Crunchy Cucumber, Vibrant Tomato, and Tangy Onion Salad Recipe

Fresh Garden Crunch: Crisp Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Delight Recipe

Summer’s vibrant salad with crisp cucumber tucked between fresh tomatoes and zesty onions promises a burst of refreshing flavors.

Cool and light, this simple dish brings Mediterranean charm to your table.

Each crisp bite offers a perfect balance of textures and colors.

Bright red tomatoes complement the pale green cucumber’s crunch.

Thinly sliced onions add a sharp, tangy note that awakens the palate.

Drizzled with a light vinaigrette, this salad becomes an irresistible side that complements grilled meats or stands beautifully on its own.

Dive into this quick and easy recipe that turns ordinary vegetables into a delightful culinary experience.

How to Mix Crisp Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion

  • Vegetable Medley Fresh cucumbers, ripe tomatoes, and crisp onions chopped into delightful bite-sized pieces that dance together in a colorful bowl.
  • Zesty Liquid Love A vibrant blend of tangy vinegar, smooth olive oil, and aromatic seasonings whisked together to create a flavor explosion that will awaken your taste buds.
  • Flavor Fusion Gently drench your veggie masterpiece with the magical liquid, allowing each piece to become coated in deliciousness and mingle like friends at a summer party.
  • Chill and Develop Let the salad relax in the refrigerator, giving ingredients time to get to know each other and develop deep, rich flavors that will make your mouth water.
  • Final Flourish Give a quick toss just before serving, optional fresh herbs sprinkled on top for a burst of green that makes the dish look as amazing as it tastes.

Zesty Tips for Your Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion

  • Swap cucumber varieties or add bell peppers, radishes, or cherry tomatoes to introduce exciting textures and colors to the classic salad.
  • Elevate the dish by incorporating fresh herbs like dill, basil, or mint to bring vibrant, aromatic notes that dance on your taste buds.
  • Keep the marinated salad in an airtight container for up to 3 days, allowing flavors to develop and become more intense with each passing hour.

Serving Crisp Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion with Ease

  • Pair with Grilled Proteins: Serve alongside juicy grilled chicken, succulent fish, or tender steak to create a balanced and refreshing meal that complements the crisp vegetable salad.
  • Picnic Perfect Side: Pack this chilled salad in mason jars for outdoor gatherings, beach trips, or summer picnics, offering a cool and tangy accompaniment to sandwiches and light fare.
  • Mediterranean-Inspired Platter: Arrange the salad on a large platter with crumbled feta cheese, kalamata olives, and warm pita bread to transform it into a Mediterranean-style appetizer or light lunch.
  • Quick Meal Enhancer: Use as a zesty topping for tacos, mix into grain bowls, or fold into wraps to add vibrant flavor and crunch to simple weekday meals.

Storage Tips for Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion

  • Maximize Freshness: Store this cucumber, tomato, and onion salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will continue to develop and intensify during storage.
  • Quick Prep Tip: Chop vegetables just before serving to maintain maximum crispness and prevent soggy texture. Slice ingredients right before mixing to preserve their vibrant crunch.
  • Smart Portioning: Divide the salad into individual meal-prep containers for easy grab-and-go lunches or quick side dishes throughout the week. Keep dressing separate until ready to eat to prevent wilting.
  • Revive Leftovers: If the salad becomes slightly watery, simply drain excess liquid and give it a quick toss before serving. The vegetables will still retain their delicious marinated flavor profile.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time:

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 70 kcal

Servings: 5

Crisp Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Ingredient List

For Fresh Vegetables:
  • Cucumber: Crisp base that adds refreshing crunch and hydration to the salad, choose firm and bright green cucumbers without soft spots.
  • Tomatoes: Vibrant color and juicy sweetness, select ripe but still firm tomatoes with deep, rich color for best flavor.
  • Onions: Sharp flavor enhancer that provides zesty bite, pick fresh white or red onions with smooth, unblemished skin.
For Marinade Ingredients:
  • Vinegar, Olive Oil: Creates tangy and smooth dressing base that helps blend and soften vegetable flavors, choose high-quality extra virgin olive oil for richer taste.
  • Sugar: Balances acidic notes and rounds out dressing's overall flavor profile, can be adjusted based on personal preference.
  • Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasoning agents that elevate and harmonize the salad's taste, use freshly ground black pepper for maximum aroma.
  • Oregano: Herbaceous Mediterranean touch that adds earthy undertones and complexity to the marinade.
For Optional Garnish:
  • Parsley: Bright green herb that provides fresh visual appeal and subtle peppery notes, select vibrant green leaves without wilting.

