Cucumber Tomato Salad (Printable)

Crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. A light, refreshing Mediterranean side ready in 10 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 3 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped into bite-sized pieces
03 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

→ Vinaigrette Dressing

05 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
08 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Slice the cucumbers into thin rounds, chop the tomatoes into bite-sized pieces, and cut the red onion into thin half-moons. Place all vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the vinaigrette over the prepared vegetables and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately, or refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It takes exactly ten minutes from cutting board to table, which is faster than arguing about what to eat.
  • The dressing is so simple you will stop buying bottled vinaigrette forever.
  • It pairs with literally everything from grilled chicken to a slice of crusty bread eaten standing over the sink.
02 -
  • Salt pulls moisture out of cucumbers fast, so if you are making this ahead, wait to add the dressing until right before serving or your salad will swim in its own juices.
  • Underripe tomatoes will taste flat and mealy here, so save this recipe for peak season when tomatoes actually smell like tomatoes.
03 -
  • Letting the dressed salad sit in the fridge for twenty minutes before serving changes everything because the vegetables absorb the vinaigrette and soften just slightly.
  • A tiny pinch of sugar in the dressing rounds out the acidity and makes the whole bowl taste more balanced without anyone knowing your secret.

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