Description
A quick, refreshing, and healthy side salad made with crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and tangy feta cheese, dressed in a simple lemon-oregano vinaigrette. Ready in just 5 minutes, it is naturally gluten-free and vegetarian.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium English cucumbers (about 600g), chopped into ½-inch cubes
- 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes (about 600g), halved or quartered
- 1 block feta cheese (about 200g), drained and chopped into ½-inch cubes
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional: ¼ cup fresh parsley or mint, chopped
- Optional: ½ cup Kalamata or green olives
- Optional: ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
Instructions
- Wash and thoroughly dry the cucumbers and tomatoes. Patting them dry is crucial to prevent a watery salad.
- Chop the cucumbers into ½-inch cubes. Halve the tomatoes, or quarter them if they are large.
- Drain the feta cheese and pat it dry. Chop or crumble it into ½-inch cubes.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat evenly, being careful not to crush the tomatoes.
- Let the salad rest for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld, then toss again before serving.
- Garnish with fresh herbs if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
Use English cucumbers for less water content; if using regular cucumbers, salt them and let drain for 10 minutes. Ensure all vegetables are completely dry before tossing to keep the dressing from sliding off. For meal prep, store chopped vegetables and dressing separately and combine right before eating to maintain crispness. Do not freeze this salad as cucumbers will become mushy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: cucumber salad, feta salad, tomato salad, healthy side dish, 5 minute recipe, gluten-free, vegetarian, summer salad, Greek salad