This tomato and cucumber salad is so fresh and flavourful. Full of crunch from the cucumber and sweetness from the tomato, this makes the perfect side dish to all kinds of meals!
Salads tend to be a bit hit and miss in my opinion. There are so many variables; will the dressing be flavourful enough, will there be enough texture, will the the ingredients be fresh and crunchy and delicious enough?
But when you get a good one they can be really great. Much like this tomato and cucumber salad. The cucumber is fresh and crunchy. The tomatoes offer the perfect sweetness. And the dressing is simple and a little tangy.
I put together this salad to go with the oven baked salmon with spicy butter that I posted a few weeks ago. It will really go with so many different dishes, serve alongside a hearty pasta like this nduja pasta or something filling and spicy like this harissa chicken and potatoes. There are really so many options!
Ingredients
It just takes a handful of ingredients to make this salad but they all add so much!
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes: Get the nicest ones you can, they’re honestly worth it!
- Garlic
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Olive Oil
- Parsley
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Making this salad couldn't be simpler...
Whisk together the dressing ingredients.
Put the cucumber and tomato in a bowl and toss with salt, pepper and the dressing.
Add the parsley, toss again and serve.
Hint: Make sure you check for seasoning at each stage and adjust to your taste. With a recipe this simple the right level of seasoning can really make or break a dish.
Substitutions
- Vinegar - I use red wine vinegar in the dressing but white wine or cider vinegar would also work
- Herbs - You can swap the parsley for another one depending on what you have on hand. Any other soft herbs would work
- Vegetables - If you want to bulk out the salad you could add other chopped up veg. Red onion, celery or carrot could work well
Variations
- Spicy - add a sprinkle of chilli flakes or some chopped fresh chilli to make it spicy
- Sweetness - I love a hint of sweetness in this salad, a little honey or pomegranate molasses in the dressing is delicious
Storage
This salad last well for a couple of days in the fridge in a sealed container.
Top tip
Buy the best tomatoes you can find, they make a massive difference to the finished dish. On the vine is my preference.
FAQ
Yes! Tomatoes and cucumber are both really healthy and full of vitamins and antioxidants.
This is really down to personal preference. In my opinion there’s absolutely no need to peel cucumbers before eating them and the skin actually offers a nice contract in texture to the other ingredients. However, if you really don’t like the skin then feel free to peel it before chopping and adding to the salad.
Again, much like with the skin this is down to what you prefer. Cucumber here in the uk tend to have very small soft seeds which do not need removing. If your cucumber has bigger and harder seeds then you may choose to remove them if they bother you.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favourite dishes to serve with cucumber and tomato salad:
Recipe
Tomato & Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cloves Garlic crushed
- 3 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
- 4 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 6 medium Tomatoes chopped
- 1 Cucumber chopped into small chunks
- Salt and Pepper
- Small Bunch Parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Put the garlic, red wine vinegar and olive oil in a large bowl and whisk together. Add the tomato, cucumber and plenty of salt and pepper. Toss together to get everything coated in the dressing then leave to sit for at least 20 minutes.
- Add the parsley, check for seasoning and adjust if needed. Toss again and serve.
Notes
Like the look of this recipe? Make sure you pin it for later!
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