Looking for a simple yet delectable accompaniment that tempts your taste buds? Look nowhere; we have found the key to end your search and break free from the routine salad.
With its sugary and spicy taste, Tomato Cucumber Salad will win your hearts. Moreover, the recipe will hardly take 20 minutes while providing a taste better than many restaurants.
We know it doesn’t seem very certain to you. But don’t hesitate anymore; try it as we present the best tomato cucumber salad recipe. We bet your taste buds will thank you for this refreshing treat.
Let’s quickly dive into the recipe and get started!
Soulful Nutritional Salad
Tomato Cucumber Salad is a simple yet delightful recipe you can whip quickly. This homemade salad is perfect for refreshing, light, and tasty food loaded with flavors. Though not so nutritious, the dish possesses an enticing taste that will surely impress everyone—wondering about what to eat.
The tomato Cucumber Salad pairs well with a variety of dishes. In short, if you’re looking for a quick and easy dish that will elevate the taste of your meals, the tomato cucumber salad is your go-to recipe.
Must-Have Ingredient and Kitchen Essentials
Trying a new recipe can be challenging at times, and chances are high you’ll make several mistakes. Below, we have listed all the necessary ingredients and tools to prevent you from any such situation while preparing tomato cucumber salad.
Essential Ingredients
Item Name | Quantity Required |
4 pieces | |
2 pieces | |
½ | |
¼ cup | |
¼ cup | |
2 tablespoons | |
1 tablespoon | |
1 tablespoon | |
Honey (Optional) | 1 teaspoon |
According to requirement | |
¼ teaspoon | |
Feta Cheese (Optional) | ¼ cup |
Tools Required
Step-by-Step Guide For Preparing Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe
With all the prerequisites, you’re better prepared to start making the salad. The Tomato Cucumber salad involves three steps: gathering the ingredients, dressing and combining the ingredients, chilling, and serving.
Step 1: Gathering the Ingredients
The first step to preparing the luscious tomato-cucumber salad is gathering and preparing all the abovementioned ingredients. Wash the tomatoes and dice them into bite-size pieces. Now slice the English cucumber directly, or slice the red onions thinly after peeling. Chop the parsley into fine pieces and tear the basil leaves into small pieces.
If you opted for feta cheese, crumble it; it’ll help add extra richness and flavor to your salad recipe. Now that you have all the ingredients ready and laid out on your cutting board, you have made your salad-making process easier.
Cooking Tip: We advise adding a handful (roughly 10-12) of kalamata olives if you want extra flavor. This will make your salad taste briny with a pinch of tanginess.
Step 2: Dressing and Combining Ingredients
Having all the ingredients ready, it’s time to move to the second step. Take a small ball and add virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey(optional), salt, and black pepper in the right proportion. Once added, mix them properly using a whisk. This will help add a balanced tanginess and sweet flavor to the fresh veggies you will add.
Now, take a mixing bowl and add the bite-sized tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and thinly sliced onions you prepared in Step 1. Add the chopped parsley and the torn basil leaves. Mix well; this will help the herbaceous flavor to spread evenly.
Cooking Tip: Consider sprinkling the crumbled feta cheese over the top; it’ll give the tomato-cucumber salad recipe a creamier touch.
Step 3: Chilling and Serving
You’re almost ready with the tomato cucumber salad but must prepare it well for serving. Therefore, cover the salad bowl with a food wrap or lid (if your bowl has one) and refrigerate. Have patience for at least 30 min; this will allow the ingredients to infuse and flavor to spread evenly.
Also, refrigerating will make your salad fresh, perfect for a summer day. Once the time is up, take it out, transfer it to plates, and enjoy the vibrant and palatable tomato cucumber salad.
Cooking Tip: Mix the salad with a pinch of mint after taking it out for a more refreshing flavor. Don’t sprinkle directly; chop well and then sprinkle over the top.
Keto-Friendly Tomato Cucumber Salad
To make the above recipe keto-friendly, all you need is to make simple adjustments to the ingredients. Below mentioned pointers will help you achieve the same:
- Omit Honey: In the dressing step, mentioned-above omit to add honey, as it has high contents of natural sugars. Instead, enjoy the natural sweetness of the tomato and cucumber.