Tools for Fresh Prep of Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion

  • Large bowl: Perfect for mixing and tossing vegetables and marinade.
  • Small bowl: Ideal for whisking and preparing the marinade.
  • Whisk: Essential for blending marinade ingredients smoothly.
  • Sharp knife: Crucial for slicing cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions uniformly.
  • Cutting board: Provides stable surface for vegetable preparation.
  • Plastic wrap or lid: Helps cover salad during marinating process.
  • Measuring spoons: Optional for precise seasoning measurements.
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Crunchy Cucumber, Vibrant Tomato, and Tangy Onion Salad Recipe

Crunchy Cucumber, Vibrant Tomato, and Tangy Onion Salad Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 17 reviews

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 5 1x

Description

Mediterranean Fattoush Salad offers a refreshing blend of chopped vegetables and crisp pita chips. Zesty sumac and tangy lemon dressing elevate flavors, inviting you to savor Middle Eastern culinary traditions.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cucumbers (large, thinly sliced)
  • 3 tomatoes (medium, cut into wedges or thick slices)
  • 1 onion (medium, red, thinly sliced)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) vinegar (white or apple cider)
  • 3 tbsps (45 ml/1.5 fl oz) olive oil
  • 1 tbsp (15 g/0.5 oz) sugar (granulated, optional)
  • 1 tsp (6 g/0.2 oz) salt
  • ½ tsp (1 g/0.03 oz) black pepper
  • 1 tsp (1 g/0.03 oz) oregano (dried) or Italian seasoning
  • ¼ cup (15 g/0.5 oz) parsley (fresh, chopped, optional)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Thoroughly cleanse cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions under running water, eliminating all traces of dirt and impurities.
  2. Cutting Technique: Skillfully slice cucumbers into gossamer-thin rounds, precisely dice tomatoes after removing core and seeds, and transform onions into whisper-thin translucent rings that will eagerly absorb the marinade’s complex flavor profile.
  3. Marinade Creation: Whisk white vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, granulated sugar, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and dried oregano in a separate vessel until the crystalline components completely dissolve, creating a harmonious liquid symphony.
  4. Flavor Infusion: Combine sliced vegetables in a spacious mixing bowl, cascading the meticulously crafted marinade over the vegetable medley and gently tossing to ensure each morsel is luxuriously coated with the vibrant dressing.
  5. Marination Process: Securely seal the bowl with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid, allowing the salad to rest and develop its nuanced flavors in the refrigerator’s cool embrace for 1-2 hours.
  6. Final Presentation: Before serving, delicately redistribute the marinade, optionally garnish with finely chopped fresh parsley or dill, and present the chilled salad as a refreshing accompaniment that captures the essence of summer’s bounty.

Notes

  • Prep Precision: Slice vegetables uniformly to ensure consistent texture and even marination.
  • Moisture Management: Remove tomato seeds and core to prevent watery, diluted salad consistency.
  • Flavor Infusion: Allow salad to marinate for minimum 1 hour, letting vegetables absorb dressing’s vibrant notes.
  • Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled within 24 hours for optimal crispness and taste profile.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: None
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 5
  • Calories: 70
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 400 mg
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 7 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Michael Rivera

Michael Rivera

Co-Founder & Culinary Instructor

Expertise

  • Classic French Cuisine
  • Artisanal Bread Baking
  • Plant-Based Culinary Innovation
  • Recipe & Menu Development
  • Interactive Online Instruction

Education

The French Culinary Institute (now part of the International Culinary Center)

  • Program: Classic Culinary Arts
  • Focus: An intensive curriculum rooted in classical French techniques, artisanal bread production, and contemporary culinary methods.

Michael Rivera is a seasoned chef and culinary instructor based in San Francisco, CA. Trained in Classic Culinary Arts at The French Culinary Institute, he refined his skills in Michelin-starred kitchens, mastering classic French techniques and artisanal bread baking. 

Passionate about making gourmet methods accessible, Michael co-founded thatsmyhome.com to share his expertise through interactive online lessons and innovative, plant-based recipes. He loves blending traditional techniques with modern ideas, encouraging home cooks to enjoy the art of cooking in a relaxed, fun environment.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star