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I can eat this tomato and cucumber salad with sour cream and dill dressing every day and never get tired of it! 5 ingredients that create summer magic! 

Serve this delicious salad with 4 ingredient marinated chicken breasts or sticky Asian chicken for a glorious summer meal!
Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad

It is not very often that Brad asks me to make a salad for dinner but he does in the summer all the time. And his favourite one is this tomato and cucumber salad.

It’s not difficult to oblige because I love it as well.  My affection for this salad goes way back as it is my mother’s recipe although so many of you would probably say, “Wait a minute, it is MY mother’s recipe”.

Truth be told, this salad is a summer staple in every Russian and Ukrainian household and exists in two version; dressed with sour cream or unrefined sunflower oil.

Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad

How do I make tomato and cucumber salad?

It might not sound awfully exciting but this tomato and cucumber salad is as delicious as it is simple. Of course, the best of summer produce is the reason for its superb taste, so use only the best.

First of all, tomatoes have to be very ripe and very sweet and cucumbers needs to be very fresh and crunchy.

What tomatoes are best for salads?

When you use tomatoes raw, they have to be absolutely at the peak of their ripeness, otherwise they don’t taste like much.

My first choice would always be homegrown tomatoes but unfortunately it’s not an option for many, myself included. 

My second choice will be farmer’s market tomatoes. I especially love heirloom or heritage tomatoes. 

If none of the above is an option, I always go for supermarket cherry tomatoes. They seem to have much better flavour than regular varieties. 

Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad

What cucumbers are best for salads?

Secondly, the only type of cucumbers that are usually used in Eastern European cooking are SMALL ones, so look for them in your supermarkets or farmer’s markets.

They are called kirby cucumbers or sometimes Persian cucumbers. My kids love to munch on these crunchy, seedless guys after school. They are a tasty and healthy snack and absolutely perfect for dipping!

Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Tomato and Cucumber Salad Dressing

It might sound a bit bland to use only sour cream and salt for the dressing but it’s not all that you will taste. All ingredients contribute to the divine flavour of this salad, but especially fresh dill and ripe tomatoes.

Tips for the Best Tomato and Cucumber Salad

After you make this tomato and cucumber salad, let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the flavours to meld together.

Then taste the dressing and, trust me, you will be quite shocked by its complex and delicious taste. Who would’ve known sour cream can transform like that!

Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad

As a little girl I loved dipping my bread in it. Who am I kidding, I still do! Go for a dark rye loaf if you want to have a real authentic experience but actually any crusty white bread would do the trick!

Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad

What sour cream is best in salad dressing?

You can try tracking down sour cream or ‘smetana’ as it is known in Eastern European shops, otherwise creme fraiche works equally well. And by all means, use full fat for a full flavour and creaminess!

Tomato and Cucumber Salad Dressing Options

If you don’t like sour cream or dairy intolerant like my son, use extra virgin olive oil or unrefined sunflower oil (it’s only worth buying in Russian stores).

Enjoy and let me know how you like it in the comment section!

Summer Tomato and Cucumber SaladI really hope you give my tomato and cucumber salad a try and when you do SHARE your photos with me on Instagram! Just tag @vikalinka and I will see them!

More summer salad recipes:

Recipe originally published in 07/2017. Updated and republished in 07/2019

5 from 5 votes

Summer Tomato and Cucumber Salad

By Julia Frey of Vikalinka
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
This tomato and cucumber salad with fresh dill, spring onions and dressed with sour cream is as delicious as it is simple.
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Ingredients 

  • 4-5 ripe tomatoes
  • 4-5 Kirby cucumbers, small
  • 2-3 spring onions, sliced
  • 3-4 dill sprigs, leaves only
  • 100 ml/1/3 cup sour cream or creme fraiche
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions 

  • Cut ripe tomatoes in wedges, slice cucumbers and spring onions including the white tops, chop dill.
  • Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, add salt and pepper to taste. Add sour cream and mix gently, taste and add more salt if needed. (Salt generously for best flavour!)
  • Serve with bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 117kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 784mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1555IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Julia from Vikalinka

About Me

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.

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Recipe Rating




20 Comments

  1. Deborah says:

    5 stars
    When I was a kid I had a friend whose parents were Lithuanian and and they used to make this salad. It was my favorite thing they made. I had forgotten all about it and, so glad I found your recipe!

    1. Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says:

      So glad this recipe brought great memories!

  2. Kallie says:

    5 stars
    Loved the salad. Simple to make and great taste!

    1. Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says:

      Excellent news! Thanks, Kallie! ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. pat lefevre says:

    i’ve made this salad for years with a splash of vinegar, but not with tomatoes. i’ll add them today. sounds like a great addition
    pa

    1. Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says:

      Enjoy, Pat!!

  4. Olga Roth says:

    5 stars
    Love love love it! More Russian recipes, please!

    1. vikalinka says:

      Thank you, Olga! I’ve got quite a few Russian recipes on the blog. Please feel free to explore! ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Barbara says:

    can u make the dressing now keep it in the fridge and put it on when ur ready to eat the salad. Will the dressing last for a while.

    1. vikalinka says:

      Hi Barbara, this salad is dressed with just sour cream and salt, so no need for mixing anything up. Just scoop some sour cream from a tub and you are good to go! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Karen says:

    5 stars
    My garden is now giving me several English cucumbers and saw your recipe when looking for ideas. I didnโ€™t have green onions, so I used sliced red onion. I enjoyed it immensely even with the substitution.

    1. vikalinka says:

      It’s such a versatile salad, it’s also good if you add sliced radishes, Karen!

  7. Glenda Byrd says:

    Insead of green onions I slice very thinly a red onion. It is so good because the red onion is very crispy.

    1. vikalinka says:

      Sounds delicious, Glenda. The reason green onions are used in summer salads in Russia now is historical. Green onions were abundant in people’s gardens as opposed to the rest of the year when they turned red or white onions. It’s all about seasonal eating. ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Jim McGinley says:

    How do you keep the creamy when using tomatoes? I have found that when using tomatoes they turn creamy into thin soup.

    1. vikalinka says:

      That’s a good question, Jim. I always use full fat sour cream and I dress the salad right before serving. Ideally it should be eaten straight away, sadly this salad doesn’t keep too well.

  9. Liz Alexander says:

    5 stars
    I have had this recipe forever. When I first got married my husbandโ€™s BaBa gave it to me. The only difference is green onions, which the whole family loves and a couple drops of cider vinegar. Try it ! Itโ€™s amazing as well. Iโ€™ve been making it for over 45 years and yes in season is best. Thank you for sharing

    1. vikalinka says:

      It’s such a simple yet tasty salad, isn’t it Liz! Thanks for your comment. ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Lena says:

    Thank you. This one is our favorite too. Can’t wait until my tomatoes will ripen.

    1. vikalinka says:

      Oh homegrown tomatoes are the best, aren’t they! I hope yours won’t be long, Lena!