Colorful and tasty, this Cucumber and Tomato Salad (with Onions) is a feast for the eyes AND the taste buds. It pairs well with most meats and can be served at the dinner table or picnic table.
Salads are a staple of any diet. They are naturally low in fat and calories and so nutritious. Of course, there are 1,001 different kinds of salads ranging in taste and nutrition. It’s been my experience, though, that the healthier a salad is, the less healthy it is for me. It’s all that salad dressing! It tastes so good but is rarely good for me. Well, I think I’ve found one that is that perfect balance of “healthy” and “tasty” — and the funny thing is, it doesn’t contain a shred of lettuce!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- This salad is such a light and refreshing side to any meal. Is it any wonder it always reminds me of summer!
- The textures! The crunchiness of the cucumber and the relative softness of the tomato keep your mouth on its toes (assuming a mouth has toes, which it doesn’t. Never mind.)
- The dressing is filled with dill. Seriously, dill has been a game changer for me when making salads. While fresh dill is preferable, I have no problems adding a bit from my spice rack to any salad I concoct.
- It is so quick and easy to put together. Hardly any ingredients necessary.
Is This Healthy?
- It is all about the whole foods. The entire dish, including the dressing, contains whole ingredients, edibles you’d finally in nature.
- It is sugar-free. The benefit of making your own dressing (or making your own anything, for that matter) is that you can control what goes in and what doesn’t. Store-bought dressings usually only focus on making it taste good, so in goes the sugar. When making your own, you can replace the sugar with natural products that will make it taste just as good!
- It is low in calories, which makes it an ideal side for those watching their weight.
- All three main ingredients — cucumber, tomato, onion — contain so many nutrients and antioxidants, your body will thank you for thinking of it.
iNGREDIENTS
The Salad:
- 10 baby cucumbers, sliced
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes, sliced into wheels
- 1/4 red onion, finely sliced
the dressing:
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tsp dill, chopped
- salt and pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix
Mix the red wine vinegar, olive oil, dill, and salt and pepper together in a jar.
Assemble
Combine the sliced tomatoes, cucumber, and onions into a medium-sized bowl. Pour over the dressing and toss the salad until all coated.
Variations
There are some awesome ingredients you can add in that will make this even more tasty. Given this is a basic recipe, you can go in a number of ways:
- Cheeses – Feta, mozzarella and burrata are all great options (feta, I think, is the conventional choice for this type of salad, though).
- Avocado is a great way to add some whole-food creaminess. Such a texture treat!
- At the opposite end of the texture spectrum are croutons, which bring a crunch and a bit of garlic. Homemade croutons would be the way to go to ensure this dish remains healthy and sugar-, sodium-, and preservative-free.
- You can exchange the dill for other fresh herbs like parsley, basil or oregano
FAQs
It is best to make this salad on the same day you’re going to serve it, a few hours in advance is OK though. Just don’t add the dressing until closer to serving time.
I like to use baby or Israeli cucumbers. I find them to have the most satisfying crunch.
Yes, you can. In fact, you can use whichever type of tomatoes you prefer. Grape, heirloom… your call.
How To Store Cucumber and tomato Salad
Get rid of any excess liquid from the salad. Put it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Any longer and the vegetables will start to turn mushy and lose their freshness. I don’t recommend freezing the salad; the veggies contain so much water that they’ll turn to mush when thawed out.
Cucumber and Tomato Salad (with Onions)
Ingredients
The Salad:
- 10 baby cucumbers sliced
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes sliced into wheels
- ¼ red onion finely sliced
The Dressing:
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tsp dill chopped
- salt and pepper
Instructions
-
To make your dressing, mix the red wine vinegar, olive oil, dill, and salt and pepper together in a jar.
-
Mix together the sliced tomatoes, cucumber, and onions in a medium-sized bowl.
-
Pour over the dressing and toss the salad until coated.
Notes
Nutrition
The post Cucumber and Tomato Salad (with Onions) appeared first on Food Faith Fitness.
