This Refreshing Mediterranean Salad with Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion is a simple yet vibrant and flavorful salad that's perfect for any occasion! It combines crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and sharp red onion with a bright and zesty lemon dressing, creating a light, refreshing, and healthy dish. I love how this salad is incredibly easy to make, using just a few fresh ingredients. It's a perfect side dish for grilled meats, fish, or any Mediterranean-inspired meal, and it's also delicious on its own as a light lunch or snack.
Why You'll Love This Mediterranean Salad
- Fresh and Flavorful: The combination of crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, red onion, and a simple lemon dressing is incredibly refreshing.
- Easy to Make: This recipe requires minimal effort and just a few simple ingredients.
- Healthy and Light: Packed with fresh vegetables and a light dressing, this salad is a healthy and nutritious option.
- Versatile: Serve it as a side dish, a light meal, or a topping for grilled meats or fish.
- Perfect for Summer: This salad is especially delicious during the summer months when tomatoes and cucumbers are in season.
Ingredients for Mediterranean Salad
Here's what you'll need to make this refreshing salad. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Cucumber, diced (Vegetable)
- Tomatoes, diced (Vegetable)
- Red onion, thinly diced (Vegetable)
- Chopped cilantro (and/or mint, basil, parsley, dill) (Herb)
- Extra virgin olive oil (Oil)
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice (Acid)
Seasoning
- Salt (Seasoning)
- Fresh cracked pepper (Spice)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love this Mediterranean Salad as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Add Feta Cheese: Crumble some feta cheese over the salad for added salty, tangy flavor.
- Add Olives: Toss in some Kalamata olives or green olives.
- Add Bell Peppers: Add some diced bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange) for extra crunch and color.
- Make it a Grain Salad: Add some cooked quinoa, couscous, or farro for a heartier salad.
- Add Protein: Top the salad with grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas for a more substantial meal.
How to Make Mediterranean Salad
Let me show you how easy it is to make this Refreshing Mediterranean Salad:
Prepare Vegetables
- I dice the cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion into small cubes. You can soak the diced red onion in water for 10 minutes so the taste isn't as strong.
Combine Ingredients
- I add the diced veggies and chopped cilantro (and/or other herbs) to a large salad bowl.
- I pour over the olive oil and lemon juice.
- Then I season with salt and pepper.
Toss and Rest
- I mix everything together.
- I let salad sit for 10 minutes.
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Salad
Here are my secrets for making this salad truly exceptional:
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh, high-quality vegetables will give you the best flavor and texture.
- Dice Evenly: Dicing the vegetables into roughly the same size ensures that you get a little bit of everything in each bite.
- Soak Red Onion (Optional): Soaking the diced red onion in water for a few minutes helps to mellow out its flavor.
- Dress Just Before Serving: To prevent the salad from becoming soggy, dress it just before serving.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the salad and adjust the salt, pepper, and lemon juice to your liking.
How to Serve
This Mediterranean Salad with Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion is perfect for:
- Side Dish: A refreshing side dish for grilled meats, fish, or poultry.
- Light Meal: Enjoy it as a light lunch or dinner.
- Potlucks and Picnics: Easy to transport and serve at potlucks and picnics.
- Topping: Use it as a topping for pita bread, sandwiches, or wraps.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can prepare the vegetables ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator. Combine the ingredients and dress the salad just before serving. Leftover salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, but the cucumbers may release some moisture over time.
FAQs about Mediterranean Salad
- Can I use a different type of cucumber?
- Yes, you can use English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers, or regular cucumbers.
- Can I make this without the red onion?
- Yes, you can omit the red onion if you prefer.
- Can I use a different type of herb?
- Yes
Enjoy this fresh, flavorful, and easy-to-make Mediterranean Salad with Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion! It's a perfect side dish or light meal for any occasion.
Print
Refreshing Mediterranean Salad with Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Resting Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Description
This refreshing Mediterranean Salad is a simple and flavorful combination of cucumber, tomato, red onion, and fresh cilantro, tossed in a light lemon and olive oil dressing. It's a perfect side dish or light meal.This refreshing Mediterranean Salad is a simple and flavorful combination of cucumber, tomato, red onion, and fresh cilantro, tossed in a light lemon and olive oil dressing. It's a perfect side dish or light meal.
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber, diced (see notes)
- 2-3 medium tomatoes, diced (see notes)
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced and diced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (or a combination of cilantro, mint, basil, parsley, and/or dill)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Dice the cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion. If you prefer a milder onion flavor, soak the diced red onion in cold water for 10-15 minutes, then drain well before adding to the salad.
- Chop Herbs: Finely chop the fresh cilantro (and any other herbs you're using).
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the diced cucumber, diced tomatoes, diced red onion, and chopped herbs.
- Dress Salad: Pour the extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice over the vegetables and herbs.
- Season: Season generously with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Toss to Combine: Toss all the ingredients together until they are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Rest (Optional): Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes at room temperature to allow the flavors to meld. This step is optional but recommended. You can also serve it lightly chilled.
- Serve
Notes
- Cucumber: English cucumbers are recommended for their thin skin and fewer seeds. If using a regular cucumber, you may want to peel it and remove the seeds.
- Tomatoes: Use ripe, flavorful tomatoes. Roma tomatoes, vine-ripened tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes (halved or quartered) all work well.
- Red Onion: Soaking the diced red onion in cold water for 10-15 minutes helps to mellow its flavor.
- Herbs: Feel free to use any combination of fresh herbs that you like. Cilantro, mint, basil, parsley, and dill all work well in this salad.
- Serving Suggestions: This salad is delicious on its own or as a side dish to grilled meats, fish, or poultry. It's also great in pita bread or wraps.
- Make-Ahead: You can prepare the vegetables and dressing ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator. Toss the salad together just before serving.
- Storage: Store any leftovers for 2-3 days
