Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
on Sep 07, 2019, Updated Jul 05, 2024
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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.
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
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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.
