Cucumber Tomato Salad is an easy to make summer side dish that is going to be a perfect compliment to all of your grilled meats this summer!
With grilling season coming, I love easy Salads like this Tomato Cucumber Salad, Creamy Cucumber Salad and Chopped Salad to serve as sides. They are quick and easy to assemble, yet so flavorful.
Why You’ll Love This Salad?
- Perfect to make when you have a bunch of ripe tomatoes that you need to use up.
- Comes together in just a few minutes and makes a perfect side for your Summer BBQ.
Sabrina’s Cucumber Tomato Salad Recipe
Cucumber Tomato Salad is a refreshing summer salad recipe. It is naturally gluten-free and high in vitamin C. You can enjoy it while tomatoes are ripe and in season, which is generally when they are much less expensive than normal. With the weather warming up tomatoes are becoming sweeter and sweeter and I’m finding tomatoes are already getting ripe enough for this recipe. This salad is perfect as a side dish to pair along side all of your grilled favorites at BBQs and cookouts.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup fresh dill , chopped
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 4 cups english cucumbers , cut in half lengthwise and sliced
- 4 vine tomatoes , chopped
- 1/2 red onion , thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the dill, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Toss dressing and vegetables together gently.
Nutrition
Want to save this recipe? Create a free account to easily save your favorite recipes
Sabrina’s Tips
If you have an aversion to raw red onion you can soak your red onion slices in ice water for ten minutes before adding them to the salad to mute the raw onion flavor. Additionally, be careful when tossing the tomatoes with the dressing so you don’t lose the tomato juice from them.
Table of Contents
About this Recipe
This simple salad uses red onions, tomatoes and cucumber. A classic red wine vinaigrette and and a healthy handful of fresh chopped dill is mixed in. A classic vinaigrette has a ratio of 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. You can use your favorite salad oil for this and your favorite vinegar, but in this recipe and with dill as a flavor I chose to use red wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil, since it will pair so nicely together. Because the dressing isn’t emulsified with mayonnaise or mustard, you’re going to have to whisk the dressing together right before tossing with the salad so that everything gets coated evenly.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes. The great thing about this salad is you can make it ahead of time and it won’t wilt because it doesn’t contain any lettuce. The tomatoes, cucumbers and onions will soften just a bit as they sit but only to become more tender as you eat them.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- If you add more ingredients to this tomato cucumber salad recipe be sure to increase the amount of dressing you make.
- This is an easy salad you can make ahead of time and it can sit out at room temperature for up to 2 hours before serving.
- Do not refrigerate your tomatoes before serving, this makes tomatoes mealy.
- You can peel the cucumbers in this recipe if you prefer. However, it isn’t completely necessary because English cucumbers have a thin skin that make them easy to eat.
Variations
- Tomatoes: I use vine tomatoes in this salad recipe but you can use cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes or any other ripe tomatoes. If you use cherry tomatoes make sure you slice them in half to allow the tomato juice and the dill vinaigrette to mix with the cut tomatoes.
- Greek Version: Add Feta cheese for a fun, Greek twist. You can add this in fresh or baked. If baking, brush with extra-virgin olive oil and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Italian Version: Fresh Mozzarella is great for an Italian version, add some fresh basil too.
- Protein: Some Grilled Chicken or Grilled Shrimp tossed in the salad would be a great way to add protein and flavor.
- Vegetables: Carrots, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, red bell peppers, or avocados all make nice additions or substitutions in this salad. The beans will even add some more protein and fiber.
- Fruit: For a sweet, unexpected twist, try adding strawberries or watermelon to the recipe.
- Lemon Juice: You can also add lemon juice in place of or in addition to the red wine vinegar.
- Vinegar: You can swap out the red wine vinegar for apple cider vinegar too.
Related Recipes
More Fresh Chopped Veggie Salads
Photo Used in previous post:
I cut this recipe in half, since I’m making it for two. I used white wine vinegar instead of red, and this is delicious! So fresh and refreshing. However, I made it the night before serving, and I don’t like refrigerated tomatoes because they can get mealy. So, I covered overnight and put in the fridge a half hour before serving. The tomatoes tasted fresh, not mealy, and the dressing was perfect!
I’m glad the salad turned out to be a success! Thank you for the positive review.
Was good. Quick and easy. . Made recipe as is except added dry dill as I didn’t have fresh.
Great salad, will make it again!
Sabrina your recipes never disappoint. This was easy and delicious! The family loved it.
Love this salad!
Can I use dried dill instead of fresh?
Hi Breanna! Yes you absolutely can but fresh dill is preferred. Thank you
Just tried it with the dried dill!! It was a little gritty at first but the dill softened up pretty fast. Thank you!! Definitely making this again.
Hopefully next time I will be able to find fresh dill, but it is good to know I can make it without it
Breanna,
How much dried dill did you use? And how long did it take for the gritty to soften?
Thanks
Hi Sabrina,
I’m eyeing this recipe as a side for a Memorial Day picnic. It sounds delicious! Question: if using dried dill, is the amount still the same (1/4 cup), or should that be adjusted? Thank you so much!
One of our favourite salads!! Sometimes I add cooked couscous or small cooked pasta shells to make it a more wholesome meal in one.
Is this recipe enough for 6 people or should I double it?
I ma having a dinner party for 6 people. Will the cucumber tomato salad recipe be enough for 6 adults?
Brought this to Easter dinner! Put the dressing on at my sister-in-law’s house and tossed it there. It was a hit. And she even wanted some of the leftovers. I think I am going to make this for future events from now on.
Yay! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it.
How much is a serving?
I have about a cup as a serving.
One of our favorite salads, I add a bit of garlic oregano to the dressing plus olives and feta. Also a little dijon to help it emulsify
Thanks for the suggestions, Rocky.
Love this!! I’ve made it 3 times! Can I refrigerate leftovers? Would love to make ahead for work!
I’m so glad you love it so much! Keeping this salad in the fridge in an airtight container is key. It will last a week in the fridge.
I loved the freshness and the dill, but need to cut back on the salt by half. Otherwise, very tasty.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe has all of my favorite flavors! Love the sound of it and can’t wait to give it a try! YUM!
Enjoy!
Love this fresh salad, I make it often at home as I grow tomatoes and cucumbers in my garden. Your photography is lovely, now I need a bite of this salad.
So glad you enjoy it! Having your own garden is such a blessing to pick from.
Oh, I grow up eating something similar to this, but we never add dill before. I’m curious how this will taste. 🙂
I’d love to know what you think after trying!
What a colorful, healthy and tasty dish! Makes a great lunch option; I’m going to try this tomorrow!
Enjoy!
Mmm tastes like summer in a bowl! Definitely making extra vinaigrette for later.
I hope you enjoy it!
We make something very similar, but with mint. It goes great with curry.
Sounds delicious!