Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad
Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad is the best summer salad. After making it dozens of times, I discovered the trick to keeping it crispy. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Taco Pasta Salad and Cowboy Butter Lemon Bowtie Chicken with Broccoli.
Why This Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad Is Pure Comfort
- Light and refreshing
- Easy to make ahead
- Better than takeout
What You'll Need for Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 large tomato
- 1 small red onion
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red wine vinegar
- Olive oil
- Dried dill
- Optional: Feta cheese
- Optional: Fresh parsley
📝 Ingredient Notes
- cucumber: Use a mandoline slicer for even, thin slices.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Mandoline slicer — Ensures even, thin slices for maximum crunch. → See on Amazon
- Salad spinner — Removes excess water for crispier salad. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad
- Prepare vegetables: Thinly slice cucumber and red onion. Dice tomato.
- Toss: In a large bowl, combine cucumber, tomato, and red onion. Toss with salt and pepper.
- Dress: In a small bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, olive oil, and dill. Pour over salad and toss.
- Serve: Serve immediately or refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Top with feta and fresh parsley if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad
- Common mistake and fix: Don't over-dress the salad. It will become soggy. Add dressing just before serving.
- Tip: For a quicker salad, use a bag of pre-washed salad greens and add your vegetables on top.
- Tip: Make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days. The salad will still be crispy.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Make-ahead tip: Make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freezing Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad
Not suitable for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Not necessary. Microwave: Not necessary.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add some diced jalapeño.
- Best substitution: Substitute red onion with shallot or green onion.
- Make-ahead: Prepare vegetables and dressing separately. Combine just before serving.
- Scaling: Easily doubles or triples for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If salad is too watery, drain and pat dry before serving.
Want to level up this recipe?
Salad bowl set — Keeps salad fresh and crispy. Pays for itself vs takeout. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 large tomato
- 1 small red onion
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Red wine vinegar
- Olive oil
- Dried dill
Optional Toppings
- Feta cheese
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare vegetables: Thinly slice cucumber and red onion. Dice tomato.
- Toss: In a large bowl, combine cucumber, tomato, and red onion. Toss with salt and pepper.
- Dress: In a small bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, olive oil, and dill. Pour over salad and toss.
- Serve: Serve immediately or refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Top with feta and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add some diced jalapeño.
- Best substitution: Substitute red onion with shallot or green onion.
- Make-ahead: Prepare vegetables and dressing separately. Combine just before serving.
- Scaling: Easily doubles or triples for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If salad is too watery, drain and pat dry before serving.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Freezer: Not suitable for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Not necessary.
- Microwave reheat: Not necessary.
- Make ahead: Make ahead and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 70
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 3g
- Carbs: 9g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sat. Fat: 0.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad FAQs
Yes, prepare vegetables and dressing separately. Combine just before serving.
Overcrowding the bowl or over-dressing can cause excess water. Drain and pat dry before serving.
Yes, bell peppers, corn, or avocado would be great additions.
No, this recipe is best served cold.
Shallot or green onion would work well.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
