Marinated Cucumber, Tomato & Onion Salad

This step-by-step visual guide shows how to make a classic, incredibly refreshing Zesty Cucumber, Tomato, and Red Onion Salad (often called a summer marinated salad). It is light, crisp, and naturally very low in carbohydrates.

Here is how to recreate the exact recipe shown in the panels.

Marinated Cucumber, Tomato & Onion Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes | Marinating time: 30+ minutes | Servings: 4–6

Ingredients

• 1 large English cucumber, sliced into thick rounds

• 1 pint Cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

• 1 small Red onion, sliced into thin half-moons

• ⅓ cup Extra virgin olive oil

• ¼ cup Apple cider vinegar (shown being poured in the top-right panel)

• 2 tbsp Distilled white vinegar

• Seasonings: 1 tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (for a subtle kick), ½ tsp iodized salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Prep the Vegetables: Slice your cucumbers into rounds, halve the cherry tomatoes, and thinly slice the red onion into slivers exactly as shown on the cutting board in the first panel.

2. Combine: Toss all of the prepped cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions together into a large mixing bowl.

3. Build the Dressing: Pour the extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and distilled white vinegar directly over the vegetables.

4. Season: Sprinkle the dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper evenly over the top (as shown in the bottom panels).

5. Toss and Marinate: Use a large spoon to thoroughly toss everything until the vegetables are completely coated in the oil and vinegar dressing.

6. Chill: Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. The longer it sits, the more the onions sweeten and the cucumbers absorb that delicious, tangy marinade!

💡 The Ultra-Low / Zero-Carb Twist

While cucumbers are excellent for a low-carb lifestyle, tomatoes and red onions do contain some natural sugars. If you want to pull the carb count down as close to zero as possible while maintaining this exact crunchy, tangy vibe:

• The Swap: Keep the cucumbers, but swap the tomatoes and red onions for thinly sliced red radishes and crisp diced celery.

• Toss them in the exact same olive oil, vinegar, and herb dressing. You get a massive crunch, zero sweetness, and virtually no impact on your daily carb count!