Fresh and Easy Spicy Tomato Cucumber Salad
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Why This Tomato Cucumber Salad Works
Let’s talk about why this salad is your new summer go-to:
- It’s one of those fresh tomato recipes that lets the ingredients shine.
- The recipe is incredibly flexible — no exact measurements needed, just a few handfuls of peak produce.
- It makes the most of your summer tomato overload (yes, that jungle in your backyard counts).
- And bonus? It’s a healthy, vibrant dish that pairs with just about everything.
Summer gardens and farmers markets are practically bursting with juicy red tomatoes this time of year, and if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for fresh tomato recipes to use them up before they soften on your counter. Enter: the Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad — a crisp, refreshing, and healthy dish that comes together in minutes and just screams summer.
Pro Chef Tip: Draw out the excess moisture
Would you like to serve your guests a bland, watery tomato mess or a delightful, fresh, and vibrant tomato salad bursting with flavor? Yep, I had to deal with the embarrassment of the bland watery tomato mess oen time when I made this salad. I was in a hurry and skipped this vital step to preparing a tomato salad; ensure you draw out the excess moisture from your tomatoes first!
To draw out excess water from your tomatoes, they first need to be sliced, then placed in a colander. Sprinkle the tomatoes generously with salt, (I love using this pink salt) and allow them to sit in a sink for 30 minutes to allow the salt to draw out some moisture.
I first learned this step from a Jamie Oliver tomato salad recipe (which is made with fresh tomatoes and horseradish). It helps keep the ingredients fresh and crisp for a longer time period and will magnify the fresh tomato flavor. Now I use it every time, and believe me, it’s a life-saving pro chef tip!
Don’t worry- your tomatoes will still be deliciously juicy, they’re not going to shrivel up like raisins! Draining excess juices this way will intensify the tomato flavors and help prevent your beautiful summer salad from turning into a tiny swimming pool.
How to Make Fresh and Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad
Truly, the versatility and flexibility of this recipe is so wonderful! With an assortment of colorful tomatoes as your base (try red, yellow, green, and purple), along with lemon juice mixed with olive oil as a dressing, the additions are endless. Eating something beautiful, healthy, and amazing will make you feel so good!
Step 1: Drain the tomatoes
Set the tomatoes in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Allow them to drain for 30 minutes to release excess juices.
Step 2: put it all together
Combine the drained tomatoes with the other prepared vegetables. Toss with lemon juice, olive oil, and pepper. Add any additional salt to taste.
Step 3: Make it pretty
Garnish your colorful salad with fresh chopped basil (or gremolata if you want to be fancy) and serve! This top-selling salad bowl is so elegant and simply perfect for serving Spicy Tomato Cucumber Salad.
Tomato Salad Variations
Garnish your pretty salad with fresh basil (or get fancy and use gremolata if you have some) and serve it!
These pictures show the current recipe below, which includes jalapeño and bell pepper. Add marinated mozzarella cheese balls and make it a caprese salad variation.
Or consider adding thinly sliced red onion for a strong, crisp flavor along with a generous pinch or two of dried oregano to make this a Mediterranean tomato salad variation. Your choice on whether to include the jalapeño or not- I think it would be a great combination.
What to Serve With Fresh and Easy Tomato Cucumber Salad
This salad is summertime’s perfect side dish. Serve it with:
- Grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon
- A crusty loaf of sourdough or toasted garlic bread
- Pasta dishes or grain bowls for a light dinner
- A backyard BBQ or picnic spread
More recipe pairings for Spicy Tomato Cucumber Salad
If you’re planning a casual dinner party or bringing a dish to a cookout, this salad not only delivers on flavor but also makes a pretty centerpiece on the table.
I’d love to hear about your experience with this Spicy Tomato Cucumber Salad, and I’m sure my other readers would too! Leave a star rating in the comments below and let us know what type of gathering you made it for. Thank you!
Print
Spicy Tomato Cucumber Salad
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Ripe Tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, cool cucumbers, and juicy jalapenos are tossed with a squeeze of lemon juice, olive oil, and basil leaves. Perfectly refreshing- this summer salad is great for backyard barbecues or pool parties.
Ingredients
- 4 ripe red tomatoes, cut into wedges and seeds/pulp removed
- 1 teaspoon pink salt + more to taste
- 1 cup of sliced cucumber
- 1/2 cup sliced yellow bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced jalapeno, seeds removed
- 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Place sliced tomato into a colander in a sink. Sprinkle generously with salt and let it sit for 30 minutes in the sink to drain. Do not rinse.
- Stir the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and set aside. After the tomatoes have released excess juices, combine the sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumber, sliced bell pepper, and minced jalapeno in a large salad bowl.
- Pour the lemon juice and olive oil mixture over the salad. Sprinkle over the pepper and toss to combine. Add additional salt to taste if desired. Sprinkle the chopped basil leaves over the top and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: salad
This article is incredibly helpful! The step-by-step guide on preparing tomatoes is a game-changer, and the salad variations are inspiring. Cant wait to try this with different additions for our next gathering!