Mediterranean Tomato & Cucumber Salad with Feta

This Mediterranean cucumber salad recipe is a light and refreshing side salad to pair with all of your favorite summertime meals! With crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, briny kalamata olives, fresh herbs, and a zesty dressing, this quick and easy salad recipe is a great way to get your veggies in!

Our family loves this light and fresh cucumber tomato feta salad recipe! Like our kale and quinoa salad and our green bean caprese salad, it’s a great alternative to your typical leafy greens salad. It pairs nicely with a wide variety of proteins (like our homemade turkey burgers!), and can be made into an entrée all on its own (see the ‘Recipe Variations and Substitutions’ section). It’s really the perfect way to enjoy some fresh veggies on a hot summer day.

So what makes this a Mediterranean salad recipe? Several of the main ingredients, such as the kalamata olives, feta cheese, and olive oil are all staples of the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. A few fun facts for you: feta cheese originates from Greece. Italy and Spain are the world’s top two olive producers. And Spain, Italy, and Greece are the top three exporters of olive oil!

Make sure to add these ingredients to your weekly shopping (or Farmer’s Market) list so you can enjoy this delicious Mediterranean cucumber salad today!

Ingredients Needed

English Cucumber. English cucumbers have a thinner skin, fewer and smaller seeds (no deseeding needed!), and a slightly sweeter taste than regular cucumbers making them the perfect choice for this Mediterranean cucumber tomato salad. I like to use the mini cucumbers personally (it makes for easy chopping).

Cherry Tomatoes or Grape Tomatoes. Grab whichever variety looks best at your store or farmers market! Using these little ripe tomatoes keeps your chopping easy because all you need to do is slice them in half! 

Red Onion. Red onions deliver a milder flavor, and are enjoyed by many raw, making them great for salads.

Kalamata Olives. Adds a briny, juicy, bitter-sweet pop to this salad. Kalamata olives are a staple in Mediterranean foods.

Crumbled Feta Cheese. Adds a nice, salty, and creamy pop to this light and fresh salad recipe. Another staple in Mediterranean cooking.

Fresh Parsley. You can use either flat leaf or curly leaf parsley in this salad recipe. Whichever you prefer, or have easy access to in your garden, market, or grocery store.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Wine Vinegar, Salt, and Pepper. Used to make a quick and easy homemade vinaigrette.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• Use larger-sized tomatoes. If you happen to have larger tomatoes, you can definitely use them in this recipe! I love using heirloom tomatoes in this recipe when I can. Just be sure to cut the tomatoes into smaller pieces when preparing them for your salad. 
• Add chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans). Adding in some plant-based protein is a great way to turn this side into a light lunch (like our curry roasted chickpea salad, this is one of my favorite summer lunches that’s veg-friendly!). Simply drain and rinse 1, 15 ounce can of chickpeas and mix them in! 
• Add lemon juice. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto your salad (either in the serving dish, or over individual servings) for a pop of freshness.
• Try different fresh herbs. You can add additional herbs to this recipe, try different herbs, or create your own mix! Other herbs you could try include fresh basil, fresh mint, fresh dill, or fresh cilantro.
• Skip the onion. Don’t love raw onion? No worries, just leave it out!
• Add a grain. If you’d like to extend your tomato cucumber feta salad, try mixing in cooked and chilled grains. Pearl couscous, orzo pasta, or quinoa would all be good options.
• Use red wine vinegar for your dressing. If you happen to have red wine vinegar in your pantry, you can swap it one-for-one with the white wine vinegar in the dressing. I’ve made the dressing using both, and they’re both great!

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Make the dressing. In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
   1. Note: you can also shake all ingredients together in a small jar.
2. Make the salad. Place chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, parsley, and feta into a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Pour dressing over the vegetables and stir until all vegetables have been coated.
3. Let salad marinate. Let the dressed salad sit for 10-15 minutes (either at room temperature or in the fridge, based on personal preference) to allow the flavors to meld together.
4. Stir, serve and enjoy!

How to Serve Mediterranean Cucumber Salad

This cucumber and tomato salad is a great summer salad that pairs nicely with a wide variety of dishes. Great options for serving this salad include:

• Serve with grilled chicken or fish.
• As a side dish for BBQ chicken.
• Bring this Mediterranean cucumber salad along as a side dish for a picnic.
• Be the person who brings something light and fresh to your next tailgate or potluck party!
• Enjoy as a light lunch (see ‘Recipe Variations and Substitutions’ section for how you can add more protein and make this into a great vegetarian main dish).

Possible Dietary Restrictions?

This Mediterranean cucumber and tomato salad recipe is vegetarian and gluten free as written. One quick swap can make this into a vegan and dairy free salad too:

• To make this salad vegan and dairy free, simply leave out the feta.

Storage

This salad is best when eaten within 24 hours of making. However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Recipe FAQs

How do you make cucumber salad not watery?

Adding salt to cucumber slices can help to draw out the extra moisture in the vegetable (through a process called osmosis).

To do this, simply toss your sliced cucumber with a pinch or two of salt. Place the salted cucumber slices in a colander or strainer for 20-30 minutes to release water. Most of the excess salt will flow off with the liquid, but if desired, rinse the cucumber with cold water before tossing into your salad. Adding salt to cucumber slices can help to draw out the extra moisture in the vegetable (through a process called osmosis).

To do this, simply toss your sliced cucumber with a pinch or two of salt. Place the salted cucumber slices in a colander or strainer for 20-30 minutes to release water. Most of the excess salt will flow off with the liquid, but if desired, rinse the cucumber with cold water before tossing into your salad.

Should I peel cucumber for salad?

There is no need to peel a cucumber for salad (just be sure to rinse them well). Leaving the peel on helps to maximize the nutrient content of the vegetable, helping you add fiber, vitamins, and minerals to your diet.There is no need to peel a cucumber for salad (just be sure to rinse them well). Leaving the peel on helps to maximize the nutrient content of the vegetable, helping you add fiber, vitamins, and minerals to your diet.

What is the difference between English cucumber and regular cucumber?

An English cucumber (also known as seedless cucumbers) has a thinner skin, fewer and smaller seeds, and a slightly sweeter taste than regular cucumbers. They are also long and straight in shape.

Standard cucumbers are generally shorter, have a thick and dark skin, and very large seeds.