A crisp, tangy, colorful salad like the one in your photo. It uses a simple vinegar–olive oil dressing and is best after resting briefly so the vegetables absorb the flavor. Similar versions commonly use cucumber, tomato, red onion, herbs, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper.
Ingredients — Serves 4–6
For the salad
- 2 large English cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 3 cups ripe tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, chopped/halved
- ½–1 medium red onion, very thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh dill or mint, chopped
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced — optional
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds — optional
For the dressing
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp red-wine vinegar or apple-cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
- ½ tsp sugar or honey
- ¾ tsp salt, or to taste
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- Pinch of red-pepper flakes — optional
Detailed Method
- Prepare the vegetables: Wash and dry everything thoroughly. Slice the cucumbers into rounds or half-moons. Cut tomatoes into bite-size pieces and slice the red onion thinly.
- Reduce excess water: Put the cucumber and onion in a bowl with a small pinch of salt. Leave for about 10–15 minutes, then drain. This keeps the finished salad from becoming watery.
- Make the dressing: Whisk olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, sugar/honey, salt, pepper, oregano and red-pepper flakes until well combined.
- Combine: Add cucumber, tomatoes, onion, herbs and bell pepper to a large bowl.
- Dress: Pour the dressing over the vegetables and gently toss. Avoid vigorous mixing because ripe tomatoes can break apart.
- Rest: Let the salad sit for 15–30 minutes before serving. Chilling it for 30–60 minutes gives the flavors more time to develop. Similar cucumber-tomato salads are commonly rested before serving or refrigerated to allow the dressing to marinate the vegetables.
- Finish: Taste and adjust salt, vinegar, lemon juice or pepper. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and optional sesame seeds.
Easy Variations
- Creamy: Add crumbled feta.
- Greek-style: Add olives, oregano and feta.
- Spicy: Add sliced jalapeño or extra red-pepper flakes.
- Protein-rich: Add chickpeas or grilled chicken.
- Extra crunch: Add bell pepper or toasted seeds.
- No sugar: Simply leave it out; the dressing will be more tangy.
Nut Information / Allergy Notes
This recipe is naturally nut-free when prepared with the ingredients listed above. It is also vegetarian, and can be vegan if you use sugar instead of honey.
- Tree nuts: None required.
- Peanuts: None.
- Sesame: Optional sesame seeds are not tree nuts, but sesame is a separate major allergen in many countries.
- Dairy: None unless you add feta.
- Gluten: Naturally gluten-free, provided your vinegar and other packaged ingredients are certified/label-checked if needed.
- Egg: None.
For a serious food allergy, check individual ingredient labels and avoid cross-contact during preparation.
Quick Q&A
Q: Can I make it ahead?
Yes. For the freshest texture, make it several hours ahead and refrigerate. If making it a day ahead, drain excess liquid before serving.
Q: Why is my salad watery?
Cucumbers and tomatoes naturally release water. Salting and draining the cucumber first helps.
Q: Can I use regular cucumbers?
Absolutely. English, Persian or garden cucumbers all work.
Q: Which vinegar is best?
Red-wine vinegar gives a Mediterranean flavor; apple-cider vinegar is slightly fruitier; white vinegar gives a sharper taste.
Q: Can I add cheese?
Yes—feta is excellent.
Q: How long does it keep?
Keep covered in the refrigerator and ideally eat within 2–3 days; the vegetables will gradually soften.
Q: Is it good for meal prep?
Yes, but keep the dressing separate if you want the cucumbers and tomatoes to remain especially crisp.
With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.
- Fresh Cucumber, Tomato & Red Onion Salad - August 28, 2026
- Ginger Water — Simple Refreshing Recipe - August 28, 2026
- Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Loaf - August 28, 2026
