This easy Cucumber Salad recipe with onion, tomato, and tangy vinegar is a summertime classic. So simple, crisp, and utterly refreshing! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free option.)
This fresh cucumber salad recipe is a summertime staple! (But it's also great year-round thanks to hothouse cucumbers.)
Plus it's easy to assemble. We'll simply chop the veggies, pour over the dressing, then store it in the fridge to let flavors deliciously combine.
It's also a great take-along side dish for picnics, potlucks, and BBQs.
Ingredients for Cucumber Salad
For the salad portion you will toss together:
- Cucumber: Most often I use English cucumbers (also called hothouse) because they have more flavor and less seeds. But regular seedless garden cucumbers work well too.
- Onion: I thinly slice red onion or white onion. Either works great.
- Roma tomatoes: Be sure they are ripe and flavorful. Or you can use grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes for a richer, sweeter flavor!
To make the dressing, you will whisk together:
- White wine vinegar: Or you can substitute red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. (Fresh lemon juice could also work, although I have not tested this version.)
- Olive oil: This is optional and you can omit it for an oil-free version if desired.
- Dried oregano: Be sure your pantry spices are fresh (not expired) for best flavor. You can also include fresh herbs like dill, parsley, basil, etc.
- Salt: Use as much or as little to your taste, especially if you are watching your sodium intake. But this helps to enhance the flavors.
Customizing
Fresh herbs: Dill, parsley, or basil, etc. are great additions and enhance the freshness and flavor even more. (I highly recommend a tablespoon or two of fresh dill in addition to the dried oregano!)
Garlic: One clove of minced garlic added to the dressing will provide a nice zing of garlic flavor. (Or lightly sauté it first to help mellow the raw garlic.)
Make it spicy: For a spicier version, simply add a quarter teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less) or crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
Add sweetness: Many classic cucumber salads often include sugar to sweeten and balance the flavors. So you can also stir in a touch of your preferred sugar or agave to the dressing if desired.
Tip: Be sure to find ripe, flavorful produce for this recipe because it can make all the difference!
For more inspiration, also browse all easy vegan salad recipes.
Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 large English cucumbers (or seedless garden cucumbers)
- 1/2 small onion (red or white)
- 3 roma tomatoes (or grape/cherry tomatoes)
For the vinegar dressing:
- 3 Tbsp. white wine vinegar (or red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar)
- 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil (optional, omit for oil-free)
- 1 tsp. dried oregano (and/or fresh herbs*)
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- Optional: 1 tablespoon fresh dill
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.
- Thinly slice cucumbers (peeled if desired) and thinly slice onion. Dice tomatoes, removing excess juice. Place in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour dressing over salad. Toss to combine. Adjust flavors as desired (more vinegar, salt, herbs).
- Enjoy immediately or refrigerate in a sealed container for an hour to let flavors further combine.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)
If you are enjoying this easy cucumber onion salad with vinegar, also check out:
- Southwestern Chopped Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing
- Quinoa Avocado Spinach Power Salad
- BBQ Chickpea Chopped Salad
- Asian Style Chopped Salad with Sesame Vinaigrette
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Mary
Easy, refreshing, and just what we were looking for. We added lots of fresh dill!
Kaitlin
Wonderful to hear!
Sonya P.
Delicious!! Also added thinly sliced kale, dill, and topped with diced avocado. It was enjoyed by all!
Kaitlin
Fantastic additions! So glad it was enjoyed. Thanks for sharing!
Jenny
This was so easy and refreshing! Added fresh dill which was spectacular.
Kaitlin
Great to hear! Thanks for sharing.
Jenn
I use feta cheese. So easy and delicious.
Linda
I made this salad for todays dinner......yum!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
So great to hear!
fred eiseman
How about adding radishes? (Sounds great either way)
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Hi Fred! What a great idea - go for it!
Amy
I was craving this cucumber salad and I didn't have all the ingredients so I used my cucumber, my onions, and tomatoes, sour cream. As for seasoning I ran out of fresh seasoning and out of the dill so I ended up using Mrs. Dash and it tastes pretty good.
Kaitlin
Great substitutions, Amy! Thanks for sharing your version and so glad you enjoyed it!
Star
So good. I am eating this as I'm typing this review. It's so refreshing, fresh, tasty and everything good. I love this salad recipe. Thank you so much for sharing.
Kaitlin M
Thanks for the sweet comment! So glad you're enjoying. I make this one all the time - so quick and easy!
Chrystel
I added fresh everything from my garden including garlic basil and dill. Left out the onion due to picky eaters. Added a dash of sugar to off set the vinegar and topped it off with white sesame seeds. Sooo refreshing!
Jenn Swen
Looks very good. Excited to garden this spring and make this delicious snack. Thanks for sharing!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Hope you enjoy!
The Crafty Niche
Call me silly but I really cannot stand the skin on the cucumber, can this be made without that?
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Not silly at all! I usually peel my cucumber skins if they're regular garden cucumbers. But hothouse cucumbers have thinner skin, so I will leave them on!
Ashlee Eastham
How long does it stay good for in the fridge?
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Hi Ashlee! I'm guessing it'd be good for 4-5 days.
Anonymous
Add some sunflower seeds. There are so many different ways this salad could be made, if you grow your own vegetables like we did this year.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Great thoughts! Sunflower seeds would be a tasty addition - thanks for sharing!
Amy
I love cucumber and onion salad, so I thought I would like this. I followed the recipe exactly, but I thought it was bland. Any ideas to give it more flavor?
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Hi Amy! Oh no! This definitely shouldn't be bland. Make sure you're using good quality produce. Then I'd suggest adding a little more vinegar or more salt to taste if you need to. Fresh herbs would also give a great flavor boost!
TomDroid
This is a very Russian-feeling recipe. Cucumber salads are a very popular side dish there. If you substitute the oregano with fresh dill like the poster did above, it's pretty much a spot-on match. This is a great light side dish for heavier main courses like pilmeni, which are stuffed dumplings something like perogi that they eat with globs of sour cream. Good post.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Thank you for sharing, Tom!
Anonymous
Can I substitute white vinegar or apple cider if I don't have white wine vinegar?
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Absolutely! You could also use red wine vinegar if you have that.
carly labinski
I just made this. Amazing! Fresh! Love it. I used dill instead of oregano. I also added feta cheese. Yum!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Thank you for sharing!
Nicole
I just made this and it is delicious! I agree with having something a bit lighter during the winter months. Thanks for this simple, easy, yummy recipe!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
So great! Thanks for sharing your feedback!
Telma T.
I could eat this all year around. At home we just simply call it "tomato salad". We season it with olive oil and lemon juice cause we don't use vinegar. Sometimes we also add roasted bell pepers.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
Courtney Rose
I made this yesterday for lunch but with cherry tomatoes! This is my absolute favorite salad and I too eat it all year round!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
So great to hear!