Description
A refreshing, no-cook summer salad featuring crisp cucumbers, sweet red onions, and juicy tomatoes dressed in olive oil and lemon juice. This simple side dish is ready in under 15 minutes and serves as a perfect palate cleanser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 medium English cucumbers
- 1 medium red onion
- 4 medium ripe tomatoes (vine or beefsteak)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint or parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Wash and dry all vegetables. Trim cucumber ends; leave skin on for English cucumbers or peel if using regular cucumbers.
- Slice cucumbers into half-moons or thin rounds.
- Slice red onion into thin vertical slices. For milder flavor, soak in ice water for 5 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- Core tomatoes and cut into wedges or chunks.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cucumbers and red onions. Sprinkle with half the salt and toss gently. Let sit for 10 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Drain excess liquid from the bowl.
- Add tomatoes to the bowl.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, remaining salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
- Pour dressing over vegetables and gently toss to coat. Add fresh herbs if using.
- Cover and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
To prevent the salad from becoming watery, salt the cucumbers and onions separately and drain the excess liquid before adding the tomatoes. Do not add the dressing until just before serving if making ahead. Do not freeze this salad as the high water content will ruin the texture upon thawing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: cucumber salad, tomato salad, onion salad, summer salad, healthy side dish, vegan salad, gluten-free, quick recipes, no-cook salad, refreshing salad