Cucumber Tomato Salad: Celebrating Summer Produce

Cucumber tomato salad is so simple and yet sublime, especially during the height of summer produce. Chop a salad and serve it with preserved lemon hummus and you’ll be eating an incredibly tasty and healthy meal, without turning on the stove or oven.

Chop a salad – no stove or oven required!

In the blazing heat of summer, recipes that use seasonal produce in a simple way and require no heat source are sure to keep home cooks happy. This simple cucumber tomato chopped salad, which I ate daily on a trip to Israel, checks off all of those boxes -- fresh √, readily available produce √, easy prep √, and no stove or oven required √.

In the summertime especially, farmers' markets overflow with tomatoes of all shapes and sizes -- dry-farmed, cherry, heirloom, beefsteak, plum, and so many more. You'll also find various cucumber varieties springing up including Persian, Armenian, and Lemon.

What is a chopped salad?

The definition of a chopped salad varies in different parts of the world. But in the cuisines of the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, you will often find a variation of a chopped salad with a base of cucumbers, tomatoes and possibly onions and red pepper. And always fresh green herbs of some kind such as parsley or mint.

The cucumber provides crunch and texture and the tomatoes provide color and fabulous flavor.

When we were in Israel – whether eating in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem or a resort in the Rosh Pina region or the well-known fish restaurant in Acre (Akko) called Uri Buri, there was always chopped salad. Our tour guide even called ahead for lunch one day specifically to ask if a café owner could “chop us a salad”.

Top tomato for this salad?

During the height of tomato season, any tomato is perfect for this salad. Some recipes suggest removing the seeds. In which case, larger tomatoes will work best.

But I am too lazy to do this. I find by the time you chop the tomatoes, so much of the juice and seeds come out, that it all works out in the end. You just don’t want too much juice in the salad to make the ingredients soggy.

Sometimes you see tiny heirloom multi-colored cherry tomatoes - these are quick to cut and look so beautiful in the salad.

What kind of cucumber should I use?

The quick answer is whatever cucumber you have or can find at the store. But all things being equal, Persian cucumbers work so well in this salad. You don’t need to peel them, they are crunchy and so easy to dice. Another option, but harder to find, are Armenian cucumbers. Sometimes in the summer you can find lemon cucumbers – oh so good. They have a lighter color skin than regular cukes. An English cucumber would also work well.

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

If you need to do the chopping and prep ahead of time, I would prep all the veggies and either combine in the bowl undressed and store in the refrigerator. Or, store each chopped vegetable separately and then combine and dress right before you serve.

How to prepare the tomato cucumber salad

• Chop the tomatoes and cucumbers to a similar size dice. You can seed the tomatoes and cucumbers but I rarely do. The reason you want everything in a similar size small dice is so you can get a bite of everything in one mouthful. That combination of ingredients will wake up your taste buds and refresh your palate.
• Chop your fresh herbs.
• Add the cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs to a large serving bowl. Then squeeze fresh lemon juice on it. Drizzle your best extra virgin olive oil. Add salt and pepper and mix well.
• Taste for seasoning, adjust and serve.

Variations for this chopped salad

Other crunchy veggies catch your eye at the market? No problem – this salad will bend to your personal whim with ease. Variations abound – add radishes, red or yellow peppers, red or sweet onions, green onions, kohlrabi, other herbs such as mint, dill, or cilantro.

Need it to accompany Taco Tuesday? Use corn, avocado, lime juice, and cilantro. And you'll end up with something similar to this corn salad. Need something more substantial? – add feta cheese or cotija cheese.

Maybe this salad should really be called the versatile simple summer chopped salad.

What to serve with a cucumber tomato salad

Preserved Lemon Hummus

One-pan Harissa Chicken with Preserved Lemons

White Bean Basil Hummus Style Dip

Lemony Pomegranate Molasses Flank Steak

Lemon Garlic Chicken

Preserved Lemons

Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette

Supplies for chopping a salad

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All you really need are the best tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs you can find. But obviously a good cutting board, a sharp knife, a serving bowl and good extra virgin olive oil will help you pull this simple salad together.

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