Classic Summer Salad with Tomatoes and Cucumbers

Sometimes I crave a dish that requires one too many ingredients (read: 5 more than I have on hand). Do you know how difficult it is to crave something and not be able to satisfy those cravings? Oh, it’s hard. Especially when you’re craving something cool and fresh during those hot summer days. Something that’s healthy but also delicious. Perhaps the perfect mid-afternoon snack while the sun is beating down relentlessly.

Queue the birth of this easy summer salad.

A bit too dramatic? Perhaps. But I’m so glad I came up with a recipe that’s easy to make and calls for ingredients that I almost always have on hand. Juicy cherry tomatoes. English cucumber. Zesty red onions. Earthy dill. Smooth olive oil. And a dash of salt. That’s all you need! Yup, you read that right. No fancy ingredients. Simple, humble ingredients that make for an impactful dish. It’s as light as the summer breeze while adding lots of nutrition.

Speaking of nutrition, we need to talk about the benefits of this easy recipe.

Simple ingredients like juicy tomatoes, regular cucumbers, and raw onions make up the best fresh salads while adding in a punch of nutrition. The fresh tomatoes protect your cells from damage while giving you potassium and vitamin E. Crunchy cucumbers may be 95% water, but that hydration doesn’t come alone. Fresh cucumbers also contain vitamins K and A. There are many different types of onion, but red onion has quercetin, which can boost your immune system. Fresh dill can help to reduce the risks of heart disease.

Homegrown veggies reign supreme in the summer months. Growing your own veggies is a great way to ensure that your fresh produce doesn’t have anything sprayed on it or hasn’t been handled roughly. Fresh cucumbers and heirloom tomatoes from the garden taste different from store bought in any perfect salad. You can even grow a seedless variety of cucumbers at home. Of course, it all comes down to personal preference. This flavorful salad will taste amazing no matter what you choose.

A simple salad like this, I can’t help but to pair it up with a main dish or two.

You can devour a bowl as is, or pair it with your favorite meal. These veggies would go great with a baked chicken or grilled meat dish. The crisp cucumber and ripe tomatoes always combine so well, I just have to make more and more combinations with those two. Grilled chicken, a salsa, lemonade, and this salad? Done. A large bowl of salad needed at backyard barbecues? This is the perfect side dish. If I just feel like a light lunch, this cucumber tomato salad recipe always comes in clutch.

It’s wonderful to have an easy salad recipe that comes together in less than 5 minutes, and this is definitely one of them!

What do I need to make this recipe?

Cucumbers start this recipe off with vitamins and a boost of hydration.

Tomatoes are so juicy when they’re fresh, so be sure to grab some cherry tomatoes!

Red onion adds the tangy flavors that I just can’t resist. They are always present in a perfect summer side dish!

Olive oil makes up the simple dressing of this salad. You can choose to have extra virgin olive oil, whatever satisfies your tastes!

Fresh dill is one of those fresh herbs that’s constantly present in Slavic dishes. I love to add it into any recipe, and it is especially perfect in this fresh cucumber tomato salad.

Along with these ingredients, you will need salt and black pepper.

This summer salad pairs well with these dishes:

You can make a Creamy and Quick Dinner Spaghetti with Beef and Mushroom Sauce!

I like to make this Vegetarian Asparagus Summer Soup in just one pot!