Mediterranean Cucumber Salad – The Dizzy Prepare dinner

A crunchy Mediterranean cucumber salad that you would be able to make in lower than 20 minutes with a number of easy substances. This salad with cucumber and tomato has a easy olive oil French dressing, topped with sumac and za’atar for taste.

Cucumber and tomato salad in a white and blue bowl next to plates, a wood spoon, and a bowl of sumac.

Good for heat climate, BBQ’s, and potlucks, this cucumber salad makes an excellent aspect dish for burgers, shrimp, and grilled rooster.

This recipe was impressed by the well-known aspect salad at Charleston’s 167 Uncooked Oyster Bar. I couldn’t get sufficient of this scrumptious salad once I visited and knew I needed to recreate it.

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Even with the scrumptious seafood at 167, I discovered the cucumber salad to be memorable. It has such easy substances but packs a punch of taste from the spices. Not solely was it scrumptious on it’s personal, nevertheless it paired effectively with something that was ordered – grilled fish, oysters, and even quick rib tacos.

This tomato cucumber salad will turn out to be your new favourite aspect dish for summer season with crunchy seedless cucumbers, tomatoes, olive oil, shallots, and Mediterranean spices.

You will love this Mediterranean cucumber tomato salad as a result of:

Straightforward – Easy substances all thrown collectively.
Good for outside occasions – An incredible salad with out mayo, this one may be simply transported.
Flavorful – With Mediterranean seasonings like za’atar and sumac, it is acquired a ton of nice taste.

This recipe matches so many diets – gluten free, dairy free, low sodium, a migraine weight loss plan, and a Mediterranean weight loss plan.

Substances

Ingredients for mediterranean cucumber salad on a white background.

Cucumbers – English seedless cucumbers are beneficial, however the seedless petite/cocktail cucumbers may even work effectively for this recipe. You’ll be able to simply slice them in a different way so they’re all the identical dimension. Be certain the cucumbers you might be utilizing don’t have any seeds, will prevent loads of time eradicating them! I wish to get a giant bag at Costco if they’ve them!
Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes are beneficial, however heirloom tomatoes would even be nice in the event that they’re in season.
Shallot – Gives a light onion taste with out overpowering.
Olive oil – Since this cucumber salad has such easy substances, use a very good high quality olive oil like California Ranch or Grazia.
Vinegar – This recipe works effectively with distilled white vinegar. You need to use lemon in a pinch (if tolerated), however since you get a lot shiny taste from the sumac, I believe the vinegar works greatest on this cucumber salad with out overpowering.
Sumac – Floor sumac is a reddish powder made out of berries that has a tangy, shiny, virtually lemony taste. It’s superior in hummus or different Mediterranean dishes.
Za’atar – You’ll be able to make your personal or purchase it pre-mixed at most grocery shops!

How one can Make a Mediterranean Cucumber Salad

Process photos showing how to make a chopped cucumber salad with tomatoes and shallots.

Step 1: Combine the dressing

Whisk collectively the honey and vinegar. You too can add within the olive oil right here however I wish to drizzle it on on the finish.

Step 2: Marinate the cucumber

You need the cucumber and tomatoes to all be roughly the identical dimension in bite-sized items. If utilizing a big English cucumber, slice down the center, then slice down the middle of the 2 halves. Lower into cubes.

If utilizing the petite cucumbers, slice into rounds. Stir the cucumber into the dressing and permit it to marinate 10-Quarter-hour.

Step 2: Add the greens

For the cherry tomatoes, merely lower in half, and for the shallot, attempt to slice them as thinly as doable.

Step 3: Add the seasonings

Earlier than serving, combine within the sumac and za’atar, then drizzle with olive oil. Style and regulate any seasonings, including extra in the event you like. Retailer within the fridge or at room temperature until able to serve.

A blue and white patterned bowl filled with cucumber and tomato salad with mediterranean spices on top.

Recipe Ideas

Use seedless cucumbers – You’ll be able to sub these, however I particularly love this salad with the seedless cocktail cucumbers. They’re additional crunchy and also you need not peel the skins.
Do not skip the spices – I do know za’atar and sumac are just a little bit totally different, however each these spices may be discovered at most grocery shops now and so they add a ton of earthy and tart taste.

Substitutes and Additions

Tomatoes – Substitute small lower bell peppers or just omit them and use extra cucumber.
Shallots – Use pink onion (if tolerated) or omit.
Za’atar – You may make your personal at dwelling with a mix of cumin, sumac, and sesame seeds. Don’t skip the sumac. It’s integral to the flavour of the dish.
Feta or olives would even be an excellent addition right here.

Storage Data

This salad is greatest made proper earlier than serving because the longer the cucumbers sit within the vinegar, the extra they’ll pickle. In the event you love this taste, you can also make this 2-3 hours earlier than serving. Reserve the tomatoes until earlier than serving as they’ll turn out to be mushy within the fridge.

Fridge – Regardless of the vinegar turning into extra outstanding with time, this salad remains to be great the subsequent day, however I’d not plan to make it or preserve it someday forward.

To make forward – Preserve the dressing in a small container and mix the greens in a big bowl. Wait until 20-30 min earlier than serving to combine all the things collectively.

Serving Strategies

A white plate with a serving of cucumber salad next to a fork

A Mediterranean cucumber salad can pair effectively with so many dishes, however listed below are a number of of my favorites.

A close up shot to see the details of chopped cucumber, tomatoes, shallot, and spices.

Mediterranean Recipes

For extra recipes like this Mediterranean cucumber tomato salad, see these posts. You will additionally love my Mediterranean cookbook!

In the event you make this, tag me #thedizzycook or @thedizzycook on Fb and Instagram. And in the event you love the recipe, please go away a evaluate under! Observe alongside on my Pinterest for extra nice recipes.