Italian Cucumber Salad (Printable Version)
Crisp cucumbers and tomatoes tossed in zesty Italian herb dressing for a light, refreshing side dish.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
03 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
→ Dressing
05 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
06 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
07 - 1 clove garlic, minced
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
10 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
11 - Fresh cracked black pepper
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the sliced cucumbers, diced tomatoes, red onion, and chopped basil.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the vegetables. Toss gently to combine and evenly coat all the ingredients.
04 - Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
05 - Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and additional black pepper, if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under 15 minutes and actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours
- The combination of crisp cucumbers and zesty Italian dressing is the kind of simple magic that makes summer feel effortless
02 -
- I once served this immediately after tossing, and the dressing just sat on top instead of melding with the vegetables, so dont skip that resting time
- Cucumbers release a lot of water as they sit, so if you're making this ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss it just before serving
03 -
- Use a mandoline slicer or vegetable peeler to get paper-thin cucumber slices that almost melt in your mouth
- Room temperature vegetables absorb the dressing better than cold ones straight from the refrigerator