Description
This marinated cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes salad is a crisp, refreshing, and tangy summer side dish. Quick to prepare and bursting with flavor, it’s perfect for picnics, BBQs, or a light lunch.
Ingredients
- 2 large or 3 medium fresh cucumbers (about 1 lb), sliced thinly
- 3 medium ripe tomatoes (about 1 lb), cut into wedges or thick slices
- 1 medium red onion (about 5 oz), sliced thinly
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped (optional; or parsley/basil as substitute)
- 1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)
Instructions
- Wash cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion.
- Slice cucumbers into thin rounds (about 1/8-inch thick). Peel if using regular cucumbers with thick or waxy skin.
- Cut tomatoes into wedges or thick slices. Halve if using cherry or grape tomatoes.
- Peel and slice the red onion into thin rings or half-moons.
- Optional: Soak onion slices in ice water for 5 minutes to mellow the flavor, then drain and pat dry.
- In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt, and black pepper until sugar and salt dissolve.
- If using, add minced garlic and chopped fresh dill to the marinade.
- Add sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the marinade over the veggies and toss gently to coat evenly.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to 4 hours), stirring once or twice.
- Before serving, toss the salad again, taste, and adjust salt or pepper if needed.
- Garnish with extra fresh herbs if desired and serve chilled.
Notes
For best results, use ripe tomatoes and thin-skinned cucumbers like English or Persian. Adjust the marinade to taste—add more sugar for sweetness or more vinegar for tang. The salad is very forgiving and can be customized with different herbs or additional veggies. Leftovers taste even better the next day, but the veggies will soften over time. Drain excess liquid before serving if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: marinated cucumbers, summer salad, easy salad, picnic salad, vegan salad, gluten-free salad, healthy side dish, BBQ salad, fresh vegetables, make-ahead salad