- Skip adding the optional feta cheese: This will help reduce the overall carb content of the salad.
- Add Avocado: It is rich in healthy fats, hence good for a keto-friendly recipe. Further, adding it compliments the flavors of other veggies in the salad.
Points to Adhere While Preparing Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe
Have you ever faced a situation where you wholeheartedly followed the cooking steps, but the results were not satisfying, just because you were right with the steps but not the method? Read on to explore all the must-adhere points while making tomato cucumber salad and that which will save you from any such situation:
- Choose ripe and fresh tomatoes and cucumbers to guarantee the best flavor. Look for firm tomatoes that are smooth enough to react to gentle pressure. For cucumbers, choose one that is crisp and soft, spot-free.
- Don’t forget to sprinkle salt on cucumbers to extract any excess water. This helps prevent your tomato cucumber salad from becoming watery.
- Use measuring spoons frequently to add ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, honey, etc. This ensures that everything is introduced in the right proportion.
- Don’t add the garnishing herbs like parsley and basil leaves beforehand; instead, top them just before serving. This will help maintain the vibrancy and fresh flavors.
Alternative Ingredients for Preparing Tomato Cucumber Salad
Not every ingredient needs to suit everyone equally, right? Further, sometimes it may happen you’re out of a particular ingredient. So leave preparing the dish you were longing for? Here are the substitute ingredients to help complete the delightful tomato-cucumber salad if you’re stuck.
- Bell Peppers: Substituting red onion with bell peppers is a good choice, as it adds a sweet and crunchy element to your salad, enhancing flavor and presentation.
- Radishes: They can be used instead of feta cheese, adding a crispy, peppery, and refreshing flavor to tomato cucumber salad.
- Lemon Zest: Use this while replacing the lemon juice. It infuses a citrusy tanginess to your salad.
Serving Pattern for the Tomato Cucumber Salad
The tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe is ideal to accompany the main course at gatherings or family meals. The ingredients used in the recipe are enough to serve 6 people. Serve each guest around 1 cup of salad, ensuring they get a generous portion of hearty and delectable salad.
The freshness of the veggies and the aroma of parsley and basil leaves will impress your guests. To make your serving even better, alongside salad, offer a bowl of feta cheese so that everyone can sprinkle as per their desire and enjoy the richness of salad to the fullest.
Calorie Content
Apart from being delectable, this tomato-cucumber salad is also a healthy addition to your meals. Each serving amount mentioned above accounts for around 154 calories. The nutritional value of the dish is impressive. It is rich in vitamins and minerals and devoid of cholesterol, allowing you to enjoy guilt-free.
Conclusion
Tomato Cucumber Salad is a great escape from the boring onion salad. The recipe is versatile and can be accompanied by every other dish. Also, if you’re on a diet, the salad will entice your taste buds while providing enough nutrition.
Whether hosting a small family gathering or a large party, this add-on will work for both and impress your guests.
Still thinking about what? Now you have the recipe, buck up, run to the kitchen, and try this delicious recipe. Do comment below whether you enjoyed it or not. What did your guests say? We would love to hear of any customized ingredients you have incorporated to give it a delightful touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Regular Cucumbers in Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe?
Yes, you can use regular cucumbers in place of English Cucumbers. Remember to peel off and omit extra large seeds (if any). The taste remains delicious both ways. However, if you use regular cucumbers, add a pinch of salt and let it rest for a few minutes. This will help extract the extra moisture, if any.
Is Feta Cheese Necessary?
It’s optional; if you want tomato-cucumber salad to be dairy-free, omit it. The taste remains delightful with the fresh vegetables and other ingredients. If you still want to add a creamy element, you can use a dairy-free alternative like diced avocado or a sprinkle of toasted nuts.
Can I Prepare the Tomato Cucumber Salad in Advance?
You can make the salad beforehand. However, add the herbs and feta cheese, if using, just before serving. This helps retain freshness and taste. Preparing the salad in advance will help the flavors to meld together even more, resulting in a flavorful and satisfying dish.
How Long Can I Store Tomato Cucumber Salad?
Around 2 days, when stored in an airtight container or using a food wrap in the refrigerator. However, freshly prepared salads taste best. If you want it to store for longer, store the chopped vegetables and the dressing separately and mix them just before serving.
