I’ve been sharing recipes here for 15 years, and this Greek Cucumber Salad recipe remains an all time fan favorite. With more than 60,000 shares and dozens of reviews, you can be assured this Greek Salad is one you’ll love!

overhead perspective of chopped greek salad

I originally shared this Greek Cucumber Salad on May 30th, 2014. I’ve updated the images, some of the text and added a video to share with you today. This post may contain affiliate links. 

Why You’ll Love this Greek Cucumber Salad

When I first shared this Simple Cucumber Salad recipe 10 years ago, it blew the doors off the internet. Then I followed it up with this Cucumber Greek Salad recipe. It too was a runaway hit! From that point on, I knew focusing on delicious veggie-focused recipes was going to be my little corner of the internet. So if you’re new here, welcome! This recipe is a keeper and it’s where it all began!

Now, before we get to the recipe, note that this is more of a traditional Greek salad recipe, meaning the no-lettuce variety. It’s all about crisp and fresh cucumbers paired with juicy ripe tomatoes! Add in red onions, black olives and feta cheese and toss in a vinaigrette dressing and you’ll feel like you’re on a Greek island with the warm sun and sea!

Table of contents

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Recipe Highlights

  • Whisk the dressing ingredients in the serving bowl for this easy Chopped Greek Cucumber salad. It saves a dish and makes it a quick recipe to prepare.
  • Because fresh tomatoes and chopped cucumbers naturally let off their juice as they sit, you do not need a ton of dressing to make this salad moist enough.
  • This is close to a traditional Greek salad recipe, the no-lettuce variety. It’s all about crisp and fresh cucumbers paired with juicy ripe tomatoes! Add in red onions, black olives and feta cheese and toss in a vinaigrette dressing

WATCH: How to Make Greek Cucumber Salad

Tomato & Cucumber Greek Salad Ingredients

  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
  • Fresh Herbs: I use fresh herbs, basil and oregano in this chopped salad because it’s a summertime recipe and I always have herbs on hand. Plus I like the way fresh herbs taste. Parsley, fresh dill or mint would also be great. If you want to make this with dried herbs, use 3/4 teaspoon each of dried oregano and dried basil in the dressing. Dried oregano only (no basil) is a traditional seasoning for Greek salad.
  • Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper
  • Cucumbers: If you have regular cucumbers, you should peel them, but if you have European cucumbers, English cucumber or Lebanese cucumbers, you can leave them unpeeled. For this recipe, I prefer to use thinner-skinned varieties of cucumbers. I like to peel strips of skin off, to make them pretty.
  • Red wine vinegar: you could use a squeeze of fresh lemon juice instead.
  • Dijon mustard
  • Cherry tomatoes: grape tomatoes are fine too. You could also make this with heirloom tomatoes.
  • Olives: I used mixed olives. If you want to stay closer to an authentic Greek salad use Kalamata olives. Opt for pitted if desired.
  • Red Onion: I love the assertive flavor of raw red onion, but if you would like it milder use green onions.
  • Crumbed Feta: Goat feta, sheep feta or a blend will all work. Or use dairy-free feta if desired.

 

an overhead tablescape with a bowl of Greek salad, flower blossoms, wine and a dish of salt

How to make Greek Cucumber Salad

  1. To make the dressing just whisk red wine vinegar, high-quality extra virgin olive oil and fresh oregano in the mixing bowl.
  2. Add in mustard to help it stay emulsified plus a bit of salt and pepper.
  3. Whisk well! 
  4. Before serving and once the salad dressing is mixed in the large bowl, add in the chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, olives and feta.
  5. Toss well to coat with the dressing. Then sprinkle with the freshly chopped basil.
  6. Serve right away, as the cucumbers and juicy tomatoes will start to weep and the salad will become watery.
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A close up view of a white bowl filled with Greek Cucumber Salad

How to Prepare the Cucumber for This Greek Cucumber Tomato Salad

To remove the seeds of the fresh cucumber, cut them in half from stem to end. Then use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. This will make the cucumber salad less watery. 

