Cucumber Tomato Salad is a light and refreshing. Made with cucumbers, tomatoes, seasonings, and drizzled with a homemade Italian dressing.
Serve this classic southern side dish with barbecue or any meal.
EDITOR’S NOTE (July 28, 2020): PIN here on Pinterest. Watch video tutorial on my Facebook fan page.
The homemade Italian dressing is my twist on a popular Epicurious recipe.
In the south, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes are served with or without salad dressing. Sometimes, lightly sprinkled with salt and black pepper (my favorite).
Did you know there are 6 Popular Cucumber Varieties? Get the scoop by reading Taste of Home’s informative article online.
For this recipe, I used American Slicing Cucumbers. Although delicious, the skin class is bitter and not edible. Read more about tomatoes in this informative article from Taste of Home.
The Tomato Lover’s Guide To Every Type Of Tomato has fascinating facts about tomatoes.
There are countless varieties and a range of delicious flavors.
Tomatoes are versatile. Perfect for grilling and roasting. Also superb on their own as a healthy snack.
These antioxidant powerhouses add a delicious burst of flavor to meals.
Family Favorite: Roma Tomatoes
Roma tomatoes are meaty, loaded with fresh flavor, and not tart (aka sour) like some other varieties.
This quintessential Italian plum tomato is perfect in sauces, stews and tomato paste. Excellent grilled or roasted in the oven.
Tomato Sandwich
I prepare meals for my precious aunt who loves cucumber tomato salad and a tomato sandwich.
Oooooooh my goodness!
Two slices of wheat bread are lightly slathered with mayo.
Sandwiched in between are 2-3 slices of tomatoes.
She likes her sandwich sliced in half.
Sometimes, she’ll request a sliced onion on top of the tomatoes.
It’s a pleasure watching her devour what she calls a “mighty good” tomato sandwich.
Homegirl is truly happy while chewing every bite.
How To Read & Follow A Recipe
Reading a recipe is an important life skill. It starts with knowing how to read a recipe’s ingredients, follow the instructions, prep ingredients, and knowing what equipment to use.
The following tips and strategies will help beginners or experienced cooks create a delicious dish as intended in the recipe.
Start with clean hands and organized kitchen. Wash hands thoroughly. Make sure kitchen and countertops are clean before making a recipe.
Create a relaxing environment. Play favorite music while in the kitchen. I love listening to classical or gospel music.
Read the recipe. Don’t just quickly skim it. Thoroughly read from start to finish. Visualize doing each step which will help you avoid missing a step.
If you see ingredient that you and your family don’t use for whatever reason, use a substitutions or omit the ingredient.
My recipes are packed with helpful tips like shortcuts and serving sizes which save time time and help with meal planning.
Pay attention to the order in which ingredients are prepped. For example, 1 cup of chopped pecans is not the same as pecans, chopped (measure whole pecans and then chop).
Know the assumptions. For example, when my recipe calls for “sugar,” use granulated sugar. If brown sugar is an ingredient, it will be written as such in the recipe.
Figure out the timing. Check the listed “prep time” and “total time” to be sure you have enough time to complete the recipe.
Look for hints, such as the words “meanwhile” or “at the same time,” which indicate two or more steps can happen simultaneously.
For example, my prep time doesn’t include bringing cold butter up to room temperature. Be sure to include in your timetable.
Watch Recipe Videos. If you’re a visual learner (like me), watch recipe videos. Perfect for when you’re learning a new skill or just want to see how a recipe is made.
Mise en place is a super time saver. This French cooking term translates as “putting in place.” It means prepping/measuring ingredients and chopping food before you start cooking. It’s the perfect way to get organized and avoid missing an ingredient or missing a step in the instructions.
Organize your tools and kitchen equipment. Mise en place isn’t just for ingredients. Before starting, make sure you have parchment paper, aluminum foil, measuring cups, measuring spoons, the right pans, mixing bowls, and other equipment.
Make notes in your recipe. Note any special prep instructions and highlight cooking times. Make note of ingredients omitted, favorite substitutions and creative twists. The notes will be very helpful the next time you make this recipe.
Enjoy!
| Prep Time | 30 minutes |
| Cook Time | 0 |
| Servings |
servings
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- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Or use light olive oil.
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar Or use white wine vinegar.
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley Use 2 tablespoons if preferred.
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Or use bottled lemon juice.
- 1/2 small garlic clove, chopped Use more garlic if preferred.
- 1 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- salt to taste
- groud black pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional) Mellows taste of vinegar and lemon.
- 3 cucumbers I used American Slicing Cucumbers. See recipe notes.
- 3 Roma tomatoes Or use preferred variety.
Ingredients
Homemade Italian Dressing
Cucumbers and Tomatoes
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- Whisk together all ingredients in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and ground black pepper.
- Can be prepared ahead 1 day. Cover and refrigerate.
- Dressing is good for about 7 days if stored in an airtight container. Keep refrigerated before and after using.
- Thoroughly rinse cucumbers and tomatoes. Dry with paper towels or clean kitchen towel.
- Cut off ends of cucumbers. Peel. Discard peelings. Slice into preferred thickness. Place prepared cucumbers in medium-sized bowl. See Recipe Notes for cucumber scoring tips.
- Cut off tops of tomatoes. Slice tomatoes into preferred size. Add slices to bowl with cucumbers.
- Before serving season with salt and ground black pepper (optional). Drizzle with cold Italian dressing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container. Will keep in fridge 2-3 days. Any longer, the cucumbers will soften.
American Slicing Cucumbers This variety is usually dark green and about 8-10 inches long. The best choice for recipes requiring peeled cucumbers. American Slicing Cucumbers are straight with dark green peeling and occasionally have a light yellow patch. They are coated in a layer of wax to prevent bruising and loss of moisture. Always thoroughly scrub and peel before eating. Read more in an informative article by Taste of Home. How To Score Cucumbers 
