Cucumber tomato salad is a no-cook facet dish made with sliced English cucumbers, halved grape tomatoes, thinly sliced purple onion, and torn recent basil. The dressing is olive oil, purple wine vinegar, a little bit sugar, salt, and pepper. That’s it.
The cucumber is salted first to drag out water so the salad doesn’t flip soggy. The entire thing takes about 25 minutes, and most of it’s the cucumber sitting in salt whilst you do one thing else. I make this cucumber tomato salad on grill nights after I desire a facet that’s not Filipino.
I throw this collectively when I’m already grilling. The fish or steak goes on, and I’ve time to kill. I slice the cucumbers, salt them, and stroll away. By the point the meat is prepared, the salad is simply too. I normally pair this with grilled milkfish or grilled flank steak. I’ve made it each methods many occasions in Tampa. The grill stays sizzling a lot of the 12 months right here, and grape tomatoes and basil are straightforward to search out year-round. So this salad goes into rotation and stays there.
What’s Cucumber Tomato Salad
It’s a chilly salad. Cucumber, tomato, onion, and herbs in a vinegar and olive oil dressing. The model on most American tables right this moment comes from Italian and Mediterranean kitchens. The Italians have insalata di pomodoro e cetrioli, the Greeks add feta and name it village salad, and someplace alongside the best way American residence cooks dropped the feta and saved the remaining.
It’s a yard salad. The type of facet dish that goes with something off the grill. More often than not you have already got every little thing for it within the fridge: a cucumber, a pint of grape tomatoes, half a purple onion left from one other recipe, and some basil leaves. Olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper are pantry staples. That’s the complete motive it will get made so typically. No grocery run wanted.
It’s totally different from a Filipino cucumber salad, which makes use of cane vinegar and ginger. Additionally it is totally different from Asian cucumber salad, which leans on rice vinegar and sesame oil. This one tastes like olive oil and basil.
Why This Recipe Works
A couple of small steps make the distinction between salad and a watery one. Salting greens to attract out water is similar trick I exploit for ensaladang talong. These are the steps I take note of.
- Salt the cucumbers first. Cucumbers are largely water. Fifteen minutes in salt pulls that water out earlier than it may possibly dilute the dressing.
- Half-moons, not chunks. Halving the cucumber lengthwise and slicing into quarter-inch half-moons offers extra floor space. The dressing coats each piece.
- Halve the grape tomatoes. Entire grape tomatoes roll round within the bowl and by no means choose up dressing. Reduce sides take up. The juice they launch sweetens the dressing too.
- One teaspoon of sugar. Simply sufficient to take the sting off the vinegar. The salad doesn’t style candy, the dressing simply stops biting.
- Tear the basil. Don’t chop. Tearing retains the basil inexperienced. Chopping bruises it and the perimeters go darkish inside minutes.
Cucumber Tomato Salad Components
- English cucumbers – Skinny pores and skin, fewer seeds, much less water than common cucumbers. Don’t peel them.
- Grape tomatoes – They maintain their form higher than slicing tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes additionally work.
- Pink onion – Sharper than yellow onion, and the colour appears to be like good towards the inexperienced and purple.
- Contemporary basil – The herb that ties this to summer time. Tear it in on the finish.
- Additional virgin olive oil – Use an honest one. It’s half the dressing, so that you style it.
- Pink wine vinegar – Tangy and fruity. White vinegar is simply too sharp right here.
- Granulated sugar – One teaspoon to stability the vinegar.
- Kosher salt – For drawing water out of the cucumber and seasoning the dressing.
- Black pepper – Freshly cracked if in case you have it.
Vanjo’s Recommendation
Salting the cucumber is the one step I cannot skip anymore. I used to assume quarter-hour was too lengthy after I was in a rush. I’d slice, gown, toss, and sit down. Twenty minutes later the bowl had a puddle of watery dressing on the backside. Now I salt first each time, even when I solely have 10 minutes. The feel is totally different. The dressing stays the place it ought to.
The basil goes in final. Should you toss it with the dressing too early, the leaves wilt and switch darkish. I tear them with my fingers proper earlier than bringing the bowl to the desk. Fast toss, carried out. The identical approach I serve atchara on the facet of fried fish, chilly, recent, final minute.
- Style the dressing earlier than you pour it on. Some purple wine vinegars are sharper than others. If yours bites too exhausting, add a pinch extra sugar.
- Use a mandoline if in case you have one. Even slices, even seasoning.
- Pale tomatoes need assistance. In case your grape tomatoes are out of season, add an additional pinch of sugar to the dressing.
- Soak the purple onion in chilly water for 10 minutes if uncooked onion is simply too sturdy to your desk. Drain and pat dry.
- Make the dressing first. Whisking the dressing whereas the cucumber sits in salt saves time.
- Serve chilly. Ten minutes within the fridge after tossing is the candy spot.
Methods to Make Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Halve the English cucumbers lengthwise and slice into quarter-inch half-moons. Place in a colander set over a bowl or within the sink.
- Sprinkle with half of the kosher salt. Toss gently. Allow them to sit for quarter-hour. Pat dry with paper towels.
Don’t skip this. The water that comes out is the water that will have ended up in your dressing.
- In a small bowl, whisk collectively the olive oil, purple wine vinegar, sugar, remaining salt, and black pepper till the sugar dissolves.
- Style and modify. If sharp, add a small pinch extra sugar. If flat, add a pinch extra salt or a small splash extra vinegar.
- Switch the patted-dry cucumbers to a big mixing bowl. Add the halved grape tomatoes, sliced purple onion, and torn basil.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
- Cowl the bowl and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
- Give it yet another light toss proper earlier than serving and switch to a serving dish.
