Tomato Cucumber Salad

A Tomato Cucumber Salad with fresh summer vegetables is always a hit at barbecues and picnics. This quick, easy side dish can be prepared ahead of time.

The fresh crisp vegetables coated with a sweet and tangy dill dressing in this tomato cucumber salad makes this the perfect summer side dish or could even be a light lunch choice.

How To Make Tomato Cucumber Salad

Start by cutting the cucumbers into bite-sized pieces. I opted to dice the cucumber but you could thinly slice it as well.

What kind of cucumbers should I use?

For this tomato cucumber salad, I used mini cucumbers since they don’t have to be peeled. Plus, it’s easy to cut them into bite-sized pieces.

English seedless cucumbers or regular cucumbers can be used in this recipe as well. If using regular cucumbers, peel them before slicing them for the salad.

Next, dice the grape tomatoes.

Can I use another kind of tomatoes?

For the tomatoes, I used grape tomatoes because they hold their shape well and are about the same size as the cucumbers when quartered.

That being said, you can use any type of tomato to make tomato cucumber salad! For a more colorful salad, choose multi-colored tomatoes.

I used a mandoline slicer to get thin slices of onion and then used a knife to cut the slices into smaller pieces.

What kind of onions should I use in tomato cucumber salad?

I used red onions to make this tomato cucumber salad because I like the pop of color it brings. But you can use other onions are well. Here are a few options:

• White onions are said to be milder than yellow so they work well in salads and salsas.
• Sweet onions such as vidalia or walla walla have a mild flavor and a more sweetness than white.
• Green onions can give the salad the onion flavor with out the large pieces of onion.
• Onion powder could be used instead of sliced onions if you prefer.

Put the diced cucumbers, diced grape tomatoes, and sliced onions in a bowl. Stir to combine.

Then whisk together the rice vinegar, sugar, minced dill, sea salt, and black pepper.

Can I use another kind of vinegar?

I used rice vinegar to make the dressing because it has a mild flavor that is perfect for salads. Other types of vinegar can be used for different flavors.

• red wine vinegar
• white wine vinegar
• white vinegar

Would bottled dressing work on this salad?

Yes, you can skip the homemade dressing and use the bottled kind instead. It’s a quick shortcut and a fun way to choose different flavors. Here are a few to try:

• red wine vinaigrette
• vidalia onion vinaigrette
• italian dressing
• dill dressing

Pour the dressing over the tomato cucumber salad and stir until coated.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or until ready to serve.

How can I avoid a runny salad?

The easiest way is to serve the salad right after allowing it to sit for 15 minutes. If you want to prep the salad ahead of time, you can leave the dressing and vegetables separate until close to serving time. Or you could also simply drain the salad before serving.

Another option is to drain the cucumbers and seed the tomatoes beforehand. By doing so there would be less liquid added to the salad.

• To drain the cucumbers, place the diced cucumbers in a colander, in the sink or over a bowl, and sprinkle them liberally with salt. Then, allow them to sit for 30 minutes to an hour, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid has drained.

How can I make creamy tomato cucumber salad?

It’s super easy to turn this recipe into a creamy tomato cucumber salad! Simply stir in 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of sour cream, greek yogurt, or mayonnaise into the salad.

Want more summer salad recipes? Try these next:

This BLT Pasta Salad features creamy dressing, crunchy bacon, crisp lettuce, and fresh tomatoes!

Italian Pasta Salad is an easy, flavorful side dish with veggies, pepperoni, cheese, and Italian dressing.

A Corn Salad is a creamy combination of fresh sweet corn, colorful peppers, and ripe tomatoes!

This Fruit Salad Recipe is full of colorful fruit and has a delicious lemon vanilla glaze on top.