This cherry tomato salad is a perfect blend of juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and sharp onions, all brought together with a tangy vinaigrette. It is a fantastic addition to any summer meal.
Summer is the season for vibrant, refreshing dishes that make the most of the freshest produce. One such dish is a summer cherry tomato salad with cucumbers and onions. It’s delicious, easy to prepare, full of fresh flavours, and sure to be a hit with anyone who tries it.
The simplicity of this salad is what makes it so appealing. With just a few fresh ingredients and a simple dressing, you can create a salad that’s both delicious and beautiful. It’s perfect for picnics, barbecues, or as a side dish for any summer meal.
Recipe Highlights
- no nuts
- gluten-free
- plant-based
- zero added sugar
- light and wholesome
- requires no cooking
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cherry Tomato: Look for ripe, sweet, colourful cherry tomatoes. If possible, buy locally grown produce or pick some vine tomatoes from your garden for the freshest taste. Cherry Tomatoes taste great in pasta or couscous soup too. You can use heirloom tomatoes also like I did for my summer tomato salad recipe.
- Cucumber: Firm, fresh Spanish or English cucumbers are the right choice.
- Red Onion for the sharp taste. Soak onion in cold water after slicing to mellow down the sharp taste.
- Herbs: A mix of fresh mint, cilantro, parsley or Italian basil.
- Cheese: The addition of soft cheese like goat, feta, or mozzarella takes this tomato salad up a notch. To keep it vegan, skip adding cheese.
- Salad Dressing: It is a mix of extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, sea salt and crushed pepper.
How To Make Cherry Tomato Salad
1. Prepare the Vegetables
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half. If you prefer, you can quarter them instead.
- Next, peel the cucumber if it has thick skin; otherwise, you can leave it on for added texture and nutrients. Dice the cucumber into bite-sized pieces.
- Lastly, thinly slice the red onion. If you find raw onions too pungent, you can soak the slices in cold water for about 10 minutes to mellow their flavour.
2. Make the Vinaigrette
- In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in the extra virgin olive oil until the mixture is well emulsified.
- This vinaigrette is what gives the salad its tangy, refreshing flavour, and it’s a versatile dressing you can use for other salad recipes as well.
3. Assemble the Salad
- In a large salad bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, and sliced red onions.
- Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss everything together gently.
- Make sure all the vegetables are well coated with the dressing.
4. Let It Marinate
- For the best flavour, let the cherry tomato salad marinate for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the tomatoes to soak up the vinaigrette, enhancing its natural flavours. If you have the time, letting it sit for an hour or two can make it even better.
- Just before serving, garnish the salad with fresh basil or parsley. Serve the cherry tomato salad chilled for a refreshing treat on a hot summer day.
My Tried and True Tips
- Choose the Best Ingredients: The quality of your ingredients makes a big difference in a simple salad like this.
- Adjust to Taste: Feel free to tweak the salad recipe to suit your taste. Add more or less garlic, mustard, or vinegar depending on your preference. You can also experiment with different types of vinegar or add a touch of honey for sweetness.
- Add Extra Crunch: For added texture, consider adding crunchy elements like sliced bell peppers, or even toasted nuts or pumpkin seeds.
- Make It a Meal: To turn this salad into a more substantial meal, you can add some protein like grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas. You can serve it over whipped feta or sour cream.
- Keep It Fresh: If you’re making this salad ahead of time, keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve. This will prevent the vegetables from becoming too soggy.
More Salad Recipes
- Avocado Salad
- Fattoush Salad
- Couscous Salad
- Mixed Beans Salad
- Herbed Potato Salad
- Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
Get all my Salad Recipes here and you can watch the videos on Instagram.
follow us on Youtube or Instagram for video recipes.
Cherry Tomato Salad Recipe
This cherry tomato salad is a perfect blend of juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and sharp onions, all brought together with a tangy vinaigrette.
Save
Print
Pin
Rate
Servings: 2 adults
Calories: 233kcal
- Salad Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 200 gram cherry tomato, cut into halves
- 1 medium size English cucumber, finely chopped
- 1 small size red onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoon feta cheese, crumbled
- Handful of Italian basil, roughly torn
- Handful of cilantro, finely chopped
Ingredients for Vinaigrette
- ⅛ Cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half. If you prefer, you can quarter them instead.
- Next, peel the cucumber if it has thick skin; otherwise, you can leave it on for added texture and nutrients. Dice the cucumber into bite-sized pieces.
- Lastly, thinly slice the red onion. If you find raw onions too pungent, you can soak the slices in cold water for about 10 minutes to mellow their flavour.
- In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in the extra virgin olive oil until the mixture is well emulsified.
- In a large salad bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, and sliced red onions.
- Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss everything together gently. Make sure all the vegetables are well coated with the dressing.
- For the best flavour, let the cherry tomato salad marinate for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the tomatoes to soak up the vinaigrette, enhancing its natural flavours. If you have the time, letting it sit for an hour or two can make it even better.
- Just before serving, garnish the salad with fresh basil or parsley. Serve the cherry tomato salad chilled for a refreshing treat on a hot summer day.
Recipe Notes:
- Feel free to tweak the salad recipe to suit your taste. Add more or less garlic, mustard, or vinegar depending on your preference. You can also experiment with different types of vinegar or add a touch of honey for sweetness.
- If you’re making this salad ahead of time, keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve. This will prevent the vegetables from becoming too soggy.
Nutrition
Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 820mg | Potassium: 549mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 724IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 2mg
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating. This helps us grow and reach more food lovers like you.
Leave Your Rating & Comment