Cucumber Tomato Salad pairs well with so many dishes! A summer favorite, this cucumber and tomato salad recipe is delicious and great to make ahead too!
The smell of the garden is pretty heady and intoxicating. As much as I sometimes dread having to go out and water, weed, and tend to our garden, once I am within a few feet, the smell of the plants draws me in. The sight of my ripe, juicy tomatoes and the crisp, green cucumbers growing on the vine makes me a happy girl. One of the first recipes I make with my bounty is this Cucumber Tomato Salad.Â
I didn’t always love to garden when I was a little girl. Maybe it was because we had one every year. Georgia summers are hot and I would have rather been playing than picking vegetables. I felt sure when I grew up I wouldn’t have anything to do with one.
Flash forward to when I married up to now and you’ll find me drawing out garden plans in the dead of winter, studying over seed packets, devouring the Farmer’s Almanac, and calling my great uncle to find out when he’s planting his beans. After I plant my garden, I stalk it like a criminal until the first blooms appear. Then, I’ll baby them like an overprotective mother.
Cucumber Tomato Salad Recipe
Once my garden starts producing cucumbers and tomatoes, this Cucumber and Tomato Salad is an immediate must-make in my kitchen. Even if you do not have a garden, this salad is definitely begging to be made. Just visit your farmer’s market or grocery store. This is delicious anytime you can get good, fresh veggies to make it.
How to Make Cucumber Tomato Salad
For this salad, you’ll only need a few items.
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Onions (optional)
- Easy Italian Dressing or store bought
To make it, begin by washing your tomatoes and cucumbers really well. Slice the cucumbers into thin slices and cut the cherry tomatoes in half lengthwise. If using another type of tomatoes, dice them. If you wish to add onion to your salad, dice it too.
Add sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions (if using) and dressing to a large bowl. Gently toss all of the ingredients together until veggies are well coated with dressing. Then serve or refrigerate until ready to enjoy!
When I first started making this salad, I made it with the dressing my Grandmother always used. (Recipe in the recipe notes). But a few years ago as I was making it, I tried it with my homemade Italian dressing instead. So delicious and so easy! My recipe includes both dressing options. I think you’ll love them both!
Make Ahead
It’s a perfect recipe to make ahead too! After you make it, place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Such a tasty salad for picnics and potlucks too!
How to Serve
This salad goes with everything, from a southern pinto bean supper to a light topping for grilled fish. It’s so good served alongside bbq chicken, pork or any other summertime menu you can think of. It is so crispy and refreshing that it always satisfies. And it’s also great on it’s own too!
Make this salad for yourself soon. You’ll be so glad you did.
Other Easy Salads
Try some of my other quick and simple side salads too!
Here’s my quick and easy cucumber and tomato salad recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do!
Cucumber and Tomato Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cucumber, sliced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved or 2 medium tomatoes, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced, optional
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing, homemade or store-bought
Instructions
- Add the sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, onion (if using), and dressing to a large bowl. Gently toss all of the ingredients together to coat with the dressing.
Notes
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Make-Ahead:
Store Cucumber Tomato Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up 7 days.Â
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Originally posted 2012.
Great recipe! I had garbanzo beans in the pantry and added those as well. Thought it was a nice addition.
I bet that tasted delicious Carol! So glad you liked it! Thanks!
Very tasty and just screams SUMMER! An old-fashioned classic that we all should still be making. Had some fresh cilantro so chopped a little up & threw it in. OMG – so refreshing on a hot day in August in Atlanta. Thanks for this recipe!.
I am so glad you enjoy it! It is such a fresh, tasty side – especially on a hot summer day! The cilantro sounds so good!
Thanks so much!!!
On your website is there a place where I can save my favorite recipes to my own recipe box . I do not want to print them,just save them
Hi Mary Louise,
I do not have a recipe box at the moment, but would recommend using services like Yummly or even Pinterest as a visual storage box that then allows you to find exactly what you need! Let me know if you have any questions on that. I’m happy to help! xo
Super easy and tasty summer salad. Can be stored for future use as well. Thanks for sharing!
I added a half teaspoon of garlic powder. This is an excellent ‘make ahead’ dish. The flavor melds so beautifully! Perfect summer salad!!!
I make something very similar with honey instead of sugar, with a small amount of Dijon added. My recipe calls for olive oil but after reading yours, I’m going to use water and cut those calories!! This is so yummy and refreshing and is good alongside or on top of almost anything. Plus, it just gets better after a day or two in the fridge!!
Would you mind posting your recipe? It sounds delish. Thanks.
My grandmother (Meemaw) used to make this dish with tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers (instead of cucumbers) and we love to eat it on top of black eyed peas (the only way I really like black eyed peas!) She used to call it “goulash”.
I’m curious about where you and your Meemaw were from. My Mamaw used to make this and also call it goulash. I was so curious as to how she came up with calling it that.
Hmmmm. Different! I’ll have to try this. Thanks.
We went to our local Farmers Market today and bought Vidalia onions and pickling cucumbers. Then I happened across this recipe. Since we canned some tomatoes today, I made it in an extra jar and it is marinating in the fridge for tomorrow’s lunch. Thanks for sharing!
I made this salad, but made a few changes. I didn’t dice the cucumbers or tomatoes. I cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise and then sliced them. I used grape tomatoes cut in half. I added garlic powder to the dressing. My family had a barbecue on Saturday and we ate this as a salad rather than on meat. It was totally gobbled up! I was told that this salad is a “make again”! Thank you!!
Denise
can you please tell me what a “spring onion’ is? thanks, i think i’d love this salad!
Spring means Young onions. Use scallions/green onions Baby Vidalias in the spring are great!
.
Thanks so much VicE! So delicious aren’t they?! xo