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Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe with Red-Wine Vinaigrette

Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad

A crisp, juicy tomato and cucumber salad dressed with olive oil, red-wine vinegar, parsley, salt, and pepper. It is ready in about 25 to 30 minutes, including the optional resting time.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 3 Medium ripe tomatoes, diced
  • 1 Large English cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced
  • 1/2 Medium red onion, thinly sliced or diced
  • 1/4 cup Fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing
  • 2 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Red-wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
Optional Additions
  • 1/2 cup Crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh dill
  • 1 Small garlic clove, finely minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon Dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon juice

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Wash and dry all vegetables thoroughly. Dice the tomatoes into bite-size pieces, slice the cucumber, thinly slice or dice the red onion, and chop the parsley.
  2. If the tomatoes are especially juicy, remove some seeds and excess liquid before adding them to the bowl. This helps the finished salad stay crisp instead of becoming watery.
  3. Place the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley in a large mixing bowl. Add optional dill, garlic, or oregano if you are using them.
  4. Whisk the olive oil, red-wine vinegar, kosher salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Add the lemon juice with the vinegar, or use it in place of some of the vinegar if desired.
  5. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently with salad servers. Use a light hand so the tomato pieces stay intact and the cucumber remains crisp.
  6. Let the salad stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This short rest allows the onion to mellow slightly and gives the herbs and dressing time to flavor the vegetables.
  7. Add the crumbled feta just before serving, if using, and taste for seasoning. Add more salt or pepper as needed, then serve promptly.

Notes

Use ripe but firm tomatoes and an English or Persian cucumber for the best texture. To reduce excess liquid, salt the cucumber briefly for about 10 minutes and pat it dry before tossing. Dress shortly before serving because tomatoes and cucumbers release water as they sit.