn't try to keep them beyond that.

    Cucumber tomato salad served on a white plate with a serving spoon.

    Related recipes

    • Cobb Salad
    • Avocado Chicken Salad
    • Broccoli Salad
    • Caprese Salad

    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe card

    Cucumber tomato salad..
    4.98 from 48 votes
    Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Print Recipe

    Cucumber Tomato Salad

    A wonderfully flavorful summer staple, this fresh-tasting cucumber tomato salad is ready in 15 minutes.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Servings: 3 servings
    Calories: 157kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 English cucumber sliced (2 cups)
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved if large
    • ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
    • ¼ cup cilantro chopped
    • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
    • ½ teaspoon garlic granules
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Place the cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro in a large bowl.
    • Sprinkle the vegetables with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic granules, and dried oregano.
    • Drizzle the salad with olive oil and lemon juice. Gently toss to combine.
    • Serve immediately, or let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Gently toss again before serving.

    WATCH THE VIDEO:

    NOTES

    • Don't skimp on the olive oil! It's what makes the salad so flavorful. I've seen recipes that add 1 or 2 tablespoons of it. I highly recommend using the full three tablespoons. It will make a big difference. And definitely use good olive oil in this recipe.
    • Make sure to slice the onions very thinly. No one wants to bite into a big chunk of sharp onion in their salad.
    • When you sprinkle the spices over the salad it might seem like a lot, but I do recommend using all of them. They make the salad very flavorful.

    ADD YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes. They're only visible to you. If you clear your browser's cache, they'll be lost.
    DISCLAIMERSMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    NUTRITION PER SERVING

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 157kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 383mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g
    NEVER MISS A RECIPE! I typically publish a new or updated recipe once a week. Want them in your inbox? Subscribe!
    Pinterest icon Facebook icon Youtube icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Tiktok icon

    More Vegetable Recipes

    • Shiitake Mushrooms: Two Ways
    • Spinach Fritters
    • Spaghetti Squash Noodles
    • Cauliflower Stuffing

    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.

    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


    subscribe to healthy recipes blog
    Pinterest icon Facebook icon Youtube icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Tiktok icon


    Warm up with some soup!

    • Creamy Cauliflower Soup
    • Easy Tomato Soup
    • Egg Drop Soup
    • Cream of Broccoli Soup
    • Cabbage Soup
    • Butternut Squash Soup
    • Cream of Mushroom Soup
    • Easy Hamburger Soup

    Footer

    Media mentions

    Media mentions of Healthy Recipes Blog: logos

    The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease.


    By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.


    Copyright © 2023