This Creamy Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad is a refreshing, tangy, and delightfully creamy side dish that screams summer freshness. With cool cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and crisp red onions tossed in a lightly sweetened sour cream dressing, it’s the kind of salad that works perfectly with grilled meats, sandwiches, or even as a light lunch on its own.
The best part about this salad is how quickly it comes together with minimal ingredients and prep time. It’s an effortless way to celebrate seasonal produce and bring vibrant color to your table. Chill it before serving for the best flavor, and don’t forget the optional fresh dill, it adds an aromatic layer that elevates the dish even further.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
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2 cups cucumbers, thinly sliced
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1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
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½ red onion, thinly sliced
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½ cup sour cream
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1 tablespoon mayonnaise
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1 tablespoon white vinegar
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1 teaspoon sugar
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Salt and black pepper, to taste
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1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (optional)
Directions:
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In a large mixing bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
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Add sliced cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onions to the dressing.
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Toss everything gently to coat the vegetables evenly.
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Let the salad sit for 10–15 minutes in the refrigerator before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
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Garnish with chopped fresh dill if desired. Serve chilled.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 0 minutes | Total Time: 10 minutes
Kcal: 120 kcal | Servings: 4 servings
Creamy Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad: A Summer Classic Bursting with Freshness
When summer heat reaches its peak, nothing feels more comforting and refreshing than a crisp, chilled salad. Among the myriad of side dish options, the Creamy Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad stands out as a timeless favorite. It’s simple, vibrant, packed with flavor, and requires minimal preparation. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue, planning a picnic, or simply looking for a light lunch option, this salad fits right in, no fancy ingredients, no lengthy preparation, just a few fresh vegetables, a creamy dressing, and you’re good to go.
A Salad With a Story: From Garden to Table
Cucumber tomato onion salads have long been a part of global cuisines. In Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Eastern European, and even Southern American households, variations of this dish can be found, each with its own spin. What they all share is the refreshing contrast between crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and pungent onions. Add a creamy dressing to the mix, and you create a silky coating that ties all the ingredients together while mellowing the sharpness of the onion.
This creamy variation is especially popular in American kitchens, where it’s often served as a potluck side, a family picnic staple, or a quick weekday dinner companion. Its popularity comes from its ability to deliver incredible flavor with just a handful of inexpensive ingredients.
The Appeal of Simplicity
What makes this salad so appealing is its honest simplicity. No need for exotic dressings, specialty produce, or advanced knife skills. The base ingredients, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions are easily available at any grocery store or can be picked fresh from your garden. You can opt for English cucumbers for their thin skin and few seeds, cherry or grape tomatoes for their sweet pop, and red onions for a mild bite. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can add fresh herbs like dill or parsley, but even without them, the salad is a winner.
The Creamy Element: Why It Works
Many people love the refreshing bite of a vinaigrette, but when it comes to a rich and satisfying mouthfeel, creamy dressings are hard to beat. In this salad, sour cream acts as the perfect base. It’s tangy and smooth, offering just enough body to coat each piece of vegetable without overpowering it. A small amount of mayonnaise adds richness, while vinegar cuts through the creaminess to keep the salad balanced. The addition of a touch of sugar enhances the natural sweetness of the tomatoes and balances the tangy sour cream.
The creamy dressing also helps mellow the sharpness of the onion, making it more palatable even to those who are not fans of raw onions. This makes the salad a great make-ahead option too, as letting it sit in the fridge allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Nutritional Benefits
Despite its creaminess, this salad remains light and nutritious. Cucumbers are hydrating and low in calories, making them a perfect summer vegetable. Tomatoes bring a burst of vitamin C, potassium, and the antioxidant lycopene. Onions, though often underrated, are packed with flavonoids and sulfur compounds that offer anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting benefits.
The creamy base can also be tweaked to suit dietary preferences. You can substitute the sour cream and mayo with Greek yogurt for added protein and probiotics or use dairy-free alternatives to make the dish vegan.
Perfect Pairings
This salad is a versatile side that pairs beautifully with grilled meats like chicken, pork chops, or kebabs. It also complements seafood dishes like grilled salmon or shrimp skewers. Because it’s creamy and mildly tangy, it acts as a great contrast to spicier dishes such as jerk chicken, blackened fish, or spicy tacos.
It’s also fantastic on its own as a light lunch or snack. Serve it over a bed of greens for extra volume, or pair it with a crusty piece of sourdough bread to soak up the dressing. You can even tuck it into a pita or wrap for a refreshing veggie sandwich.
How to Customize
One of the best things about this salad is how easily it can be customized. Here are a few ideas to get creative:
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Add cheese: Crumbled feta or goat cheese adds a salty, tangy note that complements the creamy dressing.
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Swap herbs: Fresh dill is traditional, but parsley, basil, or chives work well too.
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Spice it up: A dash of black pepper or even a pinch of red chili flakes adds subtle heat.
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Add protein: Toss in grilled chicken strips, hard-boiled eggs, or chickpeas for a heartier meal.
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Go vegan: Use plant-based sour cream and mayo for a fully vegan version.
Storage Tips
This salad is best served cold and can be made a few hours ahead of time. In fact, giving it time to chill enhances the flavor. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 days. However, since cucumbers release water over time, the dressing may thin out slightly. If needed, drain excess liquid and stir before serving.
Avoid freezing this salad, as the creamy dressing and fresh vegetables do not hold up well in frozen conditions and will lose their texture.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Overdressing the salad: Always start with less dressing and add more as needed. Overdressing can make it soggy.
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Skipping the chilling time: Letting the salad rest in the fridge for 10–15 minutes allows the flavors to blend and the onions to mellow.
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Not slicing vegetables evenly: Thin, uniform slices ensure that every bite has a balance of flavors and textures.
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Using watery cucumbers: If your cucumbers are particularly watery, sprinkle them with a bit of salt and let them sit for 10 minutes, then pat them dry to reduce moisture.
Conclusion
The Creamy Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad is a humble, satisfying dish that offers maximum flavor with minimal effort. It’s the kind of recipe you can keep in your back pocket all year long, ideal for summer cookouts, but equally at home next to a warm bowl of soup or a weeknight sandwich.
What makes this dish shine is its flexibility, simplicity, and refreshing quality. Whether you’re serving a crowd or just feeding yourself on a busy afternoon, this salad delivers cool, crisp satisfaction in every bite.
From health benefits and customization options to how seamlessly it pairs with other dishes, this creamy salad is more than just a side, it’s a staple. Try it once, and you’ll keep coming back for more.