🥗 Marinated Cucumber, Onion & Tomato Salad
A fresh, tangy salad that gets better as it sits—crisp vegetables soaked in a simple flavorful marinade.
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber (sliced or half-moons)
- 1 medium onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 medium tomatoes (wedges or chunks)
Marinade
- 2–3 tbsp vinegar (white or apple cider)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil (optional but adds richness)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp sugar (balances acidity)
- ½ tsp red chili flakes (optional)
- ½ tsp dried oregano or mixed herbs (optional)
Optional add-ins:
- Fresh coriander or parsley
- Green chili (finely chopped)
- Crushed garlic (1 small clove)
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Prep the vegetables
- Slice cucumber, onion, and tomatoes evenly
- Place in a large mixing bowl
2. Make the marinade
- In a small bowl, mix vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, sugar, and olive oil
- Stir until well combined
3. Combine
- Pour marinade over vegetables
- Toss gently so everything is coated evenly
4. Marinate
- Let it sit for at least 15–30 minutes
- For best flavor, refrigerate 1–2 hours
🍽️ Serve
- Serve chilled or at room temperature
- Great with grilled chicken, rice dishes, BBQ, or sandwiches
🔥 Tips for best flavor
- The longer it sits, the more flavorful it becomes
- Add onion slightly earlier than tomatoes if you want it softer
- Use fresh lemon juice for a brighter taste
If you want, I can also make:
- a creamy version (yogurt-based)
- a Pakistani-style spicy kachumber salad
- or a meal-prep version that lasts 3–4 days in the fridge