The “Flavor-Infused” Favorite: The Ultimate Marinated Tomato & Cucumber Salad!

Let’s talk about the tricky timing of making a perfect salad for a party or a barbecue. You want to make your side dishes ahead of time to be less stressed, but most salads get sad and soggy if they sit for too long in the dressing. It is a classic entertaining dilemma that we have all faced.

What if you had a recipe for a beautiful, vibrant salad that not only could be made ahead of time, but actually got more delicious the longer it was allowed to sit? A wonderful dish where the crisp vegetables soak up a zesty, herby vinaigrette, becoming more and more flavourful with every passing hour. It is the ultimate make-ahead magic trick for any host.

Today, we are making this incredible Marinated Tomato Cucumber Salad. This simple recipe is your new secret weapon for the most flavour-packed and completely stress-free side dish for any picnic, potluck, or barbecue. Get ready to discover the delicious power of marination.

The Ultimate “Make-Ahead” Marvel: Easy Marinated Salad Recipe

This Easy Marinated Salad Recipe is the ultimate make-ahead marvel. The recipe brilliantly combines crisp, fresh vegetables with a potent, herby vinaigrette that acts as a delicious marinade. As the salad sits, the vegetables absorb all the tangy goodness, resulting in a dish that is bursting with incredible, infused flavor.

A Perfect Picnic Side Dish for Simple Summer Salads

You will find that this is the perfect picnic side dish. Because it gets better with time, you can make it in the morning and it will be perfectly delicious by the time you reach your destination. This is also one of the absolute best simple summer salads, as it is wonderfully light, refreshing, and celebrates fresh, seasonal produce.

Your Guide: How Long Should You Marinate a Cucumber Salad?

For anyone wondering how long should you marinate a cucumber salad for the best flavor, you should let it sit for at least one hour to allow the vegetables to begin absorbing the dressing. However, this type of salad is even more delicious if you let it marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours, or even overnight. This gives the flavors of the garlic, the herbs, and the vinegar plenty of time to meld together and deeply infuse into the crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes.

Why You’ll Love This Marinated Tomato Cucumber Salad

You are going to love this recipe because it is an incredibly easy, no-cook side dish that is absolutely packed with a bright, zesty, and fresh flavor. You’ll also adore that it is the perfect make-ahead recipe that actually tastes better the next day, which makes entertaining so much easier. Plus, it’s a healthy, vibrant, and versatile salad that is the perfect accompaniment to almost any meal.

Nutritional Benefits

This beautiful and simple salad is a wonderfully light and hydrating side dish. Cucumbers are composed of over 95% water, and tomatoes are absolutely packed with the powerful antioxidant lycopene and essential Vitamin C. By making your own simple dressing from scratch at home, you also completely avoid the high-fructose corn syrup and preservatives that are often found in many store-bought, bottled dressings.

Full Recipe

Are you ready to create the most refreshing and delicious side dish that tastes like pure sunshine? This detailed guide will walk you through the unbelievably simple process for creating this classic and flavour-packed salad, with one simple trick for perfect results. Get ready to master a new go-to recipe that will be the star of all your summer meals.

Take your summer salad to the next level by marinating it. This tomato cucumber salad is steeped in a flavorful herb and vinegar dressing, allowing the vegetables to absorb all the delicious, tangy goodness. It’s a dish that gets better with time, making it the perfect make-ahead side.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Marinating Time: 1 hour (minimum) | Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes | Yield: 6-8 servings | Category: Side Dish, Salad | Method: Marinating, No-Cook | Cuisine: American, Italian-inspired | Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Essential Ingredients for Marinated Tomato Cucumber Salad

This classic and refreshing side dish comes together with just a handful of simple, fresh ingredients.

• Tomatoes: 1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• Cucumbers: 2 medium cucumbers, sliced and quartered
• Onion: 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• For the Herb Vinaigrette:
  • ½ cup of red wine vinegar
  • ⅓ cup of olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons of dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Ingredients Notes

A little more detail on our key ingredients will ensure your salad is a spectacular success.

