Tomato Cucumber Salad is a classic Mediterranean inspired salad that’s light, refreshing, and makes the perfect side to so many meals. You’ll love the combination of fresh tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, red onion, tangy vinegar, and savory herbs.

How to Make Tomato and Cucumber Salad

This recipe really couldn’t be any easier! The dressing is incredibly simple and just needs to be mixed together quickly with a fork. The salad ingredients can all be roughly chopped and tossed together in minutes.

To make this salad a whole meal, I recommend adding it to cold pasta to make a Mediterranean inspired pasta salad. The same idea works with quinoa to make a quinoa salad, too! You can also serve it on top of lettuce or kale for an easy Greek inspired salad.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is adding it to gyro wraps and falafel sandwiches. I used it in this Salmon Gyro recipe along with my Authentic Greek Tzatziki recipe.

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Optional Substitutions and Additions

This simple salad is very versatile, and I definitely encourage you to make it your own!

The red wine vinegar can be easily substituted with either a splash or two of balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar. You could also omit the vinegar and squeeze some fresh lemon juice over it just before serving.

I prefer parsley in this recipe, but that can be substituted with other soft herbs like fresh dill or basil (or even a combination of the three).

Some delicious additions that I love including depending on what I have in my fridge are avocado and cheese. If you have any stale bread laying around, try turning this into a delicious Panzanella salad!

Best Cheese for Cucumber Tomato Salad

I love adding a bit of crumbled feta, small mozzarella balls (bocconcini), goat cheese, or grilled halloumi to this salad. It adds a creamy layer that really balances out the acid from the vinegar really well.

If you want to keep this salad plant based, vegan, or dairy free, but want to add in a creamy ingredient, I’d recommend adding in diced avocado or a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts.

What Type of Cucumber Should I Use?

I like to use English cucumbers (also called hothouse cucumbers and seedless cucumbers). The skin is much less tough, the flesh is less bitter, and the seeds are practically nonexistent.

If you use a regular salad cucumber, I’d recommend peeling the tough skin off and using a spoon to scoop out the seeds before chopping it.

Can I Use White or Yellow Onions Instead of Red Onions?

Yes, you can. Red onions are used here for their color and because they have a relatively mild flavor.

Regardless of which onion you use, I recommend cutting the onion thinly and soaking it in cold water for 20 minutes before adding it to the salad. It removes a lot of the pungent and astringent elements, leaving you with a much more pleasant and mild onion flavor.

Can I Use Cherry Tomatoes?

Definitely! I opted to not use cherry tomatoes because regular tomatoes are more affordable. If you have cherry tomatoes on hand though, feel free to use them. Just keep in mind that they are sweeter, so you may need a little extra acid (vinegar) to balance the flavors.

If you try this recipe, please let me know what you thought in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime

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Try this fresh and easy Greek inspired salad the next time you’re looking for a Mediterranean side dish! Everyone loves this simple Tomato Cucumber Salad.