Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad Recipe

Our Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad is bright, fresh, and full of flavor. It mixes crunchy veggies with tangy feta cheese. All of this is tossed in a zesty lemon vinaigrette. It’s the perfect summer dish that’s super healthy and takes just minutes to make. Great with grilled food or on its own!

You cannot go wrong with a simple salad made from fresh ingredients. Tomatoes and cucumbers with olives and feta in a delicious homemade dressing form this quintessential Mediterranean dish you can use as a side or on it’s own as a light lunch. When you are craving something with a little snap, this will be your go-to.

Why we think our homemade Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad is the bomb.

Easy homemade goodness. You don’t have to stress to make a good salad. Just a little chopping and a stir and you have all the ingredients and a fantastic dressing ready to go. It won’t wilt either! Unlike a classic salad, this one won’t turn into a soggy wilted mess before you arrive at your destination, making it the perfect salad to take to a friend’s house or pack with your lunch. It’s also really good for you — with a variety of fresh veggies, and a dressing made with healthy fats.

Ingredients for Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad

All ingredients are listed on the recipe card, but I wanted to share some important notes here.

Feta Cheese. A block of feta crumbled packed in brine keeps the cheese moist and retains its texture and flavor. If I am packing this salad for my lunch, I like to keep the feta separately packed until the end. If you prefer, the salad is equally nice with crumbled goat cheese.

Lots and lots of crunchy delicious veggies! We use cherry or grape tomatoes. Red bell peppers are sweet and add a delectable crunch. They don’t get soggy either. Cucumbers add another texture and take on the flavor of our vinaigrette. And, there’s no need to peel them either.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It should read that it’s cold-pressed and mechanically processed.

Kalamata Olives. Pitted. You’ll find these in a jar near the pickles, relish, and the like. Make sure you get the ones with pits removed to save your self time, hassle, or broken teeth.

Dijon Mustard in addition to flavor acts as an emulsifier in our lemon dressing. That means it blends our ingredients together. In a pinch, use honey mustard.

How To Make Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad

Please note, that the printable recipe card has the full list of ingredients, quantities, complete instructions, and nutritional information. The following is a quick overview of the recipe.

Slice the onion and soak it in cold water while you prep the rest of the salad.

Mix the homemade Mediterranean Salad Dressing. Add all the ingredients to a carafe or small mixing bowl and whisk (or shake) together until the oil and vinegar emulsify.

Chop and prep the salad ingredients.

Mix and toss the salad ingredients with enough of the dressing just to cover the salad ingredients. Refrigerate any leftover dressing for salad leftovers.

Hostess Tips

Whenever possible, use fresh, in-season veggies from a farmer’s market. Local, in-season veggies will make this salad off-the-charts amazing. Dicing them really small will make them more palatable for picky eaters while preserving the flavor and crunch benefits.

If you love garlic, you can flavor your red wine vinegar. First, pour some vinegar into a small bowl. Then, add a spoonful of minced garlic. Let it steep for about an hour. After that, use a small strainer to remove the garlic. Now, you can use your flavored vinegar to make dressing.

Soaking an onion in cold water will remove its intensity.

Don’t overdress the salad. The Mediterranean Salad Dressing is very flavorful. You don’t need to use a lot and you don’t want the ingredients soaked in dressing.

Tomatoes don’t hold up well when refrigerated. To serve leftover Mediterranean Salad, add new tomatoes.

Variations

• Add pasta. Tossing this salad with cold, pre-cooked pasta makes it more filling and a meal on its own for lunch or dinner.
• Chickpeas (drained and rinsed) are a nice touch and add protein.
• Leftover, cold chicken from the refrigerator is another great way to make this a meal with protein. This is a great way to use rotisserie chicken!
• Make it a Mediterranean Chopped Salad – Add greens such as kale, spinach, or lettuce. It will make the salad go further.
• Change out or add your own veggies. Green onions can replace red ones. Peeled zucchini or yellow squash make a great addition too.

How to Serve Your Salad

You have lots of options here. One of my favorite ways to serve this salad is with freshly grilled or baked salmon with simple seasoning — just garlic, salt, and pepper. Add this salad and your meal is fantastic. Grilled or baked chicken, pork chops, or even burgers can be served alongside this bright salad with equal success. A rich pasta will also pair nicely with a Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad because it is so versatile. You never have to get stuck in a rut!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use red onions in a Mediterranean Salad?

Red onions contain anthocyanins which provide the red color and also give this salad a spicy contrasting flavor. If red onions are too strong for you, soaking them can help. This reduces the spice but keeps the flavor similar. Using a completely different onion is an option but will change the flavor.

Can this be made ahead of time?

Yes, to an extent. An hour or two ahead of time would be perfect. Made a full day ahead of time, the tomatoes and cucumbers will start to get soggy. If you must prep everything a day ahead, don’t add the tomatoes or dressing until the last minute to help preserve a good texture.

How To Store Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad

Best way to store

If you want to keep the leftovers, remove the tomatoes and add fresh tomatoes the next time you eat it.

We have more fantastic Mediterranean Salads

If you love recipes like this one, you’ll also want to try our Black Bean Quinoa Salad , Italian Caprese Salad, or this yummy Easy Greek Salad.

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

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