Fresh Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad with Zesty Italian Dressing
A refreshing and easy-to-make salad featuring crisp cucumbers, ripe tomatoes, and sharp red onions tossed in a homemade zesty Italian dressing. Perfect as a light side dish for summer meals or casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium cucumbers, peeled and sliced into thin rounds or half-moons
- 3 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prep the veggies: Peel cucumbers if desired and slice thinly (about 1/8-inch thick). Chop tomatoes into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onion; soak in cold water for 10 minutes if you want to mellow the sharpness, then drain and pat dry.
- Make the zesty Italian dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, and dried oregano. Add salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Whisk until well emulsified with a slight sheen.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a mixing bowl, add cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and chopped parsley. Pour the dressing over the veggies.
- Toss gently: Using salad tongs or clean hands, toss everything together until the dressing evenly coats all ingredients and the veggies glisten.
- Let it rest (optional): Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes to let flavors meld and soften the onion flavor. Drain any excess liquid before serving if needed.
Notes
Soaking the sliced onion in cold water for 10 minutes mellows its sharpness without losing crunch. Toss the salad just before serving for best freshness. Resting the salad for 10-15 minutes enhances flavor melding but may soften cucumbers slightly. Drain excess liquid if watery after resting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: cucumber salad, tomato salad, onion salad, Italian dressing, fresh salad, summer salad, easy salad, vegan salad, gluten-free salad