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Summer Cucumber and Heirloom Tomato Salad

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This cucumber and heirloom tomato salad represents the best of late summer. It’s simple. It’s delicious. And it’s incredibly fresh. What more could you ask for on a hot summer’s day?

tomato and cucumber salad

Ever since my first garden tomato turned red a few weeks ago, we’ve been eating this salad on repeat. And by that I mean several times per week; sometimes for more than one meal per day. 

This salad represents everything perfect about late summer. 

It’s fresh. 

It’s ready in 5 minutes.

It requires no real recipe. 

tomato and cucumber salad

It lets the summer produce shine. 

It goes with just about any meal on the grill. 

It doesn’t require turning on the stove or oven. (Who wants to do that when it’s 90 degrees and 100 percent humidity?)

It’s delicious. 

Ok, so are you ready to make it?

summer tomato salad

How to make this summer cucumber and heirloom tomato salad

find the best tomatoes

Grab your best tomatoes. Heirloom, cherry, beefsteak, plum, red, yellow, green, orange, purple — any mix of colors and sizes are good. Extra points for a variety. 

Now, this is not the time to get sad, anemic grocery store tomatoes. (Is there really ever a time for those?) Go to your farmer’s market. Or go to a grocery store that sells local produce.  Or, if you’re like me, to your backyard garden. Fresh and local is key here or this salad won’t live up to your expectations. Cut them into large bite-sized pieces

summer vegetables
find some local cucumbers

Get a cucumber or two. Long and skinny, fat and round, it all works. Honestly, the funkier shaped the better. Because, why not? Same rule as the tomatoes: try to find something from a local farm. Please, nothing wrapped in plastic. Not here. Slice ’em extra thin. 

add sliced red onion and herbs

Slice up a bit of red onion. Extra thin. Use a sharp knife or a mandolin because you really want thin slices so the flavor doesn’t overpower the tomatoes and cucumbers

Choose your fresh herbs. I like basil, parsley, dill, and chives. I’ve also thrown mint in on occasion. Really, almost anything fresh goes. 

dress it simply

Toss it all together. Drizzle some really good quality olive oil (Not your sautéing oil. Take out the good stuff) and a little white balsamic vinegar (or red wine vinegar). Then add a pinch of flaky sea salt. 

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Other super simple summer recipes you might love

Grilled ratatouille with all the summer vegetables

Easy restaurant style grilled shishito peppers

Grilled eggplant caprese

Did you make this summer cucumber and heirloom tomato salad?

Leave a comment letting me know what you thought about it and rate it in the recipe card below! Save it to your Pinterest board so you can find it later, and don’t forget to share a picture of your creation on instagram and tag me (@sarahgoldnutrition). I love seeing what you’re up to!

Yield: 4 Servings

Summer cucumber and heirloom tomato salad

cucumber and heirloom tomato salad in brown ceramic bowl with salad tongs on white background

This salad represents the best of late summer. It’s simple. It’s delicious. And it’s incredibly fresh. What more could you ask for on a hot summer’s day?

Prep Time 10 minutes 5 seconds
Total Time 10 minutes 5 seconds

Ingredients

  • About 2 cups diced mixed tomatoes (any variety)
  • About 2 cups thinly sliced cucumber
  • 1/4 of a large red onion, thinly sliced
  • A handful of mixed herbs such as basil, parsely, dill, chives, mint, roughly chopped
  • A large drizzle of good quality olive oil
  • 2-3 Tbsp (to taste) white balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • Course sea salt, about 1/2 tsp
  • Fresly ground pepper (optional)

Instructions

    1. Place diced tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and herbs in a bowl.
    2. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar.
    3. Add sea salt and ground pepper (optional).
    4. Toss together and serve.
    5. Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator for 1 day.

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