This tomato cucumber salad is a quick and easy side salad that goes with everything. It’s fresh, healthy, flavorful and vegan.
Summer may be winding down but my garden is producing a ton of tomatoes and cucumbers at the moment. This tomato cucumber salad has been my go to salad all summer. It makes an excellent side salad whether you are grilling, going on a picnic or need to bring a side dish to a party.
Ripe tomatoes are combined with cool cucumbers, salty olives, crunchy walnuts and some fresh basil. Toss it with a garlicky red wine vinaigrette and you’re ready to serve.
I used a mix of summer tomatoes in this salad – some cherry tomatoes and some regular sized tomatoes.
For the cucumber, I used a Japanese cucumber. I’ve had great luck growing Japanese cucumbers this year. They are similar to English cucumbers – thin skinned with small seeds. One plant has given me 5 or 6 cucumbers a week for the last 5 weeks. So if you want to try growing a new vegetable next summer definitely give Japanese cucumbers a try.
A couple of notes:
- I used a thin skinned Japanese cucumber so I did not have to peel it. If you use a traditional cucumber, you’ll need to peel the outer skin off before dicing.
- Try to cut your tomatoes and cucumbers into a similar size shape when dicing.
Tomato Cucumber Salad
This tomato cucumber salad is a quick and easy side dish that goes with everything. It’s fresh, healthy, flavorful and vegan.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- Salad
- 1 1/2 cups of diced tomatoes. I used a combination of cherry and medium sized tomatoes.
- 1 large cucumber diced – about 1 1/2 to 2 cups
- 6 large basil leaves – minced
- 12 olives – roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup of walnuts – broken up into small pieces
- Dressing
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 1 Tbs red wine vinegar
- 1 clove of garlic – finely minced
- 6 twists of black pepper from a pepper mill
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add diced tomatoes and cucumbers to a large bowl.
- Add minced basil, chopped olives and walnuts to the bowl.
- Whisk together dressing ingredients.
- Pour dressing over tomato, cucumber mixture and toss to combine.
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet
I love that you added walnuts to this! I would have never thought of that but it’s an excellent addition! <3
Geraldine
Thanks, Lauren!
Janice
Have not made this salad, yet. I do not have fresh basil leaves, but have fresh ‘leaf lettuce’ from a farm stand & wondered if I could sub the leaf lettuce for basil (obviously, I’m going to get a ‘slight’ taste variation)? I’m might try adding a small amount of dried basil. This recipe looks & sounds delicious! Next time, I will buy fresh basil & try the original recipe! 🇨🇦
Geraldine
Hi Janice – I haven’t made this salad with leaf lettuce – I don’t think it will taste the same as the original recipe. Hope it works out for you!
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We’ve been making a lot of tomato and cucumber salads this summer too! I can’t get enough! The one thing I never think to add is walnuts…I love that idea! Thanks for sharing! Your garden produced a lovely bounty, my friend! Have a great weekend!
Geraldine
Aren’t simple summer salads the best, Annie – tomato and cucumber are made for each other!
Kelly@Inspired Edibles
There’s nothing better than gathering goodies from the garden for a salad and I love your approach to keeping things simple Geraldine and allowing the natural flavor of the food to shine through. This salad is the epitome of freshness and flavor! Look at your pretty tomatoes and cucs – love seeing the photos 🙂 Are you still flooded with tomatoes? They’re doesn’t seem to be any end over here :D. (psst, now that I know you have a pineapple guava (heeheeh) I’m looking forward to an upcoming feature 🙂
Geraldine
Thanks, Kelly – I’m always inspired by your garden shots – especially that wheelbarrow full of lemons you showed a while back. Thanks for the recommendation on the pineapple guava – such pretty tree and I’m looking forward to trying it’s fruit.
GiGi Eats
One of my favorite salad combos ever!!!
Geraldine
Thanks, Gigi!
traci | Vanilla And Bean
You make the best salads, Geraldine and I’m so impressed with your garden and veggies you grow! I know you look forward to this time of year. The best tomatoes are the ones you grow! I love that punchy dressing… red wine vinegar is SO fabulous with tomatoes and those briny olives! Just gorgeous!
Geraldine
Thanks so much, Traci. I find gardening very relaxing and rewarding. I wish I had a great big backyard – I’d have a mini farm if I could (with a couple of baby goats!). I’m actually thinking about adding garden boxes to my front yard to expand my vegetable garden!
anna @ annamayeveryday
That looks so fresh, crunchy and delicious and as luck would have it I have both cucumbers and tomatoes growing in the greenhouse at the moment!
Geraldine
Thanks so much, Anna – I’m envious of your greenhouse – how wonderful that must be!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
This salad looks so fresh and healthy. I could eat this for lunch every day! Love all your fresh tomatoes and cucumbers! 🙂
Geraldine
Thanks so much, Kathy!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings
Your cucumbers and tomatoes have me envious. My garden was kind of a flop this year. Not sure why vegetables in my soil just don’t taste great. Not to mention my dog was all over them! This looks so fresh and delicious!
Geraldine
Thanks, Karen. I use containers for all my veggies. It works really well but you do have to water everyday – which I don’t mind – I find it relaxing to be in the garden.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
I don’t have a garden (the deer would just eat it), but that doesn’t stop my counter and fridge from over flowing with tomatoes and cucumbers! This salad looks so delicious, Geraldine!! So much flavor and texture going on here! Absolutely perfect for right now, because it’s still hotter than heck outside! I could use a big ‘ole bowl of this! Cheers, dear!
Geraldine
Thanks, Cheyanne – We don’t have a deer problem here but I feel for people who have to deal with them. While they are beautiful, it must be devastating to have your whole garden destroyed. Stay cool!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners
Yup, we definitely love the same kinds of foods, Geraldine! Love tomatoes and adding the walnuts for extra crunch and flavour is perfect. My kind of salad every single time! Sharing 🙂
Geraldine
Thanks, Robyn – I knew you’d like this! Thanks for sharing – much appreciated!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
I have never tried a Japanese cucumber Geraldine. I use English cucumbers quite often because of the smaller seeds, so I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for the Japanese kind. I love this salad. So perfect for summer. Nice and light!
Geraldine
Thanks, Mary Ann. This is the first time I’ve grown Japanese cucumbers – I’ve never seen them in the store before. They are very similar to English cucumbers – maybe I should try growing English ones next year too!