Cucumber and Tomato Salad Recipe
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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.ย
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.ย
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.
Looks so good!! Perfect for summer, Robyn!
Thanks so much, Julie! I’m craving your cheese steaks!
I love salads with bold colors!
I do, too!
This is just so beautiful!! I want to come visit your garden!!
You are too sweet, Kristan. You are welcome to come visit anytime!
Wow, the way you talk about your garden, makes me want to come for a visit and offer my hand at some watering and weeding. This salad screams summer and I think every cook should have some variation in their recipe repertoire. Absolutely lovely!
If I can keep the deer out of it, I’d be even happier with it! ๐ I completely agree about having some variation of this. It’s just a classic, delicious, quick-fix sort of dish!
Your pictures are so good! This is perfect, thanks for sharing!
Aww, thank you so much, Aimee. You are sweet!
So fresh, so simple – – SO perfect for the summer!! That’s pretty great, that you have your own garden ๐
Thanks so much! By the end of the summer, I’m still loving it as much as I do at the beginning. Hope you like it, too!
This speaks summer to me. Refreshing and quick!
Yes! Love the quick part!!!
One of my most favorite combos!
Mine too!
This looks so delicious and refreshing, yum!
Thanks so much, Rachel.
Robyn, this is the perfect summer salad. You’re right, this is a great time to use a Farmer’s Market {for those of us who don’t have gardens and wish we did}. I like to eat this for lunch with an egg sandwich… and make it with balsamic vinegar and oil. Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Yum! I’ll have to try your version with oil and balsamic. Sounds yummy!