Italian Cucumber Salad (Print version)
Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and red onions tossed in a tangy Italian dressing with fresh basil. A light, refreshing side dish ready in 15 minutes.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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 -
- No cooking required and you probably have everything right now
- The longer it sits the better it tastes
02 -
- Cucumbers release water as they sit, which actually makes the dressing better but do not add extra salt upfront
- Room temperature vegetables absorb dressing better than cold ones straight from the fridge
03 -
- Use a mandoline if you have one for perfectly thin cucumber slices
- Let the dressed salad sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving