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    Home » Salads » Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Lemon

    Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Lemon

    Aug 8, 2021 · by Valentina · 18 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Lemon is a delicious and refreshing summer lunch or side salad that's great with almost anything. With the addition of unexpected lemon segments mixed into it, it's a very unique crowd pleaser.sliced tomatoes and cucumbers in a white pie plateWhile we can certainly get tomatoes year-round, there's no question that they are best during the summer months -- at least in the U.S.

    During the summer, tomatoes are so incredibly flavorful -- they're sweet, tart and tangy all at once. When they're this delicious, you can just bite into them, like you would apples!

    I use them as much as possible in the summertime, and this is one of my favorite salads where they are the star ingredient.

    (Here's much more about tomatoes, including variety descriptions.)

    tomato growing on a vine

    What really sets this tomato and cucumber salad apart is that the lemon isn't just juiced into it. It's added in segments (or Supremes).

    Supremes are sections of a citrus fruit with all of the pith and peel cut away. This leaves you with a pretty slice of the flesh.
     
    *Here is a step-by-step guide for cutting citrus into segments*
     
    It's best to use Meyer lemons if you can, as the skin is thinner and they have next to no seeds. They're also a bit sweeter and less tart.
     
    segment of lemon on a knife with whole lemon behind it.

     

    When to Serve This Salad

    • Tomato and Cucumber Salad is a lovely vegan side salad for dinner and a fantastic light lunch. When I serve it for lunch I do so with a rustic bread and make it into a sandwich.
    • Easy to make for a crowd, I love it for a picnic or to bring to a get together.

    sliced lemon, onion, cucumbers and tomato on cutting board

    Recipe Tips and Substitutions

    • If you'd like to turn this into a heartier main course salad, and you're not vegetarian or vegan, add a protein -- like chicken or tuna.
    • You can use any fresh herbs you like. If you don't have basil or don't care for it, dill or oregano would also work well. I like to use whole basil leaves if they're small. If not, I roughly chop them.
    • You can slice the cucumbers and tomatoes any way you'd like to. I prefer the thin slices since I like adding it to sandwiches.
    • The segments of lemon can be too sour of a bite for some. When the salad is mixed, they tend to break apart and turn to juice, blending with the dressing. That said, use a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice instead if you prefer.

    Close up of tomato and cucumber salad with slices of toast

    More delicious tomato and cucumber recipes:

    • Easy Tomato Gazpacho
    • Roasted Tomato Poblano Salsa
    • Tomato Onion Blue Cheese Salad
    • Sweet Breakfast Tomatoes with Olive Oil
    • Cucumber Avocado Salad with Grapefruit
    • Cold Cucumber Basil Soup with Lemon
    • Watermelon Cucumber Salsa
    • Cucumber Dill Canapés
    • Spicy Pickled Cucumbers
    tomato cucumber salad on crusty bread

    Tomato and Cucumber Salad Recipe with Lemon

    Valentina K. Wein
    Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Lemon is a delicious and refreshing lunch or side salad that's great with almost anything. With the addition of unexpected lemon segments mixed into the salad, it's a very unique crowd pleaser.
    Serves 4 as an entrée and about 6 as a side.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 98 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ pound lemons, cut into segments/supremes -- click here for How to Cut Citrus Supremes (about ¼ cup)
    • 1¼ pounds tomatoes, washed and dried, thinly slices (about 3½ cups)
    • ¾ pound cucumber, peeled, sliced into rounds (about 2 cups)
    • ⅓ cup thinly sliced onion (red or yellow)
    • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves washed and dried, roughly chopped or left whole if small)
    • 2 tablespoons white or dark balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare the lemons. Here's how to cut the lemons into pretty segments. Be sure to save the scraps to use later to drizzle any excess juice over the salad.
    • Combine the salad ingredients. In a large serving bowl, combine the lemon segments, tomatoes, cucumber, onion and basil.
    • Add the dressing and serve. Drizzle the salad with any excess lemon juice from the scraps. (Use as much or as little as you'd like.) Then drizzle with the vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Toss, and season to taste with salt and pepper. (Here's How.) Serve cold.

    Notes

    Calorie count is only an estimate.
    Keywords summer picnic recipes, summer tomato recipes, great for sharing
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

    Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

     

    Save

    More Salad Recipes

    • Citrus Carpaccio with Jalapeño
    • Peach Caprese Salad
    • Peach Avocado Salad with Zucchini
    • Mango Salad with Basil

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. angiesrecipes

      August 08, 2021 at 8:00 pm

      Looks absolutely delightful! It's a perfect harvest salad.

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 08, 2021 at 8:59 pm

        Thanks, Angie! And that's the title I should've given it. 😀 ~Valentina

        Reply
    2. Christina

      August 09, 2021 at 12:03 pm

      All I can say is "pass the bread!" DELICIOUS!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 13, 2021 at 5:49 pm

        Exactly! The bread! 😀 ~Valentina

        Reply
    3. Ben | Havocinthekitchen

      August 09, 2021 at 12:29 pm

      Sometimes (or more like most of times!) simple flavours are the best. But with the addition of lemon segments, you've elevated a very simple salad to a new and more exciting version. Fresh and light - loving it!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 13, 2021 at 5:49 pm

        Thanks so much, Ben! Enjoy. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    4. Dawn

      August 09, 2021 at 12:38 pm

      There's definitely something special about summer tomatoes, and this refreshing salad really makes them shine!! I've never paired tomatoes with lemons, so I've got to try this salad out. Everything in here sounds so so good!! I know it would disappear in no time! 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 13, 2021 at 5:50 pm

        Thanks, Dawn. I'm so with you about summer tomatoes. I can't get enough. Hope you enjoy -- with a nice slice of bread. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    5. David Scott Allen

      August 09, 2021 at 1:42 pm

      This is definitely the epitome of summer! The cucumbers and tomatoes have been fantastic this year, And our basil is as prolific as ever. This is such a perfect combination… if only lemons were in season now, too!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 13, 2021 at 5:51 pm

        Many thanks, David. The tomatoes around here have been fantastic also -- especially flavorful this year. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
        • David Scott Allen

          September 04, 2022 at 7:58 am

          We’ve had another great year did sweet, juicy tomatoes — we make this at least once a week!

          Reply
          • valentina

            September 05, 2022 at 2:10 pm

            This makes me very happy. Thank you!

            Reply
    6. Chef Mimi

      August 09, 2021 at 2:15 pm

      Wow! what a fantastic idea! I’ve never seen anything like this. I was wondering where the lemon was in this salad!!! Your tomatoes are beautiful.

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 13, 2021 at 5:52 pm

        Thank you, Mimi! Hope you give it a go and enjoy. 🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    7. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

      August 11, 2021 at 6:31 am

      This is definitely the time for a tomato salad! And cucumber is so refreshing in every context. Nice salad!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 13, 2021 at 5:55 pm

        Cucumbers are indeed refreshing -- in every form. Thanks, Jeff. Enjoy!
        🙂 ~Valentina

        Reply
    8. John / Kitchen Riffs

      August 11, 2021 at 8:09 am

      Wow, lemons! I make tomato and cucumber salad all the time, but you've taken it up at least 3 notches. Really, really good -- thanks.

      Reply
    9. valentina

      August 13, 2021 at 5:55 pm

      Thank you so much, John! I hope you love it. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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