I like to cut the cucumbers into chunks instead of rounds or half moons. They are closer in size to the rest of the ingredients, and easier to eat than sliced cucumbers. I cut them into lengths, then crosswise into chunks about 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick. (See the video for more detail.)

Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe Variations

  • Try using different types of tomatoes such as Roma tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes. Or you could even swap out the tomato for another summertime star, watermelon, cut into chunks.
  • Sub in lemon juice instead of the vinegar.
  • Add sliced roasted red peppers or fresh bell pepper strips
  • Top it with grilled chicken, shrimp or fish to make it a complete meal.
  • Skip making the dressing and use your favorite Greek salad dressing instead.
  • Serve it with lavash and homemade hummus
  • Add whole Greek pepperoncini.
  • Add canned artichoke hearts or hearts of palm.

Can You Make Greek Cucumber Salad Ahead?

You can, but you need to keep these things in mind:

  • You can make the dressing ahead and store it in a jar or a small bowl covered with wrap in the fridge for several days. If the oil solidifies, you’ll just need to bring it to room temperature or set your jar of dressing in a warm water bath to liquefy it before proceeding.
  • You can chop the cucumbers ahead too. Just keep them separate from the dressing so they don’t start to weep. (If they get salt on them, they will start to let off their water.)
  • If you don’t mind the smell of chopped onions in your fridge you can chop them ahead too. I’d recommend not stirring them together with the tomatoes or feta.
  • Don’t chop the tomatoes ahead. Tomatoes shouldn’t be refrigerated, so wait to cut them until you’re ready to toss the salad.
  • Add freshly cut basil at the end. If you chop it ahead the cuts will turn black and the taste of the basil will be less strong. 

How to Serve Greek Cucumber Salad

This simple salad is a perfect summer salad to pair with meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes with Mediterranean flavor. The tangy dressing, fresh herbs and summer rice fresh produce pair well with the following:

Storing Greek Cucumber Tomato Salad

Greek cucumber salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. It is best to store the salad without the dressing and add it just before eating to prevent the cucumbers from getting soggy.

Greek Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe FAQs

Does Greek salad have lettuce in it?

Yes and no. In the United States, many recipes and restaurant Greek salads include lettuce. But traditional Greek salads do not have lettuce in them. Instead, they allow the cucumbers and tomatoes to stand in for the bulk of the salad. The ingredients are chopped and tossed together.

How do you keep Greek salad from getting soggy?

Greek salad can get soggy after it is mixed together with the dressing. To make sure it doesn’t get watery, wait to toss it with the vinaigrette just before serving.

How do you thicken Greek salad dressing?

To thicken dressing for Greek salad, add a little mustard which will act as an emulsifier to hold the oil and vinegar in suspension. Carefully drizzle the oil into the vinegar while whisking constantly to create the emulsion. This will help to thicken the dressing. You can also add 1/4 cup of Greek yogurt to the dressing to thicken it. To keep the dressing from getting watery, serve your Greek salad as soon as you toss it.

A spoonful of dressing being drizzled over the chopped Greek Cucumber Salad

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At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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A close-up of cucumber greek salad

Greek Cucumber Tomato Salad

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5 from 19 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
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Description

Here’s a recipe for Greek Cucumber Salad made without lettuce. It’s loaded with crumbled feta, cherry tomatoes, olives and red onion and tossed with a simple homemade dressing. The best part is that it’s ready in only 15 minutes!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 4 cups peeled, seeded and chopped cucumbers
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup mixed olives, pitted if desired
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 2 ounces crumbed feta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Instructions

  1. Whisk oil, vinegar, oregano, mustard, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, onion, and feta and stir to combine. Taste for salt and adjust if necessary. Top with basil.

Notes

Make-Ahead Instructions: To make this ahead, chop the veggies and do not toss them together. Keep the dressing separate and do not cut the tomatoes until just before serving. Toss just before serving.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: no cook
  • Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
  • Calories: 159
  • Sugar: 3 g
  • Sodium: 306 mg
  • Fat: 13 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 9 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 4 g

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