Description
Refreshing Mediterranean cucumber tomato salad combines crisp vegetables with zesty herbs and tangy feta cheese. Cool summer flavors dance on your palate, promising a light and satisfying culinary escape.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 2 large cucumbers, sliced (English or Persian cucumbers work best)
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
Herbs and Cheese:
- ¼ cup fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional, for extra flavor)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 small garlic clove, minced)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Carefully dice cucumbers into uniform half-moon shapes, creating thin, elegant slices that will capture the dressing’s essence. Simultaneously, chop tomatoes into comparable sizes for balanced texture and visual appeal.
- Mince red onion into delicate, translucent slivers, ensuring each piece remains small enough to distribute evenly throughout the salad without overpowering other ingredients.
- Craft a vibrant dressing by whisking olive oil with red wine vinegar, allowing the liquids to emulsify and create a smooth, unified base. Incorporate Dijon mustard for depth and complexity.
- Sprinkle garlic powder, oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper into the liquid mixture, stirring continuously to ensure thorough integration of spices and aromatics.
- Gently cascade the prepared dressing over the vegetable medley, using a light folding technique to coat each ingredient without bruising the delicate produce.
- Scatter fresh parsley or basil across the salad, adding a burst of herbal brightness and visual contrast. If desired, crumble feta cheese to introduce a tangy, creamy element.
- Allow the salad to rest for 10-15 minutes, enabling the flavors to harmonize and intensify. This resting period permits the vegetables to absorb the dressing’s nuanced profile.
- Serve the salad chilled or at ambient temperature, presenting a refreshing and vibrant dish perfect for warm days or as a complementary side.
Notes
- Slice vegetables thinly for a more delicate texture and even dressing distribution, ensuring each bite is perfectly seasoned.
- Use ripe, in-season tomatoes for maximum flavor and sweetness, which elevates the entire salad’s taste profile.
- Customize the salad by swapping feta with dairy-free alternatives like nutritional yeast or vegan cheese crumbles for a plant-based version.
- Marinate the red onions in the vinegar briefly before mixing to soften their sharp bite and infuse a milder, more balanced flavor into the salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 5mg