An easy cucumber salad for one is tangy and tasty on it's own, but sliced garden tomatoes add even more color and flavor to this simple salad. Add chicken for an easy dinner for one, or keep it as a side dish for a summer picnic/quick dinner.
[This recipe was originally posted in July 2019. It has been updated with cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
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It's easy to accidentally let vegetables rot in the back of your fridge. But that won't happen with this tasty tomato cucumber salad for one. It just takes a few minutes to throw together, and is bursting with flavor-no more forgetting the veggies!
Skip the tomatoes for a classic cucumber salad, but I love the color and flavor they add. If you'd like to make this into a full meal, add some grilled chicken and crusty bread, or serve with a few different summery dishes.
You could even add chopped grilled chicken or pan fried tofu and croutons to this salad directly to make it more filling. There are so many options to make this salad tasty, and if you're cooking for one, you just have to worry about yourself!
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.
- Cucumbers: You can keep the peel on an English cucumber or Persian cucumber, but regular cucumber peels can be waxy, I prefer to peel them, at least part of the peel.
- Tomatoes: cherry or pear tomatoes are great, but you can chop any tomatoes to add to this simple cucumber salad for one. For the most flavor, choose garden or farmers market tomatoes. Store ones usually aren't very flavorful.
- Basil: Thinly sliced basil adds lots of flavor and a nice garnish to this simple salad.
- Olive Oil: A good, flavorful olive oil will make this simple tomato and cucumber salad for one super tasty. There are a few red pepper flakes in this olive oil, to add even more flavor to this simple salad.
- White Balsamic Vinegar: You can swap this for regular balsamic dressing, white wine vinegar, or even red wine vinegar. Use what you have or prefer.
- Red Pepper Flakes: you can see them in the olive oil here, but a pinch of them add more flavor. You don't have to add them if you don't want.
- Salt
Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
1. Slice your cucumbers, cut cherry tomatoes in half, and chiffonade the basil (slice into thin slices). This will give you lots of bites of fresh basil in this cucumber tomato salad for one.
2. Next, you'll mix together the dressing for your cucumber tomato salad. Mix together olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, salt, and red pepper flakes.
3. Pour dressing over cucumbers and tomatoes, toss well. I'd also recommend letting your healthy cucumber tomato salad stand at room temperature for at least 15 minutes prior to serving. Top with basil just before serving.
Storage Tips
Store leftover cucumber salad for one in an airtight container in the fridge. This salad will be good for a day or two, dressed. If you want to store it for longer, don't dress it until a day or two before enjoying.
Store cucumbers in a bit of water, in the fridge to last the longest. Cut tomatoes when you're ready to make the dressing.
Substitutions/Tips
- The classic version of this cucumber salad wouldn't have tomatoes in it, you can easily skip them, but add if you have them and would like to try it!
- Slice cucumber into similar sized thin slices for this cucumber tomato salad for one
- Swap the white balsamic vinegar for red wine vinegar if you don't have it. Or regular balsamic, either would be good.
- You can leave seeds in the cucumber or remove them with a spoon. Either way it's great, just a personal preference!
- Other great add-ins: chopped nuts, thinly sliced onion (like red onion or white onion), fresh dill, chopped chicken or tofu and croutons, sumac, etc would be great in your salad.
FAQ
I'd recommend peeling your cucumber if it's skin is waxy. Personally I think the cucumber skin is too thick, waxy, and often bitter so I usually peel it. English cucumber skin usually isn't as thick and waxy as traditional cucumber skin.
I used a regular cucumber because they're usually about ⅓ the price of English cucumbers and aren't packaged in additional plastic. English cucumber skin is usually thinner and less bitter. Use whichever works for you.
Most dishes last 3-5 days in the fridge. I recommend sniffing your cucumber salad, if it smells good, it should be safe to eat. If not, it's ready to toss.
Cucumbers and tomatoes are great together, think of all the salads that have both! This healthy cucumber tomato salad is an example, the crunchy cucumbers and juicy tomatoes add a lot of flavor and texture to it. Yum!
What to do with leftover ingredients
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
- Cucumbers: Spiced Lamb Burger with Tzatziki, Apple Cucumber Salad, Cucumber Beet Salad with Feta.
- Tomatoes: No Mayo Potato Salad, BLT Bagel, Single Serving Pizza (add them as toppings!)
- Basil: Simple Pasta Recipe, Pasta with Mushroom Sauce, or Pistachio Pesto
Did you make this healthy cucumber tomato salad? leave me a comment to share how it turned out!
Cucumber Salad for One (with Tomatoes!)
Equipment
- cutting board
- knife
- medium mixing bowl
- small mixing bowl
- whisk
Ingredients
- 1 cup sliced cucumbers
- ½ cup cherry or grape tomatoes sliced in half, lengthwise
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- pinch red pepper flakes optional
- 5-6 basil leaves
Instructions
- Add 1 cup sliced cucumbers and ½ cup tomatoes (sliced in half) to a medium sized mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Mix together ½ Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 Tablespoon white balsamic vinegar, ¼ teaspoon salt, and a pinch of red pepper flakes (optional) in a small mixing bowl. Pour over vegetables, and toss well.
- Chiffonade basil leaves and add to salad right before serving.
Notes
- How to chiffonade basil: Stack basil leaves, then roll them up into a tube. Slice basil into thin strips and add to salad.
- How to turn this into a full meal: Serve with crusty bread and grilled chicken
- The classic version of this cucumber salad wouldn't have tomatoes in it, you can easily skip them, but add if you have them and would like to try it!
- Slice cucumber into similar sized thin slices for this cucumber tomato salad for one
- Swap the white balsamic vinegar for red wine vinegar if you don't have it. Or regular balsamic, either would be good.
- You can leave seeds in the cucumber or remove them with a spoon. Either way it's great, just a personal preference!
- Other great add-ins: chopped nuts, thinly sliced onion, chopped chicken or tofu and croutons, etc would be great in your cucumber salad for one.
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Michelle says
This is the perfect summer salad with all of our garden fresh veggies! Simple and delicious!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
totally!
Beth says
I love this salad. It's easy, healthy, and delicious. That's really the trifecta for me.
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
right?! love easy and tasty salads
Ali says
This salad was so simple but delicious, love the balsamic vinaigrette dressing!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
agreed! glad you liked it
Whitney says
This is a perfect side to any meal. I am not into eating leafy salads so this is perfect for me.
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
oh absolutely perfect!
Tayler says
I’ve made this salad SO many times this summer! So easy, fresh and delicious!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
totally! it's so easy