This cucumber, tomato & onion salad tastes like it came straight from the garden

When summer produce is at its peak, a simple yet refreshing salad is always our go-to side for any easy weekday meal, and this cucumber, tomato, and onion salad is the most refreshing version of a summer side we can think of. It features peak-of-summer ingredients that are packed with water, AKA the foods that will refresh and rehydrate you as you eat. Perfect for when your garden or the local farmers' market is overflowing with cucumbers and tomatoes, this salad is a perfect addition to any picnic, beach day, or breezy summer lunch.

What People Are Saying:

“I enjoyed this so much! Simple but perfect combination of flavor balanced. Served with chicken, my girlfriend was impressed.” - CraigZ

“Love it. It’s my go to for an easy side.” - unseign

How To Make Cucumber, Tomato & Onion Salad

INGREDIENTS

• Olive Oil: Olive oil is the perfect fat to help emulsify the dressing and bring all of the flavors together so that the tomatoes and cucumbers can really soak it all in.
• Vinegar: Vinegar is crucial for adding acidity to the dressing so that all of the freshness of the produce can shine. Red wine, rice wine vinegar, or white vinegar will work here!
• Garlic Powder: We love adding garlic powder to this salad to give it a little more depth of flavor and umami. You can skip this ingredient if it’s not your thing!
• Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are the best at the height of the summer, so look for the freshest, most local tomatoes that you can find for this recipe (but any store-bought tomatoes should work as well!).
• English Cucumber: We love using English cucumber because they have a thinner skin, so you don’t have to peel it.
• Red Onion: Red onion is the perfect complement to tomatoes and cucumbers because it adds a sharpness and a bite that makes this salad perfectly balanced.
• Fresh Herbs: Use any herbs that look fresh and delicious to you, such as basil, cilantro, dill, mint, and/or parsley. If you have fresh herbs in your garden, now is the time to use them!

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in the bottom of a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, and onion and mix together until all of the produce is completely dressed. Allow the salad to sit for at least 15 minutes, or cover and refrigerate for up to 12 hours, before tossing in the herbs and serving.

Recipe Tips

• Salt your tomatoes. Tomatoes need a lot of salt to really taste like “tomatoes,” so taste the salad to get the seasoning just right.
• The herbs. Choose tender herbs like parsley, dill, basil, mint, or cilantro. It’s a great time to take advantage of what you might have growing in your garden!

Storage

This salad gets better with a bit of time. Make it the morning you plan to serve it so the tomato and cucumber can marinate in the dressing. Just hold off on adding the herbs until the very end so they stay bright and fresh. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days in a refrigerator.

Yields: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp. vinegar (red wine, white wine, or rice wine)
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
• 4 c. halved cherry tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lb.)
• 1 English cucumber, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced
• 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 c. coarsely chopped fresh herbs (such as basil, cilantro, dill, mint, and/or parsley)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add tomatoes, cucumber, and onion and toss well to combine.
2. Let sit at room temperature at least 15 minutes, or cover and refrigerate up to 12 hours.
3. Before serving, sprinkle herbs over salad.