Mediterranean Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Mediterranean cucumber and tomato salad is filled with fresh vegetables and Mediterranean flavor. Made in 10 minutes with minimal preparation, this salad features crisp fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, sharp red onions, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a tangy homemade Greek dressing. The result? A flavorful salad that’s perfect for any occasion!
Mediterranean cucumber and tomato salad is one of my favorites, and that’s saying a lot, considering my love for good salads and the variety of salad recipes on my blog. I adore this salad for its crunchy veggies and unmistakable Greek flavors.
This salad is filled with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, and Mediterranean flavor. It takes only 10 minutes to make and requires minimal preparation. You need fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, sharp red onions, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a tangy homemade Greek dressing. If you want to add spice, swap the Greek dressing for a harissa vinaigrette!
I usually eat it as a main dish with homemade easy yeast bread, no-knead focaccia, or Italian artisan bread.
Ingredients Notes
Mediterranean cucumber and tomato salad is soooo easy to make! It just takes a little time to chop the veggies and mix the dressing. From there, you will have a perfect cucumber Greek salad with flavor!
- Cucumbers: Choose standard or English cucumbers. Always remove the seeds and pat the cucumber dry before cutting it up. This simple step removes excess water and keeps your salad ingredients crisp.
- Tomatoes: Roma, grape, or cherry tomatoes are my favorites. If you are using Roma tomatoes, cut the tomatoes in half and remove the seeds. As mentioned above, this keeps the water content down.
- Red Onion is a classic choice for authentic Greek salad zest. If you find it too bold, green or yellow onions are excellent substitutes for a milder yet still Mediterranean flavor.
- Kalamata Olives: These gems are a traditional staple of Greek salads. If you’re not a fan, switch to black olives or skip them altogether.
- Feta Cheese: Can we all agree everything is better with feta? I use vegan feta, the one ingredient I can’t tell the difference between the real and the vegan.
- Red Wine Vinegar: It’s the secret to the dressing’s signature zing.
- Dijon Mustard: This adds depth and richness you don’t want to miss. Vegans, look for a vegan dijon. I use Grey Poupon.
See the recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
Video
Additions
- Bell Peppers: Add bite-sized pieces of bell peppers in any color to add flavor.
- Chickpeas: Add a nutty taste and a hearty Mediterranean texture to the salad.
- Fresh Mint: This can add a fresh pop of flavor. Mind is also a popular ingredient in the region.
- Pine Nuts: Add a Mediterranean touch with toasted pine nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Mediterranean Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Equipment
- 1 Medium bowl
- 1 Small Whisk
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 large standard slicing cucumbers, seeded and cut into quarters
- 1 cup (139g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup (34g) kalamata olives, sliced
- ½ cup (80g) red onion, sliced thin
- ¼ cup (38g) feta or vegan feta cheese crumbles
- ½ large lemon, squeezed
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (28g) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (15g) red wine vinegar
- ½ tablespoon (2.5g) oregano, dried (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- 1 teaspoon (5g) dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Ingredient Preparation:
- Cucumbers: Start by washing and drying the cucumbers. Cut them lengthwise and gently scoop out the seeds. Slice each half again lengthwise and then chop into quarter-sized pieces. In a traditional salad, the cucumbers are in large bite-sized chunks and not slices.
- Tomatoes: Wash and pat dry with paper towels. If you're using Roma or larger tomatoes, cut them in half. Remove the seeds and the watery interior. Depending on the size and type of tomato, slice them into manageable, large chunks, but also bite-sized pieces.
- Red Onion: Peel and slice the red onion into thin, long slices
- Olives: If your olives are whole, slice them into smaller pieces. If your olives are pieces, you do not need to prepare.
- Feta Cheese: If the feta cheese is in a block, crumble it into smaller pieces. You do not need to prepare if your feta cheese is already crumbled.
Dressing Preparation:
- In a separate, small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients.
Combining the Ingredients and Dressing:
- Place all the ingredients in a large bowl. Evenly pour the dressing over the top and gently toss everything together. Squeeze a small amount of fresh lemon over the top for a fresh flavor.
Notes
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- Cheese: Goat cheese is an excellent substation. If you want shaper flavors, try blue cheese! Both of these are available in vegan options.
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- Olives: Out of kalamata olives? Not your thing? No worries, use black olives instead.
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- Tzatziki dressing: Switch up the dressing and use tzatziki sauce instead!
Nutrition
Did you make this? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out!
Tastes great. Refreshing! Easy to put together and “forgiveable” if you need to sub an ingredient to use what’s on hand. Do you have nutrition breakdown or did I miss that and the number of servings this makes?
Hi Gayle, the servings and nutrition information is listed below in the recipe card. I am so glad you enjoyed my recipe