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A refreshing and easy taste of summer, this Mediterranean cucumber salad is packed with fresh ingredients and flavors that you can totally make your own!
Sometimes, I just CRAVE a simple, refreshing, but packed full of flavor salad that comes together quickly and easily. Do you ever go through the same thing? It often hits me after, we’ll say, a more indulgent weekend, and I just want something green and from the ground on my plate. When these pangs strike, a crunchy, cucumber-filled Mediterranean salad sounds pretty much perfect.
This one is a cinch to make, too, with just cucumber, tomato, red onion, and olives topped with a little olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs. Plus, with its many colors and textures, I love bringing it to potlucks and picnics for an easy side in the summer. If you love Mediterranean-esque salads with fresh veggies and olives galore, you’ll be a fan of my Simple Italian Pasta Salad and Greek Quinoa Salad, too! They’re perfect options for a light lunch or healthy side dish for a get-together!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fresh and Healthy: This salad is packed with fresh vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions so it’s full of good-for-you vitamins and minerals.
- No Cooking Required: This is a no-cook recipe, which means it’s perfect for hot days when you don’t want to even think about turning on the stove or oven.
- Colorful Presentation: The fresh veggies are full of vibrant colors that will catch everyone’s eye, making it a great dish to serve at gatherings or potlucks.
Ingredients
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Red Onion
- Pitted Kalamata Olives
- Olive Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Salt and Pepper
- Fresh Herbs: like basil and parsley or even dill, optional
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
Popular Substitutions and Variations
- You can add more fresh vegetables if you have them. It’s a great recipe to use up odds and ends in the refrigerator or when the garden is going crazy and you have lots to use.
- The dressing would be delicious with a squeeze of lemon.
- A little crumbled Feta cheese would be a delicious addition to all these Mediterranean flavors.
- To add more protein, toss in some yummy and tender Chicken Brine!
How to Make Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
Step #1. Add the cucumber, tomato, olives, and onion to a large bowl.
Step #3. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add herbs and adjust seasonings as needed.
Step #2. Add the vinegar and olive oil and gently toss.
Step #4. Serve salad right away or store in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours.
Recipe FAQs
Since you dress it when you put the salad together, it can get a little soft if kept in the fridge longer than a few hours. I’d make it fresh and serve it immediately, or within 2 or 3 hours!
This recipe’s ingredients are super simple and fresh: cucumber, tomato, red onion, kalamata olives, oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and fresh herb if you have them! I love chopped fresh basil and parsley in it, or even a little dill tastes fantastic.
Expert Tips
- If you’re using a regular, garden cucumber, cut it lengthwise and scrape the seeds out with a spoon – they can make the salad too watery.
- Peeling the cucumber is optional but it’s a good idea to take a small taste and see if the peel is thick or bitter and go from there. (This usually isn’t a problem for English cucumbers, but it’s always good to check.)
- If your onion is too strong, throw it in a bowl of cold water with a splash of vinegar for 10-15 minutes before adding it to the salad to draw out some of the sharpness.
- Change up the dressing flavor and try a tangy homemade Catalina dressing instead.
What Goes Well with Mediterranean Cucumber Salad?
This is so, so yummy with simple summer dishes, like baked or grilled chicken, a margherita pizza, tacos, or anything else with summery vibes! (It’s also tasty on its own — top with feta cheese and a little chicken or turkey for some light protein!)
Video of how to make Mediterranean cucumber salad:
More Cucumber Recipes to Consider
Hobby Farm
Garden 2017 Update
From Scratch Recipes
Lunch Box Ideas from Lindsay Olives
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped, peeled cucumber (1 large cucumber)
- 1 cup chopped garden fresh tomato, 1 large tomato
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh herbs, scant 1/4 cup chopped, optional
Instructions
- Add the cucumber, tomato, onion, and olives to a medium bowl.
- Add olive oil and vinegar, and toss gently to combine.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Adjust ingredients to taste (add more of what you like), and add fresh herbs if using.
- Serve right away, or keep in the fridge for up to 3 hours before serving.
Video
Notes
- You can use balsamic vinegar or rice vinegar instead of the red wine vinegar if you prefer.
- This is so flexible — add more of anything that you like, and adjust the oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and herbs to your liking.
- I love chopped fresh basil and parsley in this dish. A little fresh dill is also lovely.
- This salad gets a little soft if left in the fridge more than a few hours, but I still think it tastes really good.
- This recipes scales up really nicely. I’ll often make a huge bowl of it to take to picnics and potlucks in the summer when all of the veggies are so good.
My new favorite salad! This cucumber salad is so summery and fresh, very simple and quick to toss together. I added chopped peppers and feta cheese and my entire family loved the salad. I will definitely be making this again many times.
So glad you liked it Joanna!