Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad

This easy Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad is deliciously crunchy and super refreshing. It's the perfect accompaniment to meat-based dishes but absolutely delightful on its own, too!

There are really very few meals that can't be made better with a simple salad, and this Mediterranean cucumber and tomato salad has been my go-to choice for as long as I can remember.

I do lots of variations of it, to be honest, depending on mood and what I'm serving it with, but the version I'm sharing here is my favorite.

It has a generous base of cucumbers and tomatoes, as you would expect, but I like to add a bit of extra interest with a handful of taggiasca olives, chickpeas and red onion.

And since this is the type of salad I generally whip up in a hurry, it has the oil and lemon juice going straight in. Just a bit of each because it really doesn't need much.

What you'll need

Cucumbers - I don't peel the cucumbers for this Mediterranean salad, but you can do it if you like. Seedless cucumbers are a great choice here.

Tomatoes - I typically use plum tomatoes in this salad, but any other kind would do. Halved cherry tomatoes are perfect!

Red onion - There's no cucumber salad without red onion for m,e but skip it if you're not a fan. Sliced scallions are a nice substitution.

Radishes - For a pop of color and crunchiness.

Chickpeas - These are optional; I like to add half a cup to bulk up the salad and add a bit of protein.

Olives - Taggiasca olives are my favorite in this salad, and I generally buy the pitted kind. Kalamata olives or any other black olives would do.

Olive oil - Use the best quality you can so you can get a nice, fruity flavor for your salad.

Lemon juice - This is optional; some people don't like lemon juice when there are tomatoes in the salad, so feel free to skip it.

How to make Mediterranean cucumber salad

In a large salad bowl, combine the diced cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, radishes, chickpeas and olives.

Pour the olive oil and lemon juice over the veggies, add the salt and pepper and toss gently to combine.

Adjust the seasoning to taste, garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.

Substitutions and variations

• You can add more protein to your Mediterranean salad with cannellini beans or any other beans you prefer.
• Sprinkle some crumbled feta cheese on top.
• Add some extra herbs such as parsley, dill or even fresh mint for an even more vibrant salad.

Recipe tips and notes for the best Mediterranean tomato cucumber salad

• If your cucumber has a thick skin, it's a good idea to peel some or all of it.
• Get rid of the raw onion taste by soaking the sliced red onion in cold water for 10-15 minutes before using it in the salad.
• Serve the salad as a side for grilled meat or fish. It's also perfect with just about any kind of air fried chicken.
• This salad is best enjoyed the same day. If you have leftovers, they will keep well in the fridge for up to 2 days in an airtight container. The cucumbers will become softer as they sit.

If you've tried this Mediterranean cucumber tomato salad recipe, please rate it and leave a comment below! I'd love to hear how it turned out.

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