Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella is one of my most requested side dishes—and not only because it pairs with nearly everything! This light yet flavorful salad gives any meal, from a simple Cornish Hen recipe to Grilled Shrimp, a rich and crisp garden taste.
This cucumber tomato mozzarella basil salad is as easy as it is flavorful. Drizzled with my Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette, it is the perfect healthy salad that you can make in about 10 minutes.
If you’d use any excuse to serve Caprese-inspired dishes like this, look no further! Mouths will water over my other fresh tomato salads: Burrata Caprese, Tomato White Bean Salad, Tabbouleh with Quinoa, and my Tomato Galette Recipe.
Why You Should Make This Recipe:
How often do you find a side dish that’s both delectable and a breeze to make? It’s no wonder why this fresh and tart cucumber tomato and mozzarella salad will be your new go-to side:
- Cucumber mozzarella salad has tons of flavor. Sharp yet creamy, rich yet simple, and bursting with herbaceous flavor, this salad is an easy fan favorite.
- This recipe is so quick and easy that it comes together in three steps and less than ten minutes!Perfect as a breakfast salad, light lunch or a side dish with main dishes.
- This salad is easy to adapt to fit your own tastes, so you can be sure that every bite is as herby, tangy, or juicy as you want it. You can make it with or without basil or change it up with whatever fresh herb you have on hand. Fresh parsley, mint, or even dill would work.
Ingredients:
Don’t spend hours sweating over complicated side dishes. This cucumber tomato and mozzarella salad is so simple that you can find all its fresh ingredients at the farmer’s market!
- The Salad Dressing: Gather olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Salad Ingredients: For the salad, get together Persian cucumbers, grape or cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves.
Substitutions
Whether you want to add an authentic Italian twist or a zesty tang to this dish, it’s a cinch to do! Check out these simple substitutions to make this delicious salad distinctly yours.
- Basil vs. Parsley: It doesn’t matter if you only have basil or parsley on hand. Both taste amazing in this tomato cucumber salad with cheese. You can also do away with herbs altogether for tomato mozzarella salad without basil.
- Fresh Tomatoes: I used cherry tomatoes but you can use Roma or heirloom tomatoes as well. Be sure to cut them into smaller pieces to make it easier to eat.
- Mozzarella: It’s easy to chop up fresh mozzarella into little cubes for this recipe. However, you can also make this salad with mozzarella pearls and turn it into a tomato cucumber bocconcini salad!
- Persian Cucumbers vs. English Cucumber: Persian cucumbers are smaller than English cucumbers, but both are delicious in this cucumber tomato salad recipe. If you use Persian cucumbers, you’ll need 4-5, but only 1 English cucumber is enough. Whether you peel them is up to you!
- Lemon Balsamic Dressing: The lemon balsamic dressing used in this cucumber mozzarella salad is a classic, but you can also make it with a basic lemon dressing.
How To Make It
Tomato mozzarella cucumber salad is the easiest side salad you will ever prepare. Did I mention it only takes 10 minutes to make?
- Make the salad dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Pour in the olive oil, while still whisking, and mix until creamy.
- Prep the salad ingredients: Cut cherry tomatoes into quarters and slice cucumbers into bite size pieces. Be sure to cut the fresh mozzarella cheese into small pieces as well.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, layer the cucumbers, tomatoes, and mozzarella.
- Garnish the salad: Drizzle the dressing over the salad and garnish with fresh basil. Before serving, taste the salad and add salt and black pepper, if necessary.
Variations:
- Turn this recipe into a Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad with tomato cucumber and mozzarella by adding two simple ingredients: cooked pasta & my irresistible pesto salad dressing!
- Add some sliced red onion to give this fresh side dish a tantalizing bite.
- Give it a Mediterranean flair by adding a handful of chopped Kalamata olives
- Not a fan of juicy tomatoes? No problem! Try this salad without tomato for a mozzarella salad with no tomato or better yet try my Creamy Cucumber Salad recipe.
