Tomato Avocado Cucumber Salad
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.This quick, easy tomato avocado cucumber salad is a delicious blend of colorful, fresh veggies that will brighten up your dinner table. It’s vegetarian, gluten-free, and the perfect healthy side dish for a picnic, summer gatherings, potlucks with friends, or a quick weeknight dinner any time of the year! Plus, you’ll only need 10 minutes of prep time to make it!
I’m always a sucker for a good salad. And by that, I mean a simple salad made with hearty protein, extra veggies, fresh herbs, and a dressing with bright flavor that brings it all together. And this tomato avocado cucumber salad is, by far, one of the most delicious salad recipes I’ve ever made!
The combination of high protein chickpeas with creamy avocado, crisp cucumbers, and juicy tomatoes makes this one of my favorite salad recipes. The addition of avocado pieces adds a rich creaminess that most salads don’t have. This goes with all the summer produce, and it’s packed with fresh flavor, thanks to the simple lemon dressing!
This cucumber tomato avocado salad is light and refreshing yet filling with the addition of feta. When served with a side of crusty whole grain bread, it makes for a simple and healthy summer meal.
It can be served as a light lunch, a side salad for your main course, or even as a healthy snack for summer picnics. The best part? It’s easy to prepare, and you can customize it with your favorite ingredients!
Plus, it’s a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables in a fun and tasty way. Trust me, this recipe is about to become your new favorite salad!
👩🏽🍳 Why You’ll Love Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
- Plant-Based: This tomato cucumber avocado salad recipe is a dream come true for all the plant-based diet followers out there. It’s packed with nutritious ingredients like chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocados, all of which contribute to a wholesome, hearty salad.
- Quick And Easy: One of the best things about this healthy salad is that you can have it ready with just a few simple steps! It’s the perfect choice for those busy weeknight dinners or last-minute potlucks.
- Gluten-Free: Looking for a gluten-free option that doesn’t compromise on taste? This salad is it! It is completely gluten-free, making it a fantastic choice for those with dietary restrictions or anyone looking to reduce their gluten intake.
- Family-Friendly: This tomato cucumber salad with avocado is a crowd-pleaser that’s sure to be a hit with the entire family. Its fresh, vibrant flavors appeal to both kids and adults alike, making it a great addition to any meal.
- Vibrant And Versatile: This great recipe is not only vibrant in color but also versatile. It can be served as the perfect side dish at your next dinner party, enjoyed as a light main dish, or even added to your collection of easy summer recipes. Switch ingredients up and customize it to be exactly your kind of salad!
- Healthy: This is the perfect salad that works any time of year, when you’re craving some delicious and nutritious. It’s a great side dish for a low-glycemic diet, too.
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🥘 Ingredients
This tomato avocado cucumber salad is easy to whip up, thanks to its simple and accessible fresh ingredients. You can find all of these produce items at your local grocery store, making it a convenient choice for a quick, healthy meal.
For The Salad
- Red And Yellow Cherry Tomatoes: These vibrant, sweet tomatoes add a pop of color and a burst of flavor to our salad. They’re a great source of vitamins and antioxidants, making them as nutritious as they are delicious! Use ripe juicy tomatoes for best results.
- Chickpeas: Chickpeas bring a delightful texture and a boost of protein to the salad. They also absorb the flavors of the dressing beautifully, making the salad taste even better.
- English Cucumber: This crunchy cucumber is known for its thin skin and minimal seeds, making it perfect for salads. Chop your cool cucumbers into bite sized pieces.
- Avocado: Ripe avocados add creaminess to the salad and are packed with healthy fats. Choose a perfectly ripe avocado that’s semi-firm for the best texture.
- Feta Cheese: Feta cheese adds a tangy flavor and creamy texture.
For The Dressing
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Fresh Lemon Juice: A good quality olive oil will form the basis of our dressing, adding a smooth, rich flavor. Lemon juice brings that acidity that a good salad dressing needs.
- Garlic, Salt & Black Pepper: These three together add a depth of flavor to the dressing. All you need is a pinch of salt & black pepper to make the dressing shine!
- Fresh Basil & Dried Oregano: These herbs add a wonderful aroma and flavor to the simple dressing.
🍲 Ingredient Substitutions
- Cherry Tomatoes: You can use any type of small ripe tomatoes in this salad such as grape tomatoes. Otherwise, use diced heirloom tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or garden tomatoes as substitutes.