• The Tomatoes: For the best, sweetest flavor, it is highly recommended to use ripe, in-season cherry or grape tomatoes. Their small size means they have a great skin-to-flesh ratio and hold their shape beautifully in the salad.
• The Cucumbers: You can use any type of cucumber you like for this recipe. A classic garden cucumber, an English cucumber, or the smaller Persian cucumbers will all be delicious. The most important thing is that they are fresh and crisp.
• The Red Onion: A red onion is the perfect choice for this salad as it provides a beautiful pop of purple color and a slightly milder, sweeter flavor than a yellow onion. Slicing it as thinly as you possibly can will ensure that its flavor is present but not overpowering.
• The Vinaigrette: Our simple vinaigrette is all about bold, classic flavor. The red wine vinegar provides a bright, tangy base, while the small amount of sugar perfectly balances the acidity. A good quality olive oil adds a touch of fruity richness to the final dish.

How to Make a Flavor-Packed Summer Dish

Let’s walk through the incredibly simple steps to create this perfect, refreshing side salad.

• Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables. In a large serving bowl, combine your halved cherry tomatoes, the chopped cucumbers, and the thinly sliced red onion.
• Step 2: Create the Herb Vinaigrette. In a separate small bowl or a jar with a lid, combine the red wine vinegar, the olive oil, the minced garlic, the dried Italian seasoning, the granulated sugar, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
• Step 3: Whisk or Shake the Dressing. Whisk or shake the dressing together vigorously until it is well combined and slightly emulsified.
• Step 4: Combine and Marinate. Pour the prepared vinaigrette all over the vegetables in the large bowl.
• Step 5: Chill to Perfection. Toss everything together gently until the vegetables are evenly coated in the dressing. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to marinate for at least one hour before serving. This crucial step allows the vegetables to absorb the delicious tangy flavor of the dressing.

Storage Options

This classic marinated salad stores beautifully in the refrigerator, and the flavor actually improves with time. You can store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The vegetables will soften slightly as they marinate, but they will remain incredibly delicious.

Variations and Substitutions

This incredibly simple recipe is a perfect blank canvas for your own creative additions. You can easily add other fresh, crunchy vegetables to the salad, such as some chopped bell peppers or celery. For a different flavor profile, feel free to use other fresh herbs, like some chopped parsley or dill, in place of the dried Italian seasoning. For a creamy version, you could add some crumbled feta cheese or some fresh mozzarella pearls to the salad right before serving.

Practical & Valuable Tips

For the absolute best flavor, use the freshest, ripest, and most in-season vegetables you can possibly find. The most important tip for this recipe is to allow the salad to marinate in the refrigerator for at least one full hour, or ideally even longer; this is the key to a truly flavour-packed result. Finally, be sure to give the salad a good stir right before you serve it to redistribute all the delicious dressing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I have to peel my cucumbers for this recipe? This is a matter of personal preference. If you are using a thin-skinned variety like an English or a Persian cucumber, there is no need to peel them. If you are using a standard garden cucumber with a thicker, waxier skin, peeling it is often a good idea for the best texture.
2. Can I use a different kind of vinegar? Yes, you can. While red wine vinegar provides a classic, robust flavor, this salad would also be fantastic with a slightly sweeter apple cider vinegar, a standard white vinegar, or even a white balsamic vinegar.
3. How long does this salad last in the refrigerator? This is a fantastic make-ahead side dish. When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it will stay fresh and delicious for up to 4 days. The flavor will actually get even better after a day or two as the vegetables continue to marinate.
4. Can I make this salad with less oil? The olive oil is a key component of the vinaigrette that adds flavor and helps the dressing cling to the vegetables. You can certainly reduce the amount slightly if you prefer, but it is a necessary ingredient for the best flavor and texture.
5. What are the best meals to serve with this salad? This refreshing salad is the perfect accompaniment to a huge variety of summer meals. It is fantastic with classic barbecue dishes like grilled chicken or burgers. It is also a wonderful and classic side dish for a simple potluck, a summer picnic, or alongside some grilled fish.

Conclusion

This Marinated Tomato Cucumber Salad is the ultimate side dish for a refreshing and delicious bite. It’s a recipe that takes simple, humble ingredients and transforms them into a tangy, crisp, and incredibly satisfying accompaniment to any meal. It is a foolproof, timeless recipe that is guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face and become a staple in your home. The combination of juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers is an unbeatable summer classic. If you love this easy and nostalgic recipe, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite side dish board on Pinterest!