This tomato and cucumber salad is an easy side dish for any summer meal! You can make it ahead of time, and the flavors are simple but delicious!

I love cucumbers. I think they’re an underrated vegetable. They’re nice and crunchy on salads, and they’re a perfect vessel for things like hummus or guacamole. Plus they’re relatively inexpensive, and they keep well in the fridge. How many more reasons do you need, right?

Cucumber tomato Salad

The seasonings are simple, so you only need a few basic pantry staples. A summer side dish has never been simpler than this easy tomato and cucumber salad! Since this recipe is so simple, fresh produce is essential. I highly recommend making this when tomatoes are in peak season. A bland, white tomato will ruin this dish, so save this recipe for when tomatoes are exploding in the summer!

Tips for a perfect tomato and cucumbers salad

  • Make sure you’re using ripe, fresh tomatoes! I like using Hanover tomatoes or “tomatoes on the vine” which still have the green stems attached. See below for tips on how to pick the best tomatoes!
  • Did you know that the “jelly” of a tomato that surrounds the seeds is the most flavorful part of the tomato? Don’t discard it!
  • For the cucumber, smaller cucumbers tend to have a little more flavor. Larger cucumbers can be a bit watery.
  • High-quality olive oil is essential. I like California Olive Ranch Olive Oil, but Trader Joe’s also makes a good one that is relatively inexpensive. 

This recipe can be made up to a day in advance although I like it best the same day. Just make sure you store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

How to pick the best tomatoes

When possible, look for local tomatoes. When a tomato doesn’t have to travel very far, it can be riper when picked. These tomatoes tend to have more flavor. For this recipe, I recommend heirloom or “vine-ripened” tomatoes. But you can also use Roma tomatoes if needed.

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A bowl of salad

Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad

★★★★★ 4.5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: No cook
  • Cuisine: Salad
Print Recipe

Description

This tomato and cucumber salad is an easy side dish for any summer meal! You can make it ahead of time, and the flavors are simple but delicious!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cucumber, sliced into rounds then quartered
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 2 large tomatoes, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • Black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toss all the vegetables into a large bowl and coat with olive oil and vinegar.
  2. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.
  3. This can be made up to a day in advance and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator

Keywords: tomato and cucumber salad

This salad also kept well in the fridge, so we had leftovers the next day. That’s the wonderful thing about lettuce-free salads. You don’t have to worry about it wilting the next day!

A bowl of salad

Looking for other summer salad recipes? Here are a few of my favorites!

This black bean and corn salad is a great make-ahead salad that is perfect for a picnic or party!black bean and corn salad

This lemon and avocado kale salad is a great side dish and you can turn it into a main dish by adding your favorite protein!kale salad

What’s your favorite summer salad?