Easy Mediterranean Cucumber and Tomato Salad

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This easy Mediterranean Cucumber and Tomato Salad is deliciously refreshing and crunchy! A simple red wine vinaigrette makes this light and tangy. In our house, this is our everyday salad on hot summer days.  

Tomato and cucumber salad in a glass bowl.

This salad brings me back to when my father and grandfather had their backyard gardens, and tomatoes and cucumbers were always fresh and plentiful. They are both gone now, but I think of them every time I make it.

I grew up eating this; thankfully, my family loves it as much as I do.  Seriously, we eat this salad four or five times a week! It is simple to make, and it pairs well with almost anything.

I highly recommend having a loaf of bread to dip into the dressing at the bottom of the bowl. It is the best thing you will ever eat!

Nothing is quite as good as a nice ripe tomato, except when you pair it with a crunchy cucumber and dress it with a red wine vinaigrette.  Every country around the Mediterranean has a version of this crisp salad. But they all have a few of things in common:

  • It has 3 main ingredients: tomatoes, cucumbers, and onion, 
  • Fresh herbs 
  • A simple, light vinaigrette.   There is no heavy salad dressing here.
A cucumber cut in half, a whole tomato, chopped tomato and and onion on a wooden board.

Fresh Ingredients

Fresh Ripe tomatoes:  You can use any tomato you like.  Roma tomatoes are my favorite because they are what we grew in our garden, but heirloom tomatoes or cherry tomatoes are good substitutes.

Crisp Cucumbers: I love English cucumbers because their skin is tender enough to eat without peeling. You can also use regular cucumbers. I have also made this salad with mini cucumbers on many occasions.  

Onion: You can use white or red onion in this salad.

Garlic:  Fresh, finely diced, or thinly sliced.

Oregano:  I use dried because I always have it in the house and the flavor is very robust.

Fresh Basil:  This has to be fresh, so you get the basil’s lovely aromatics and wonderful flavor when combined with the tomatoes.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: You want to use a good quality EVOO. It is luxurious in this salad and has a richer flavor than regular olive oil. You will taste the difference!

Red Wine Vinegar: This gives the salad a little extra tang!  If you need to make a substitution, you can use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice.  

A tomato and cucumber salad in a las bowl with a spoon in the bowl.

How to Make Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad

This really is the easiest salad you will ever make. The recipe card below provides measurements.

  1. Cut the tomatoes and cucumbers into bite-size pieces and throw them into a large bowl. 
  2. Add the sliced onion, garlic, chopped basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, olive oil, and vinegar to the bowl. Toss well.
  3. Make any adjustments to suit your taste. Let the salad sit for about 15 minutes so all of the fresh flavors meld together.  

Variations to this Simple Salad

This is a beautiful base salad that you can change to your liking.

  • To add some Greek flavors you might want to toss in some feta cheese and kalamata olives.
  • Include additional herbs such as fresh parsley or fresh mint.
  • Garbanzo beans are a great way to add protein to this delicious salad.

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  For the best flavor, I recommend letting the salad sit for a few minutes at room temperature before enjoying the leftover salad.

A white plate with potatoes, grilled chicken and tomato and cucumber salad.

What to Serve with Mediterranean Tomato Cucumber Salad

One of my favorite weeknight dinners is Nonna’s Chicken Cutlets with easy salad.  You will never have a complaint with this combination,  

This delicious salad is a great side dish for Grilled Lemon Garlic Herb Chicken.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin and Grilled Lollipop Lamchops are great choices for a dinner filled with Mediterranean flavors.

Other Salads You Might Want to Try

Other delicious Mediterranean salads include my Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad and sweet Watermelon Tomato Salad with Feta and Balsamic.  

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Mediterranean Cucumber and Tomato Salad Recipe

A bowl of cucumber and tomato salad. The cucumbers and tomatoes are mixed with onion garlic and fresh herbs to make a beautiful and inviting salad.

Easy Mediterranean Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Cucumber and tomato salad is an easy, refreshing and crunchy salad just bursting with summer flavors. Fresh herbs and a simple red wine dressing make this a perfect summer salad you can enjoy all year long!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 85 kcal

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Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Tomatoes Cut into bite-size pieces
  • 2 cups Cucumbers Cut into bite-size pieces
  • ¼ Onion Sliced thin, red or white onions are fine
  • 1 clove Garlic Minced
  • tsp. Black Pepper ground
  • ½ tsp. Salt Kosher
  • ¼ tsp. Oregano Dried, if using fresh use ½ tsp.
  • 1 tbsp. Basil Fresh, sliced into ribbons or torn
  • 3 tbsp. Extea Virgin Olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. Red wine vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and toss well. You may want to add additional salt or pepper to your taste. I also add an additional splash of red wine vinegar because I like the tang, but others like it a little less potent. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 6gCalories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 164mgPotassium: 201mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 580IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Cucumber and Tomato salad, salad, cucumber, tomato, red wine vinegar dressing, easy salad
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