- Add a cubed ripe avocado for extra creaminess and flavor.
Make Ahead & Storage:
You may meal prep for main dishes, but did you know you can meal prep side dishes, too? This cucumber salad with tomatoes and mozzarella can be made ahead for a stress-free side any day.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the salad and the tangy balsamic vinaigrette and store them in separate containers. Storing them separately will keep your veggies—especially the tomatoes—from getting soggy.
- Storage: This Chopped Caprese Cucumber Salad will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
What Dishes Go Well With Caprese Salad With Cucumbers?
This caprese salad recipe with cucumbers is so appetizing that you’ll be looking for any excuse to make it. Serve it any day of the week alongside these perfectly paired mains:
- Easy Chicken Stroganoff: There’s no pairing quite as balanced as rich, creamy stroganoff and the light, fresh vegetables in Cucumber Caprese Salad.
- Grilled Shrimp: My cucumber tomato side is the perfect summer salad for any weeknight barbecue—especially when paired with smoky, grilled shrimp.
- Baked Meatballs and Potatoes: Your dinner table will pop with herby greens, juicy reds, and peppery oranges when you serve this dish alongside this salad
- Roasted Cornish Hen: This succulent chicken classic never tastes better than when it’s paired with the complex, herby flavors of my salad recipe.
- Ground Turkey Meatloaf: Put a mature and healthful spin on this childhood staple by serving it alongside my cucumber Caprese salad recipe.
- Serve it by itself with a crusty loaf of bread like Challah bread or No Knead Dutch Oven Bread.
You Might Also Like:
Enliven your tastebuds with crisp cucumbers, creamy mozzarella, and rich balsamic vinegar without spending hours in the kitchen. Simple seasonings and bold, healthy colors make this cucumber tomato mozzarella basil salad irresistible. Can’t get enough? Here are a few more similar recipes you might also like.
- Cucumber Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing
- Greek Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas
- Tomato Galette
- Quinoa Tabouli
- Caprese Pizza Recipe
- Turkish White Bean Salad
- Get all our similar easy salad recipes
Tomato Cucumber Mozzarella Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more if needed at the end
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
For the salad:
- 4-5 Persian cucumbers, sliced ¼-inch thick slices (skin on)
- 2 cups colorful cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
- handful fresh basil leaves, or Italian parsley leaves (optional)
Instructions
- To make the dressing: Place balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Give it a whisk. While still whisking, slowly add in the extra-virgin olive oil and continue whisking until fully incorporated and smooth. Set it aside.
- To assemble the salad: Place cucumber slices, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese in a bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Give it a toss.
- Garnish with fresh basil or Italian parsley.
- Taste for seasoning and add in some more salt and crushed black pepper, if necessary. Serve.
Notes
- This salad makes an excellence topping for toast for breakfast, if you have any leftovers on the next day.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the salad and the tangy balsamic vinaigrette and store them in separate containers. Storing them separately will keep your veggies—especially the tomatoes—from getting soggy.
- Storage: This Chopped Caprese Cucumber Salad will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 2 days..
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This turned out yummy. Thanks for sharing.
Happy to hear that Ms. Rita. Thanks for coming by.
i make this for my presentation in our school and thank you for create this or share this to us i love it
This recipe was SOO AWESOME!! I can honestly say I would not change a thing. Thank you!
This is music to my ears Shweta.
I am thrilled to hear that you liked it. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Dear Ice,
Thank you for giving us such a lovely receipies.
All your receipies are so healthy and tasty. I can say our taste is very similar. Everybody likes your receipies in my home. They are so yummy.
About your site….You have taken immense efforts to make it self explanatory, lovely and attractive.
This makes me so happy Aarti. Thank you!
Such a gorgeous summer salad! The flavors are incredible!
So happy to hear that you liked it. Thanks Lindsay.
I loved this salad! So refreshing and easy to make!
YAY! SO happy to hear that.
Can’t wait to use my garden tomatoes and cucumbers to make this!
Oh those are the best, aren’t they?