Tomato And Cucumber Salad Isn't Complete Without The Perfect Dressing

Tomato and cucumber salad is simply iconic. Its summery combination of sweet, acidic tomatoes and light, crunchy cucumbers delivers a crisp and refreshing flavor profile that is definitely worth looking forward to, especially during the months of May through October, when tomatoes are at their ripest. And while the classic salad has seen its fair share of delicious variations, a good tomato and cucumber salad is simple — fresh, enhanced by a few complementary flavors, and never, ever overdressed. Sticking to an easily accessible dressing trifecta of olive oil, vinegar, and a salt and pepper blend will bring out the bright, sweet flavor of the two fruits without overwhelming their flavor or weighing down your salad's lightness. 

Whether you're elevating your salad with feta cheese, avocado chunks, or simply serving it with the traditional red onion slices, you'll generally want to add one part vinegar to three parts oil then add your salt and pepper to taste for the perfect accompanying vinaigrette. As for what type of vinegar to use, it's important to note that using red wine vinegar will give you a stronger, richer taste, while its standard white counterpart will offer a less intense, clean flavor. Want more complexity? Go with balsamic vinegar, whose woody, sometimes slightly smoky notes will bring dimension and boldness to the overall flavor profile of your salad. The best part? This dressing is easy to adjust with seasonings and ingredient measurements, so you can create the dressing of your dreams.

In a good tomato and cucumber salad, the tomatoes put up a solid fight for top billing. And while most tomato varieties are pretty versatile, choosing the right tomatoes for your salad is imperative to achieving the lightest, most flavorful salad. There are thousands of different types of tomatoes, and many types of tomatoes you probably haven't heard of — that each contributes unique amounts of sweetness and acidity, so choose wisely. 

Roma tomatoes, for example, are commonly used for tomato and cucumber salads as they retain their firmness easily, so they are ideal for a salad that yields leftovers or needs to stay fresh longer than usual. Cherry tomatoes, on the other hand, are fleshier than other varieties, and offer a more robust, less watery, and overall more savory flavor which pairs beautifully with red onion. Still, heirloom tomatoes offer a delicious, sweeter taste than many other varieties. But did you know the size of your tomato slices also has an impact on the salad's flavor, too? For example, if you want a tomato-heavy taste, cut large chunks of a larger variety. For a more blended taste, feel free to slice your tomatoes thinner so they can soak up more of the complementary flavors. 

Whichever tomatoes you use, be sure to wait until you're ready to serve your salad before adding your dressing and salt to avoid fogginess. Then, toss it up and enjoy.