What to Serve with Cucumber Tomato Salad
This salad is for grilling. The cool tang works towards char and smoke. Here’s what I normally pair it with at residence.
- Grilled flank steak – Slice it skinny towards the grain and serve the salad on the facet. The vinegar cuts by the richness.
- Grilled Tilapia – Salt, pepper, sizzling grates. The salad covers the vegetable facet of the plate.
- Inihaw na Liempo – Once I need one thing aside from pickled papaya subsequent to grilled pork stomach.
- Inihaw na Baboy – Similar thought. Cool salad towards wealthy grilled pork.
- Steamed white rice – At all times rice in my home. It’s a facet, however rice remains to be on the desk.
Storage Ideas
It is a same-day salad. The cucumbers maintain releasing water within the fridge, and the basil darkens in a single day. When you have leftovers, they’re nonetheless good the following day, however the texture is softer.
- Fridge: As much as 24 hours in an hermetic container. Drain off any liquid that swimming pools on the backside earlier than serving.
- Make forward: Slice the greens and retailer them individually. Whisk the dressing and maintain it in a small jar. Mix inside half-hour of serving so the cucumbers keep crisp.
- Don’t freeze. Cucumbers and tomatoes flip to mush. It is a recent salad. Make what you’ll eat.
Extra Recipes You Would possibly Like
- English cucumbers – Persian cucumbers work the identical approach. Common slicing cucumbers additionally work, however peel them and scoop out the seeds first.
- Grape tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes are a direct swap. Roma or vine-ripe tomatoes additionally work, minimize into half-inch chunks.
- Pink onion – Shallots are milder. White onion works however you lose the colour.
- Contemporary basil – Contemporary dill, mint, or parsley every take this someplace totally different. Choose one.
- Pink wine vinegar – Apple cider vinegar offers a fruitier dressing. White wine vinegar is milder. Keep away from balsamic. It would overpower the basil.
- Additional virgin olive oil – Avocado oil is a impartial substitute that also offers physique to the dressing.
- Add feta or olives – Crumbled feta and Kalamata olives flip this right into a Greek-style salad. Add them after tossing.
Regularly Requested Questions
What’s the greatest dressing for cucumber and tomato salad?
A easy purple wine French dressing. Three elements olive oil to 2 elements purple wine vinegar, a teaspoon of sugar, salt, and pepper. That’s what I exploit right here. If you’d like a creamy model, swap the dressing for a yogurt-and-mayo base with dill.
Can I make this forward of time?
Sure. Slice the greens and make the dressing prematurely, however maintain them separate. Toss every little thing collectively inside half-hour of serving so the cucumber stays crisp.
Why does my cucumber tomato salad flip watery?
Two causes. The cucumbers weren’t salted first, or the slices have been too thick. Salt and drain for quarter-hour, then pat dry. Quarter-inch slices are the correct measurement.
How lengthy does cucumber tomato salad final within the fridge?
About 24 hours. After that the cucumbers flip limp and the basil darkens. Drain off any pooled liquid earlier than consuming leftovers.
Can I add purple onion or skip it?
Both approach works. Pink onion provides sharpness and coloration, however the salad remains to be good with out it. Some folks favor it with simply cucumber and tomato.
Is it dangerous to combine cucumber and tomato in salad?
You will notice this query on-line typically. There’s a folks perception that cucumber and tomato shouldn’t be eaten collectively as a result of they digest at totally different charges. There is no such thing as a actual science behind it. Cooks have been combining cucumber and tomato in salads for lots of of years throughout many cultures. It’s effective.
That is the salad I make on grill nights after I need one thing recent and never Filipino. Slice, salt, gown, toss. Twenty-five minutes. Strive it subsequent time you might be grilling. Let me know the way it turned out within the feedback beneath.
ÂDid you make this? Should you snap a photograph, please make certain tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we will see your creations!
Cucumber Tomato Salad
This cucumber tomato salad is a no-cook facet dish made with English cucumbers, tomatoes, purple onion, and recent basil tossed in a purple wine vinegar dressing.
Tools
1 Colander For salting and draining the cucumbers.
1 Small Mixing Bowl For whisking the dressing.
1 Giant mixing bowl For tossing the salad.
1 Whisk
1 Sharp knife Or a mandoline for even slices.
Directions
Place the sliced cucumbers in a colander. Sprinkle with half of the kosher salt and toss gently. Allow them to sit for quarter-hour to attract out extra moisture, then pat dry with paper towels.
2 items English cucumbers, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
In a small bowl, whisk collectively the olive oil, purple wine vinegar, sugar, remaining salt, and black pepper till nicely blended.
3 tablespoons additional virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons purple wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
Switch the cucumbers to a big mixing bowl. Add the purple onion, halved grape tomatoes, and recent basil. Toss to mix.
2 items English cucumbers, 2 cups grape tomatoes, 1/2 items medium purple onion, 1/3 cup recent basil
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently till every little thing is evenly coated.
Cowl and refrigerate for 10 minutes earlier than serving to permit the flavors to come back collectively. Give it one remaining light toss, then switch to a serving dish. Share and luxuriate in!
Notes
Vitamin Info
Energy: 75kcal (4%) Carbohydrates: 3g (1%) Protein: 0.5g (1%) Fats: 7g (11%) Saturated Fats: 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g Monounsaturated Fats: 5g Sodium: 197mg (8%) Potassium: 126mg (4%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 2g (2%) Vitamin A: 485IU (10%) Vitamin C: 7mg (8%) Calcium: 8mg (1%) Iron: 0.3mg (2%)
