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Fresh Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad

fresh tomato cucumber feta salad - featured image

A bright, crisp, and refreshingly tangy summer side dish featuring ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and creamy feta cheese tossed in a simple lemon and olive oil dressing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (about 450g) ripe tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 medium cucumbers (around 300g), peeled and diced
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup (150g) crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Pinch of dried oregano or a splash of red wine vinegar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the tomatoes and cucumbers under cold water. Chop the tomatoes into bite-sized chunks (about 1-inch pieces). Peel the cucumbers if desired, then dice into similar-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onion into half-moons.
  2. Optional: Soak the sliced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow the sharpness, then drain well.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and drained red onion. Toss gently to mix evenly.
  4. Crumble the feta cheese over the salad, then sprinkle the chopped parsley. Mix gently to avoid breaking up the feta.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Add dried oregano or red wine vinegar if using. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
  6. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is lightly coated. Avoid over-mixing to prevent bruising the tomatoes and breaking down the cheese.
  7. Let the salad sit for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature to allow flavors to meld before serving.

Notes

To avoid sogginess, drain excess tomato juice before adding feta. Salt the salad just before serving to prevent drawing out too much moisture. Letting the salad rest for a few minutes enhances flavor melding. Use thinly sliced red onion and soak in cold water if a milder onion flavor is desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: tomato cucumber salad, feta salad, summer side dish, fresh salad, easy salad recipe, Mediterranean salad, healthy salad