Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad

This Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad is a quick and refreshing summer recipe that comes together in just 10 minutes. It is one of the easiest cucumber tomato salads you can make. It is made with fewer ingredients, packed with crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, feta cheese, and a simple lemon-olive oil dressing. Here’s how to make it with step-by-step photos and a recipe video.

Ingredients Notes

This cucumber tomato salad recipe is simple, focusing on fresh flavors with just a few ingredients. For the dressing, you'll only need a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

For the complete list of ingredients and their exact measurements, please refer to the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Tomatoes: Both cherry tomatoes and regular plum/Roma tomatoes work great for this Mediterranean salad recipe. Just chop them up a bit bigger.
• Cucumber: Any cucumber will work here. If using regular cucumbers, peel the skin and scoop out the seeds if they're big and watery. But if you find an English cucumber, those are awesome because they don't have big seeds, and the skin is nice and tender.
• Olive Oil: This is a must-have for any Mediterranean dish. Extra virgin olive oil adds good fats and flavor to this salad recipe.
• Seasoning: Salt & freshly ground black pepper are used.
• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon is always the best. Substitute with red wine vinegar or rice vinegar.
• Feta Cheese: I love salty feta cheese and always add it to my salad recipes like this Corn Salad with Feta Cheese or Mediterranean Chickpea Salad. It crumbles perfectly and adds a creamy, salty flavor. Parmesan cheese is a great substitute with a sharper, nuttier flavor.
• Fresh Herbs: I used parsley for this Mediterranean cucumber salad recipe, but feel free to add chopped cilantro or dill for a slightly different twist in this salad recipe.

How to make Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad (With Stepwise Photos)

This Mediterranean salad is so easy to make. Just chop up some veggies, throw them in a bowl, and toss with a quick dressing. Chopping the vegetables might take a few minutes, but the salad comes together in no time. Let's start making this cucumber tomato salad.

Prep the veggies

• Cucumber: Always taste a small piece of cucumber first. If it's bitter, discard it. Dice the English cucumber into small cubes. If using regular cucumbers, you can peel the skin (if it’s hard) and scoop out the seeds (to avoid a watery salad).
• Cherry tomatoes: Cut them in half. If using plum tomatoes, dice them into small cubes (the same size as the English cucumber).
• Red onion: Chop it into small pieces. Tip: I like to cut the red onions in half, soak them in cold water for 10-15 minutes, properly drain them, and cut or slice them. Soaking in cold water reduces the sharpness of onions.
• Parsley/Cilantro: Chop it finely, discarding the thick stems.

1.5 cups of chopped cucumber, 2 cups cherry tomatoes (cut into halves), 1 small red onion chopped, and ½ cup chopped parsley/cilantro.

Assembling the Mediterranean cucumber tomato salad

Add ¼ cup of Feta cheese (optional).

Add the dressing - For Mediterranean salad dressing, add 2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon of salt & ½ teaspoon of pepper to the mixing bowl.

Toss the salad. Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to taste. Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. It tastes best when served chilled.

Tip: Cucumbers release some water in the salad when stored in the refrigerator. When you take the salad out of the refrigerator, toss the salad again just before serving.

Tips to make the Best Cucumber Tomato Salad

• Pick the right cucumbers - Look for seedless cucumbers like Persian or English cucumbers. These have thinner skin, don't need peeling, and are ideal for making salad. Also, you can skip the step of removing seeds, which can make the salad watery
• Freshness is key - Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes and fresh herbs for the best taste.
• You can add some proteins to it. For vegetarians, you can add boiled chickpeas like this chickpea salad, or add grilled chicken, tuna, or shrimp for a non-vegetarian version.
• Cucumber salad is best served chilled. So, after you've assembled the salad, refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before serving.
• A classic Mediterranean dressing uses olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. It is light and refreshing. You can also experiment with adding fresh oregano or a sprinkle of sumac.
• Make and eat your salad right away. It gets watery quickly.

What to Serve with this Cucumber Tomato Salad?

This cucumber tomato salad is versatile, and you can serve it with anything. You can serve this salad as a quick and light dinner. Serve with a dollop of Greek yogurt to add a cooling and creamy element.

Turn it into a wrap like this Mediterranean chicken wrap. This dish is a great side for greek yogurt chicken, dragon chicken, Mediterranean chicken kabobs, vegetable lo mein, or even Mediterranean chicken and rice.