- Beans: If you don’t have chickpeas, you can use any type of canned beans. Kidney beans or black beans would work well in this salad.
- Cucumbers: Any type of cucumber can be used in this great salad. If you can’t find English cucumbers, regular cucumbers or persian cucumbers will work just fine. Just remember to peel them first.
- Cheese: Goat cheese or small chunks of brie are great alternatives to feta cheese.
- Oil: If you don’t have extra virgin olive oil, you can use another neutral flavored oil that you like.
- Lemon Juice: If you don’t have fresh lemons, you can use bottled lemon juice. Alternatively, you can use a different type of citrus juice like lime or orange, or even vinegar such as red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even white balsamic vinegar for a different flavor profile.
- Herbs: If you don’t have fresh basil, you can use dried basil. Alternatively, you can use a other fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, marjoram, or dill. If you don’t have dried oregano, you can use dried basil or dried thyme. Alternatively, you can use fresh oregano. Just remember that fresh herbs are more potent than dried, so use less.
🔪 How To Make Tomato Avocado Cucumber Salad
Ready for a refreshing salad that’s perfect for any occasion? Here’s how to make a tasty avocado cucumber tomato salad recipe. For more detailed instructions and nutritional information, see the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Chop The Veggies: Start by chopping all your veggies to be about the same size.
Prepare The Salad: Combine all your salad ingredients in a large salad bowl. This includes tomatoes, avocados, chopped cucumber, and feta cheese. Toss them all together until well mixed.
Prepare The Dressing: Now, it’s time to whisk together the dressing ingredients. Combine a little olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, pepper, basil, and oregano. Make sure all the ingredients are well combined.
Combine And Serve: Add the dressing to your salad and give it a good toss until everything is evenly coated. Your tomato & cucumber salad with avocado is now ready to be served in a large bowl and enjoyed!
💭 Expert Tips
- Marinate For Flavor Development: For best results, leave the cucumber avocado tomato salad to marinate in the dressing for at least two hours. This will guarantee that all the ingredients absorb the lovely tangy dressing.
- Vary Your Herbs: You can mix up the fresh herbs in the salad dressing. While this recipe calls for basil and oregano, feel free to experiment with parsley, dill, or even marjoram for a different flavor profile.
- Chop The Same Size: To guarantee each bite is balanced and enjoyable, cut all your veggies to be about the same size as the chickpeas. This gives your salad a uniform and pleasing texture.
📖 Variations
This easy salad tastes delicious as is, but here are a few easy variations you can try to change up the flavors:
- Mexican Avocado Salad: Give this salad a Mexican twist by incorporating fresh corn, diced bell peppers, or poblano pepper. Swap the lemon juice and basil in the dressing for lime juice and cilantro, and replace the feta with a Mexican shredded cheese, cotija cheese, or queso fresco. For an added crunch, sprinkle some sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds on top! This is the perfect summer salad to bring to a BBQ!
- Add Other Veggies: Just about any veggies will taste great in this recipe. You can add diced red onion, green onions, bell peppers, sweet corn, or even some greens like fresh arugula, baby spinach, or baby kale. The raw onions will add a delicious sharp flavor you’ll love.
- Cucumber Avocado And Tomato Salad With Chicken: If you’re not vegetarian, turn this salad into a full-fledged meal by adding some grilled chicken. The protein-packed chicken will compliment the freshness of the salad and make it a satisfying dinner option. You can even add hard-boiled eggs if you like.
- Avocado Mango Salad: For a sweet twist, replace the tomatoes with some chopped mango. This unique combination of flavors is so refreshing during the hot summer months. You could also experiment with watermelon, cantaloupe, or green melon, all diced small.
- Try A Different Dressing: If you’re looking for a change, swap the lemon dressing for an Italian dressing, this dairy-free thousand island dressing, or balsamic vinaigrette. These dressings will add a different flavor profile to your salad, making it even more exciting.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
This tomato avocado cucumber salad is a fresh, vibrant dish that can be served in a multitude of ways. Pair it along with your favorite summer staples or try some of our favorite serving suggestions:
- Salads: Pair this avocado tomato cucumber salad recipe with other salads for a refreshing, plant-based meal. It goes particularly well with a roasted pumpkin salad, my vegan Italian orzo salad a beetroot and feta salad, or a Hawaiian macaroni salad.
- Mains: This fresh salad can be a light starter for main dishes like vegetarian zucchini lasagna, a chickpea and lentil curry, or a vegan pot pie.
