Italian Cucumber Salad (Printable)

A vibrant mix of crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and red onions in a zesty Italian dressing with fresh basil.

# What You'll 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 (optional)

10 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
11 - Fresh cracked black pepper

# Directions:

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 Tips:

01 -
  • The vegetables stay crisp and refreshing even after sitting in the dressing
  • It comes together in literally fifteen minutes with zero cooking required
  • The flavors actually improve after a short rest, making it perfect for prep-ahead meals
02 -
  • Cutting your vegetables uniformly helps them absorb the dressing more evenly
  • Letting the salad rest for those 10 minutes is not optional—it makes the difference between good and great
  • The onions will mellow out as they sit, so do not worry if they seem sharp at first
03 -
  • Use a mandoline if you have one for perfectly thin cucumber slices
  • Pat your diced tomatoes with a paper towel if they seem especially juicy

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