Fresh Tomato Cucumber Salad garnished with red onion and fresh basil. One of our favorite fresh and healthy side dishes!
There's almost nothing I love more than fresh garden tomatoes. Come tomato season, you'll find me snacking on all things tomato including Tomato Basil Mozzarella Toast, Tomato Avocado Melt, or a Buddha Bowl with extra tomatoes!
My grandpa had an amazing garden when I was young and we were the happy recipients of TONS of garden vegetables throughout the summer. Fresh garden tomatoes and cucumbers are complete heaven!
For anyone that doesn't like tomatoes (ahem…I'm talking to you, husband!), I'm convinced they haven't been exposed to a fresh, juicy garden tomato. There are few things more delicious! My mom would make this salad all the time and the simple fresh flavors and crunch make my mouth water just thinking about it.
How to Make Tomato Cucumber Salad:
- Slice vegetables. Cut your cherry tomatoes in half (or large tomatoes into chunks) and cut your cucumbers into 1/4” coins and add them to a bowl.
- Toss with dressing. Drizzle olive oil and vinegar on top, toss the salad, and season it will red onion and basil. It's that easy!
Make Ahead Instructions: This salad is easy and freshest when made right before serving, but you can prep it ahead of time if necessary. Cut vegetables and store them separately in the refrigerator. Toss with oil and vinegar when ready to serve.
Which type of Cucumbers are best:
When you are shopping at the grocery store, you may notice a few different types of cucumbers. “Regular” cucumbers have a thicker, more waxy skin and are always the cheapest option. English cucumbers are the long and skinny, wrapped in plastic, and tend to be more expensive. Mini Cucumbers (also known as Persian cucumbers) are similar to English cucumbers, just shorter “snack” size.
Any type of cucumber will work for this salad, but I prefer English cucumbers or mini cucumbers because the thinner skins and seeds taste better and are easier to eat without peeling.
To peel or not to peel? You do not have to peel a regular cucumber or an English cucumber, but you can if you wish (and you may want to if using regular cucumbers with thicker skin)! I love to leave the skin on because it provides the greatest amount of fiber.
Add-In Ideas:
- Cheese: Sprinkle feta cheese crumbles or add fresh mozzarella.
- Chopped Avocado
- Chopped almonds or seeds (almonds, pepitas, sesame seeds)
- Craisins
Consider serving with:
More Quick & Easy Salads:
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Recipe
Tomato Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes , halved
- 5 mini cucumbers , sliced into 1/4'' coins, or 1 ½ English cucumbers
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
- 2 Tablespoons red onions , diced
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil leaves , chopped
Instructions
- Add cherry tomatoes and cucumbers to a bowl.
- Drizzle olive oil and vinegar on top. Season with salt and pepper.
- Toss everything to coat. Garnish with diced red onion and fresh basil.
- Try these BBQ side dishes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe May 2017. Updated March 2020 with new photos and improved instructions.
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
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Can you use big tomatoes also too
Sure, you could use big tomatoes 🙂
Love this salad!! I use fresh ingredients from my garden. It is som thing you can put together quit for a gathering of friend’s. And family cook out.
I just made it for a church picnic tomorrow. I’d like to add fresh mozzarella in small pieces. Should I add it tonight as I finish up the salad or wait and add it tomorrow closer to the picnic time?
I think either would be fine (the mozzarella would be fine overnight in the salad). Enjoy!
Needed to use up some cukes, so I made this. It will be served alongside some Filipino chicken adobo and rice. Noms.
This was really good and fresh! I made it along with a French onion casserole, yum!
It sounds awesome!!! I like the idea of red onion, and mozzarella balls. I am anxious to try it. Our garden has a lot of tomatoes, but no cocktail tomatoes. Do you think that cut up tomatoes would work? Garden also has cuckes, and herbs.
I am looking for a recipe that my mother use to make. Sliced Tomatoes, Cucumbers, onions in a vinegar sugar mixture. The veggies float in the vinegar mixture and you can add to it as needed. I am not sure what liquids and what amounts go in the liquid. Has anyone ever done a salad like that? I would appreciate any feedback on a possible mixture.
Thanks.
Your garden tomatoes would be delicious to use, cut up is just fine. My Grandmother also made the vinegar with cucumber and onions in a jar.
I’m going to see if I can come up with recipe.
The mixture you are looking for is vinegar, water, and sugar. I add lots of pepper too. Sorry, i dont have measurments, i taste along the way as it marinates. I can say, it’s quite a bit of sugar. I like it best the next day as the flavor enhances.
I added avocado and it was a huge hit. Not a bite left over.
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love.cucumber salad too. One question….. how long will this salad keep? If I make it a few hours before a bbq will it be watery?
Hi Midge, it will last well for 2-3 days. You could always fold up a paper towel at the bottom of the bowl to soak up extra liquid, then remove it before serving.
I love to dunk crusty Italian bread in the juices!
An I make this a day ahead ??
Yes, that should be fine!
Mmm! We made this as a side for dinner! It was so fresh and summery! We used fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and basil from our garden. SO GOOD!