Who doesn’t love a vibrant, fresh Greek Cucumber Tomato Salad that comes together in minutes? It’s so delicious! And so easy!
Greek Salad
I’m a huge fan of Horiatiki.
Now, I will admit– I just learned the name of this traditional Greek salad.
However, I am quite familiar with the undeniable combo– cucumbers, bell pepper, red onion, creamy, blocks of feta cheese and olives drizzled in red wine vinegar or olive oil and spices.
It’s the best!
Taking what I love from the traditional version, I’m here to do what I do:
Simplify it.
Greek Cucumber Tomato Salad Recipe
Simplicity is key to summer salads… and sustaining healthy eating in general. Skip cutting blocks of feta cheese or running to the store for specialty spices. This recipe can be tossed together on a whim and transform Monday’s lunchtime or that summertime gathering.
Why You’ll love this Greek Cucumber Tomato Recipe:
- No lettuce required. Enjoy crisp, juicy veggies without greens getting in the way.
- No cooking required. You can never have too many of these type recipes!
- So vibrant, zesty and full of texture– tastes elegant yet it’s very basic
- It’s flexible- serve chilled, room temperature or deconstructed for kids!
Oh and NO mixing up a separate dressing!
That last point is a game changer for me.
If you’re like me and I have to think about whisking up a separate dressing and wonder if I still have red wine vinegar on hand (I probably don’t), I just check out.
Using a no-fuss bottle of dressing I already love is fun!
Ready for bring back excitement to lunchtime? Save this Greek Salad Recipe now and let’s grab the ingredients!
Ingredients
You’ll find simple ingredients that are just perfect for summer. I shopped for my ingredients at Aldi. But you can find them anywhere.
- Cucumber– just regular 68 cent cucumbers. I will often slice the seeds off as I’m slicing. You could use English cucumbers if you prefer.
- Bell Pepper– I chose red here (traditional Greek salad uses green) — looks pretty and more importantly, that’s what my kids like. Choose what you have or like!
- Tomato– Cherry tomatoes are my go-to. Easy to slice, easy to eat. And don’t get as mushy as diced pieces.
- Red Onion— I love red onions and highly recommend them here.
- Feta Cheese— Skip the creamy blocks and go straight for the crumbled. I chose reduced fat crumbled in an easy to store container.
- Olives– Any excuse to use Greek Kamalata Olives, yum!! But black olives would probably work if you preferred.
- Greek Vinaigrette— this bottled salad dressing has done all the hard work for you. Great combination of red wine vinegar and spices. And it’s so light! I keep this in my fridge and find so many uses for it. Don’t have an Aldi? No problem. Most salad dressing brands make a Greek blend.
How do I make Cucumber Tomato Greek Salad?
This is so easy to throw together. Yes, you have to chop some vegetables, but it really doesn’t take more than 5-10 minutes. And if you make these veggies part of your Simple Meal Prep, you may even have these ready to go!
- Start by gathering ingredients.
- Wash, peel and chop veggie into 1-inch chunks if you haven’t already.
- Toss cucumber, tomato and red pepper in a large bowl; stir to combine.
- Add olives and cheese and stir again.
- Drizzle on the vinaigrette dressing (be sure to shake the bottle well before measuring!) and give one last stir to ensure everything is combined and evenly coated.
- Serve immediately or place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Enjoy!!
Tips and Tricks
- Keeps fresh in fridge for 2-3 days in airtight container.
- Stir leftovers before serving
- Serve leftovers with slotted spoon as some juice will collect in bottom of dish as it sits
- Kid friendly tip: Reserve ingredients on the side before pouring on dressing. Use vinaigrette as dip or serve with favorite dip on the side!
- Looking for a Mediterranean salad? There is a slight difference between a Greek Salad and a Mediterranean Salad. Substitute black olives for green, use less tomato and consider adding parsley for a true Mediterranean flare.
How To Serve Cucumber Tomato Greek Salad
You definitely don’ have to be serving a classic Greek meal to serve this salad. Here’s some ideas:
- Appetizer– serve with pita chips, bread or crackers.
- Pasta Salad— Toss in some cooked pasta noodles and make it a refreshing pasta salad
- Salad— serve upon a bed of mixed greens or lettuce
- Make it a complete meal by topping with my easy shredded chicken.
- Serve as a side with your burgers, hot dogs…. I’m also not above serving this with fish sticks and chicken nuggets from the freezer.
Do the veggies get soggy?
I’ve never had an issue with soggy cucumbers or veggies here. With the size of veggie chucks and light vinaigrette, the salad keeps a good crunch even 2-3 days later.
Sure, as this sits, you’ll see some juices settle at the bottom of the dish and the veggies may “relax” a bit. This is also how it marinates, and the flavors develop even more!
If you’re concerned or using thinly sliced cucumbers, there’s a trick: Lightly salt the cucumber pieces before tossing in the bowl. This allows water to release, ensuring it stays extra crisp.
Is this Greek Salad healthy?
A bowl of this salad is bursting full of vitamin C and antioxidants. You can taste the sunniness even in the dead of winter.
Since tomatoes and cucumber are high in water content, this dish replenishes and hydrates your body. This winning combination is also known for boosting with weight loss/maintaining a healthy weight.
I also consider this a low stress recipe. Very important to a mom’s health š
It’s approachable, flexible and a great way to take in vegetables in an interesting way. And if you’re growing your own veggies this summer with the kiddos (we are attempting!!) how fun to have a dish that incorporates your efforts!
Share the Love
So there you have it. A new recipe you can prep for this week. And a new idea of a dish to bring to the summer block party.
I’d love to know when you try it. Please leave a rating and comment here. And let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!
Looking for something similiar?
Please check out these other popular picks for summer:
Cucumber Greek Salad
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 bell pepper stemmed and seeded, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 cup cherry tomotoes cut in half
- 1 small red onion sliced
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives pitted
- 1/4 cup Greek Vinaigrette
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes and onion and toss together.
- Add feta cheese and olives and toss again.
- Pour Vinaigrette over salad and mix well.
- Serve and Enjoy!
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