Italian Cucumber Salad (Printable Version)
Crisp cucumbers and ripe tomatoes with red onion, fresh basil, and zesty Italian dressing for a refreshing summer side.
# 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 Suggestions:
01 -
- The magic that happens when vinegar meets crisp cucumber is something summer memories are made of
- Even people who swear they hate salads will ask for seconds of this one
02 -
- I learned the hard way that adding the dressing too early makes for soggy cucumbers by lunchtime
- Salt your vegetables first and let them sit for twenty minutes if you want the texture to be absolutely perfect
03 -
- Use a mandoline if you have one for paper thin onion slices that won't overwhelm each bite
- The dressing can be made ahead and stored separately for up to a week