Italian Cucumber Salad (Printable Version)

Crisp cucumbers and tomatoes tossed in a zesty Italian dressing with fresh basil. Ready in 15 minutes.

# 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 (optional)

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

# How-To:

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 Hints:

01 -
  • Needs only 15 minutes from start to finish, perfect for those busy weeknights when cooking feels like a chore
  • The longer it sits, the better it tastes, making it your best friend for meal prep or make-ahead entertaining
02 -
  • The salad will release water as it sits, which is completely normal and actually creates more of that delicious dressing to spoon over everything
  • If you plan to make this ahead, wait to add the basil until just before serving or it will wilt and turn an unappealing dark color
03 -
  • Use a mandoline if you have one for perfectly even cucumber slices that look restaurant-worthy
  • Let your vegetables come to room temperature before dressing them, which helps them absorb the flavors better

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