Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and a creamy dill dressing come together to create a salad that is as refreshing as it is delicious. This dish celebrates simplicity with its clean flavors and garden-fresh ingredients, making it a go-to side for hot summer days.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ, preparing a quick weeknight meal, or just craving something fresh, this Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad fits the bill. The blend of tangy, creamy, and herbal notes creates a flavor profile that elevates everyday vegetables into a crave-worthy dish. Best served chilled, it’s a simple pleasure that brings summer straight to your table.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
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2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
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1 large English cucumber, thinly sliced
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1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
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1/2 cup sour cream
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2 tablespoons mayonnaise
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1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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1 teaspoon dried dill (or 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped)
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Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
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In a large bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and red onion.
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In a separate small bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, garlic powder, and dill until well combined.
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Pour the creamy dressing over the vegetables and gently toss to coat evenly.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving for best flavor.
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 0 minutes | Total Time: 10 minutes
Kcal: 115 kcal | Servings: 4 servings
Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad: A Refreshing Summer Favorite
Crisp, juicy, cool, and creamy, Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad is everything we crave when the sun is high and the days are long. It’s a humble, unpretentious side dish that captures the spirit of summer, combining the garden’s freshest ingredients with a creamy, herb-infused dressing that brings everything together beautifully.
Whether you’re preparing for a casual backyard barbecue, a potluck with friends, or a light weeknight dinner, this salad delivers flavor, texture, and simplicity all in one bowl. The combination of crunchy cucumbers and ripe tomatoes, bound together with a silky sour cream-based dressing, makes this salad not just refreshing but also satisfying and nourishing.
In this guide, we’ll explore more than just the recipe. We’ll dive into ingredient benefits, flavor profiles, how to customize the salad, what to pair it with, and why this dish should be a staple in your summer menu.
Why This Salad Works
This recipe is more than the sum of its parts. The textures are balanced perfectly, crunch from cucumbers, juiciness from tomatoes, and smooth creaminess from the dressing. The flavors are layered yet light, featuring a mild tang, a gentle hint of sweetness, and herbaceous notes from dill.
It’s also incredibly versatile and easy to prepare. You don’t need any fancy kitchen tools or hard-to-find ingredients. You can toss it together in under 15 minutes, and it only gets better as it sits and marinates in the fridge.
For those who value clean eating, this dish ticks the right boxes. It’s naturally gluten-free, low-carb, and vegetarian. With just a few substitutions, it can be made keto, vegan, or dairy-free to accommodate different dietary needs.
Star Ingredients and Their Benefits
Cucumbers
The cucumber is the unsung hero of hydration. Composed of about 95% water, cucumbers are not only crisp and refreshing but also provide essential nutrients like vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants. In this salad, they add that quintessential crunch and lightness that balances the richness of the dressing.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes bring vibrant color and bright acidity to the dish. They’re packed with vitamins C and A, potassium, and lycopene, an antioxidant linked to reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. Cherry tomatoes, in particular, are perfect for this salad due to their natural sweetness and bite-sized convenience.
Red Onion
A little bit of thinly sliced red onion goes a long way. It adds a mild sharpness and bite that contrasts beautifully with the cool cucumbers and creamy dressing. Onions are rich in antioxidants and sulfur compounds that promote heart health and reduce inflammation.
Creamy Dressing (Sour Cream + Mayo)
This classic combination gives the salad its creamy, indulgent base. Sour cream provides a tangy brightness, while mayonnaise lends richness and smoothness. The balance between the two ensures the dressing isn’t too heavy or overpowering.
Dill
Dill is what gives this salad its distinctive herbal punch. Fresh dill offers a grassy, slightly sweet note that lifts the entire flavor profile. It’s known for aiding digestion and is a traditional favorite in cooling summer dishes.
Variations to Try
One of the best parts about this salad is how customizable it is. You can tweak it depending on your preferences, dietary requirements, or the ingredients you have on hand. Here are a few ideas to make it your own:
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Greek-Inspired: Add crumbled feta cheese, kalamata olives, and a sprinkle of oregano for a Mediterranean twist.
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Low-Fat Version: Use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream and skip the mayo altogether for a protein-packed and lighter option.
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Dairy-Free/Vegan: Use plant-based sour cream or a cashew cream alternative. There are many dairy-free mayo options available today as well.
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Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a few slices of jalapeño for some heat.
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Extra Veggies: Feel free to toss in chopped bell peppers, radishes, or even avocado to make the salad heartier and more nutrient-dense.
What to Serve with Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad
This salad plays well with almost any summer meal. Its light, creamy texture makes it the perfect side for rich or grilled mains. Here are some pairing suggestions:
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Grilled Meats: Chicken, pork chops, or steak all pair wonderfully with this refreshing salad.
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Seafood: Think grilled salmon, shrimp skewers, or a lemon-dill white fish.
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Sandwiches & Wraps: Serve it alongside cold cut sandwiches, falafel wraps, or veggie burgers.
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Barbecue Favorites: Burgers, hot dogs, and ribs are made better with a cool, tangy salad on the side.
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Brunch Boards: Include it as part of a brunch spread with quiche, eggs, and croissants.
You can also enjoy it as a light lunch all on its own, just add a slice of crusty bread or a handful of crackers for a complete meal.
Seasonal and Meal Prep Friendly
This salad is perfect for late spring through early fall, when cucumbers and tomatoes are at their peak freshness. If you grow your own produce or frequent the local farmers market, this is a wonderful way to use up a bountiful harvest.
Meal prep is a breeze with this recipe. The flavors only deepen after a few hours in the fridge, so feel free to make it ahead. Just store it in an airtight container and stir before serving. It will stay fresh for up to 2–3 days.
Keep in mind that the dressing may thin slightly as the veggies release water over time. If needed, add an extra spoon of sour cream or mayo before serving to thicken it back up.
Dietary Notes and Substitutions
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Vegetarian: 100% vegetarian as written.
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Gluten-Free: Naturally gluten-free, no modifications needed.
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Low-Carb: With just a few grams of carbs per serving, this salad fits nicely into a low-carb lifestyle.
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Vegan: Swap sour cream and mayo for plant-based alternatives.
For added protein, you can toss in diced hard-boiled eggs, grilled tofu, or even chickpeas.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
Once prepared, this salad should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It tastes even better after 30 minutes of chilling, which allows the flavors to meld. Avoid freezing, it doesn’t hold up well due to the high water content of cucumbers and tomatoes.
To make it ahead for an event, prepare the vegetables and dressing separately. Combine them an hour or two before serving to preserve the crisp texture of the cucumbers.
Conclusion
Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad is the kind of dish that never goes out of style. It’s comforting yet light, familiar yet fresh. It doesn’t try to be fancy or complicated and that’s what makes it beautiful. With just a few everyday ingredients and a quick prep, you can enjoy a bowl of summer’s best flavors in under 15 minutes.
Whether you’re feeding a crowd or making lunch for one, this salad is sure to hit the spot. Its vibrant color, creamy dressing, and refreshing crunch make it a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds.
Simple. Delicious. Unforgettable.