- Other Sides: Complement your main course by serving this salad alongside a portion of vegan sweet potato casserole, or a serving of homemade air fryer garlic bread.
- Perfect With Sandwiches: This easy cucumber tomato salad is a good side dish to your favorite vegetarian sandwiches or plant-based burgers. It adds a refreshing crunch to a hearty vegan chicken sandwich or a chipotle black bean burger.
🙌 Dietary Adaptations
This tomato avocado cucumber salad recipe is already plant-based, gluten-free, and vegetarian, making it a great choice for those following these dietary lifestyles. However, there are a couple of adaptations that can be made to ensure it fits into vegan and dairy-free diets as well.
Vegan And Dairy-Free Option: The only ingredient that doesn’t fit into a vegan and dairy-free diet in this easy recipe is the feta cheese. But don’t worry, you can still enjoy this delicious salad by simply omitting the feta cheese or replacing it with a vegan cheese alternative. There are many great dairy-free cheeses available in the market today that can give you that creamy texture and tangy flavor similar to feta.
🫙 Storage Directions
- Refrigerating: Store this tomato avocado cucumber salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Alternatively, cover it securely with plastic wrap. It will stay fresh for about three days. However, for the best results, enjoy it within 24 hours of making it.
- Freezing: Unfortunately, this salad doesn’t freeze well due to the high water content in the tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocados. Freezing and thawing could result in a mushy, unappetizing texture.
- Reheating: As this is a cold salad, reheating is not necessary. Simply take the salad out of the fridge the next day, give it a good toss to redistribute the dressing, and serve. It can be enjoyed at room temperature, as well.
❓Recipe FAQs
The best way to keep avocado from browning is by adding lemon. This salad dressing already contains lemon juice, but if you’re preparing it a day ahead, squeeze some extra lemon over the salad before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge. This will help keep the avocado fresh and vibrant.
It’s a personal preference. If you prefer a more tender texture, and you’re using regular cucumbers you can peel the cucumber. However, leaving the skin on adds color and additional nutrients. I like using English or Persian cucumbers which have really thin, mild flavored skin – so you can leave the skin on and cut down your prep time!
Yes, feel free to get creative with this salad recipe! See the variations above for some fun and delicious ways to switch things up. Some of my favorite ways to add a twist to the salad are with some fresh fruit, new herbs, or different dressings! You could also try cutting the veggies into thin slices for a spin on the texture.
Yes, you can use pre-made dressing if you’re short on time. Try to find one with limited ingredients, no added sugar, and organic, if possible. Making a simple homemade dressing often provides a fresher and more tailored flavor.
🥗 More Healthy Salad Recipes!
- High Protein Pasta Salad
- Keto Greek Salad
- Beetroot And Feta Salad
- Vegan Farro Salad
- Pumpkin Salad
- Chick-Fil-A Kale Salad Recipe
- Roasted Cauliflower Salad
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📋 Recipe Card
🎥 Watch How to Make It
Tomato Avocado Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
For The Salad
- 10½ oz container red cherry tomatoes quartered
- 10½ oz container yellow cherry tomatoes quartered
- 15 oz can chickpeas drained, rinsed
- 1½ English cucumbers peeled, halved lengthwise, sliced
- 1 Hass avocado peeled, cored, diced (ripe but semi-firm)
- 3 oz feta cheese crumbled
For The Dressing
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ⅛ tsp salt more to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh basil chopped
- ½ tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Toss all of the salad ingredients (tomatoes through feta) together in a large bowl.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together.
- Add the dressing to the salad and toss until combined.
Notes
- To let the flavors fully sing, leave the salad to marinate in the dressing for at least two hours.
- You can mix up the fresh herbs in the salad dressing – I chose basil and oregano but you can try parsley, dill, or even marjoram!
- Cut all of your veggies to be about the same size as the chickpeas so each bite feels consistent.
- If you don’t have feta, you can use goat cheese or even small chunks of brie would work well.
- If you want to make this vegan friendly, just omit the cheese!
- Keep the salad in the fridge in an airtight container, it will keep for up to 3 days, but is freshest 24 hours after making it.
This is the perfect salad for a light lunch or dinner. So easy to put together and delicious!
Yes!! Thanks Holley!
This salad is so light and fresh, great any time of the year! Love how easy it is to make too. Great recipe!
So glad you liked it!