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Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad

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A crisp, refreshing, and fuss-free summer side dish made with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, herbs, and a light lemon-olive oil dressing. Ready in just 5 minutes, perfect for busy days or light meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (300g) ripe, firm tomatoes (grape, cherry halved, or Roma chopped)
  • 1 medium cucumber (about 200g), peeled if desired, sliced thin or chopped
  • ¼ cup (30g) thinly sliced red onion (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, dill, or parsley
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
  • Salt to taste (sea salt or kosher salt recommended)
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon honey (if tomatoes are not sweet enough)

Instructions

  1. Wash and prep your vegetables: rinse tomatoes, cucumber, and herbs under cold water and pat dry. Halve grape or cherry tomatoes or chop Roma tomatoes into bite-size pieces. (5 minutes)
  2. Slice the cucumber: peel if desired, then slice thinly or chop into ¼ inch (6mm) thick half-moons. (3 minutes)
  3. Thinly slice the red onion: slice as thin as possible; soak in cold water for 5 minutes if raw onion is too strong. (4 minutes)
  4. Chop the fresh herbs roughly. (2 minutes)
  5. Combine tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and herbs in a medium bowl and gently toss. (2 minutes)
  6. Make the dressing: whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and honey if using. (3 minutes)
  7. Pour dressing over the salad and gently toss until evenly coated, avoiding over-mixing. (1 minute)
  8. Optional: Let the salad rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to meld flavors before serving.

Notes

Use the freshest produce possible for best texture and flavor. Dry vegetables well to avoid watery salad. Dress just before serving to prevent sogginess. Salt gradually and taste as you go. Experiment with herbs like basil, dill, or parsley. Optional additions include feta, mozzarella, olives, capers, or red pepper flakes.

Nutrition

Keywords: cucumber tomato salad, summer salad, fresh salad, easy side dish, quick salad, healthy salad, vegan salad, gluten-free salad

Find it online: https://cooksyla.com/fresh-cucumber-tomato-salad-recipe-easy-5-minute-summer-side-dish/