Easy Cucumber, Tomato and Feta Salad

Cucumber tomato feta salad

A cucumber, tomato and feta salad is what I make when I want Greek vibes with dinner but don’t want to add olives and peppers. Perhaps I don’t have them, or I have a fussy little one who will moan if I add them (ask me how I know!).

In short, it’s like a paired down version of a classic Greek salad. There are even fewer ingredients – although there are a few more you can add if you want to. I tend to chop the pieces up small for a kind of chopped salad result.

About the ingredients

You’ll find a full list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. But here’s a summary of what you need to know.

Cherry tomatoes: I think these look nice in the salad. If they’re available, I grab multi-colored ones. They’re also easy to chop in half. If you prefer, you can use regular tomatoes. Just chop them into small pieces. Choose fresh, juicy, in-season tomatoes for the best results!

Cucumber: You’ll need 1 medium cucumber for this recipe. I suggest going with an English cucumber with a thin, unwaxed skin that you don’t have to peel off. I also think this type looks best in the salad.

Red onion: You’ll only need about a quarter to a half. I prefer red onion for its mild, sweet flavor and hint of pink color in the flesh. Of course you can add a different kind of onion instead if you prefer, such as white onion, salad onions (scallions/spring onions), or shallots. Bear in mind that white onion has a stronger flavor so you may like to add a little less.

Feta cheese: I always recommend an authentic Greek style feta cheese if available.

Dried oregano: For that authentic Greek flavor. I don’t recommend skipping this!

Fresh herbs: If it’s available, I like to add fresh herbs for extra freshness and flavor. Fresh mint, fresh basil, or a mix of the two work well.

Extra virgin olive oil: This forms the base of the very simple dressing. In a classic Greek salad, this is all you use. It tends to mix with the juices from the tomatoes and cucumbers to make its own low-effort dressing.

Vinegar: Despite the above, I do like to add one to two tablespoons of vinegar to the dressing for extra punch. I like apple cider vinegar, but white or red wine vinegar, or even just regular white vinegar are fine. Lemon juice works as well. Add a little more if you like, to taste.

How to make it

Here’s how simple this Greek cucumber, tomato feta salad is!

Start by grabbing a big salad bowl. Then halve the cherry tomatoes, and slice the cucumber into medium sized slices, and then into halves or quarters. I like to make the cucumber slices similar in size to the tomatoes, but it doesn’t really matter.

Then add everything else to the bowl, including the dressing (just whisk together the olive oil and vinegar)!

Toss really well, and your salad is ready to take to the table! No one will believe it took you mere minutes to make.

Serving ideas

You can serve this salad with almost anything! But here are some of my favorite ideas to pair with your simple cucumber tomato salad.

• Any grilled meat or fish. Or try the salad with Greek chicken skewers or crispy salmon fishcakes.
• Pantry dinners: This crustless quiche is a favorite Scrummy Lane pantry dinner. This classic pasta carbonara will take you about 15 minutes to make. Both will go perfectly with this salad.
• If you have an air fryer: These air fryer chicken thighs are all you need with the salad for a crowd pleasing dinner. In the mood for burgers? Try air fryer chicken burgers.

A few more simple salads

• This Greek lettuce salad has to be the tastiest way to serve a plate of greens!
• This beetroot feta walnut salad is so colorful and tasty, with a mix of different textures, but also very easy to make.
• You can make this delicious burrata caprese salad exactly as it is, but you can also replace the burrata with mozzarella or feta cheese.