Cucumber Tomato Salad Recipe

There's a lot to love about this cucumber tomato salad. It's inexpensive, easy to make using everyday ingredients, and offers a crisp and refreshing taste that complements almost any dish. Plus, its convenient because it can be made ahead. This salad is a hit at potlucks and family gatherings, and it's earned hundreds of 5-star reviews from home cooks!

How to Make Cucumber Tomato Salad

This cucumber tomato salad features a perfect balance of cool, crisp cucumbers, juicy ripe tomatoes, and the flavor of onions. What makes this dish extra special is the tart and tangy dressing made from water, vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Ingredients for Cucumber Tomato Salad:

• Cucumbers: Choose firm cucumbers with smooth skin. Fresh cucumbers should be free of soft spots or wrinkles.
• Tomatoes: Opt for ripe, flavorful tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes are ideal, but regular supermarket tomatoes will work as well. Cherry or Roma tomatoes are also great options just slice them to allow the marinade to soak in.
• Onions: You can use yellow, white, or red onions based on your flavor preference. Yellow onions are mild and affordable, while red onions add color and a slight spiciness. Sweet onions, like Vidalia, are naturally sweeter but come at a higher price.
• Vinegar: While the recipe uses distilled white vinegar, you can substitute with other varieties like apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or rice vinegar for different flavor notes.
• Oil: The recipe calls for vegetable oil, but olive oil can be used if you prefer a richer flavor.

Preparation Steps:

1. Step 1: Whisk together the dressing ingredients: water, vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, and pepper, in a large bowl until smooth.
2. Step 2: Peel and slice the cucumbers into -inch thick pieces.
3. Step 3: Cut the tomatoes into wedges. If using small tomatoes like cherry or Roma, slice them so they can better absorb the marinade.
4. Step 4: Slice the onion into rings and separate them.
5. Step 5: Combine the cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions in the bowl with the dressing. Stir everything gently to coat evenly.
6. Step 6: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld together. The longer it sits, the better the taste!
7. Step 7: Serve chilled and enjoy the refreshing flavors of this delicious salad!

How to Store Cucumber Tomato Salad:

When stored properly in an airtight and kept chilled, cucumber tomato salad will last for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. The cucumbers may lose a little crunch over time, and the tomatoes might soften as they soak in the dressing, but the salad will still be tasty. The onions will continue to mellow and absorb the sweet-tart flavors of the dressing.

What to Serve With Cucumber Tomato Salad:

This salad pairs wonderfully with almost any meal. Its a great side dish for grilled meats, BBQ dishes, fried foods, or even picnic sandwiches. Some ideal pairings include:

• Old-Fashioned Potato Salad
• Awesome Pasta Salad
• Barbecue Ribs
• Best BBQ Chicken
• Charcoal-Grilled Ribeye Steak

Community Feedback:

"Super easy recipe. Love it!" says Bethany Idontwanttouseit. "I used apple cider vinegar and a sweet onion, and it turned out great. The longer it marinated, the better it tasted."

"A big hit this summer! I made it a few times. The second time, I used a little less water, but its still fantastic," shares Jimdchimp9. "I made it again today for a church get-together, and several people asked for the recipe."

"Just made this and WOW! It's so delicious. I used Vidalia onions and cherry tomatoes, along with apple cider vinegar, which added a fantastic flavor," says Loulou.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):