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..
honey- kay
i make this for my presentation in our school and thank you for create this or share this to us i love it
Shweta
This recipe was SOO AWESOME!! I can honestly say I would not change a thing. Thank you!
Aysegul Sanford
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.
Aarti Juvekar
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.
Aysegul Sanford
This makes me so happy Aarti. Thank you!
Lindsay Cotter
Such a gorgeous summer salad! The flavors are incredible!
Aysegul Sanford
So happy to hear that you liked it. Thanks Lindsay.
Toni
I loved this salad! So refreshing and easy to make!
Aysegul Sanford
YAY! SO happy to hear that.
Sommer
Can’t wait to use my garden tomatoes and cucumbers to make this!
Aysegul Sanford
Oh those are the best, aren’t they?
Tanya Schroeder
I love all the gorgeous color from those fresh tomatoes!
Aysegul Sanford
Can’t agree more. A great salad recipe perfect for the summer season.
Julie
I love how colorful this is! It’s the perfect salad for the summer.
Aysegul Sanford
Tomato salads never disappoint. So happy to hear that you liked it.
Suzy
We can not get enough of this salad! So simple and easy to make!
Aysegul Sanford
Can’t agree more. Thanks Suzy.
Liz
I made this on Memorial Day and it’s both beautiful and delicious! I arranged everything just the way you did and everyone was impressed!!
Aysegul Sanford
YAY! This is music to my ears Liz. Thanks for letting me know.
M. Parmer
Aysegul, I was wondering about the high fat and calorie values in this otherwise seemingly healthy salad. Does one serving measure one cup? I suppose it is the cheese that contributes most of the fat and calories? Could you recalculate the nutritional information if using low fat/part skim mozzarella? I just don’t think I could serve a side salad that gobbles up 48% daily value of total fat.
Aysegul Sanford
Hello M. Parmer,
I understand where you are coming from. And I think you are right, mozzarella is the reason why the salad is high in calories. The olive oil also contributes to the fat content and calories as well. The calorie calculator I use doesn’t let me calculate with “low-fat” mozzarella, but I was able to do it without mozzarella and it ended up being 382 calories.
One thing I recommend is to alter the recipe based on your needs. If you want, you can use less oil and cut down on the mozzarella. I always look at cheese as a treat and try to include it as an accent in my recipes rather than the actual recipe.
I hope this helps.
Monica
It’s only early Spring but colorful veggies are already appearing in the market at good prices here in Florida, so we made this salad for a weekenight dinner as a main dish. The two of us ate the whole thing! We substituted basil leaves instead of parsley as we had some in the frig.
Emily
What a gorgeous way to showcase summer’s colorful tomatoes and crisp cucumbers! You plated and garnished it so beautifully. Your garden sounds totally fun, although I’m right there with you and don’t know a thing about gardening. This makes me especially thankful for our local farmers. 🙂 Your visit with your family sounded wonderful How nice that you were able to show them your new home in Vermont!
Aysegul Sanford
Thanks for your kind words Emily. You are so kind.
I agree with you about the local farmer’s. I do not know how they do it with this always-changing weather around here.
😉
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
What fun to have family visiting your beautiful home! I love spoiling mine with food and all the sight seeing when they visit. The color, textures and herby notes are simply fabulous, Aysegul. I’ve been enjoying these giant Texas tomatoes while visiting family in Texas… I’m certain they’ll be some waiting when I return to Whidbey. Delicious and gorgeous work! xo
Aysegul Sanford
I am so glad that you are taking some time with your family in Texas. I am sure it has been a much needed break.
Thanks for your kind words my friend. I too am a huge fan of summer tomatoes and love a simple salad like this.
Talk soon!
Alp
I like how the cubed avocados mixes with cubed mozarella in a visual harmony. Nice reading as always.
Aysegul Sanford
Guzel sozlerin icin cok tesekkur ederim Alp. Selamlar.
Zerrin
Aysegul, I have the same difficulty to adapt to my normal routine whenever my family visits us and then leave. Such a great idea to plant herbs together with your dad and aunt! Although not all of them are doing well, isn’t it lovely to watch them in your backyard and remember the good times you had together? I must do the same with my parents. And this salad is screaming summer. Love how colorful it is! I can eat that whole thing myself at breakfast!
Aysegul Sanford
So true. It takes time to adjust, but it is all good.
I agree about the herbs. But I hope they’ll survive this 60 degree Vermont summer temperatures with very little sunshine.
🙂
Thank you sugar. <3