Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad with Celery

Fresh and light, this Italian tomato cucumber onion salad with celery is the perfect summer salad. Made with juicy ripe tomatoes and simply dressed with olive oil, oregano and basil. All you need to go along with it is freshy crusty bread to soak up the tasty juices!

This classic tomato cucumber onion salad, or pumadori cunzati as we call it, has a little twist to it. A Sicilian twist, I’d say, and this is due to the celery. Yes, tomato salad with celery!

The inner, lighter green colored tender stalks along with their leaves are finely chopped and tossed in. They add so much flavor to this otherwise simple salad.

So simple, however the flavor of this effortless salad is dependent on fresh and high quality ingredients: ripe, juicy tomatoes; sweet red onion; fragrant oregano and fresh basil and, of course, the best extra-virgin olive oil you can find!

With just one bite, I am transported back in time with the fondest memory of my dear zio Calogero tossing up a huge bowl of this salad. Each perfect ingredient was hand picked from his garden and meticulously prepared before added to the bowl.

I didn’t realize how Sicilian this tomato cucumber salad was until I traveled to Sicily and enjoyed the exact same dish at several of my relatives’ homes.

Dressing for tomato cucumber salad

Unlike most tomato cucumber salad recipes, this one is made without vinegar. The reason for this is that you want to dunk fresh bread in the delicious tomato juices that pool at the bottom of your salad bowl.

The fresh tomato flavor is best enjoyed without any interference from vinegar. In fact this step is a must, you can not let those precious juices go to waste!

Growing up this was my favorite part and not the actual salad itself.

Best tomatoes for tomato salad

Be sure to use only the freshest, ripe and juicy tomatoes for this salad.

I prepare this salad uniquely during the summer months with tomatoes from my garden or local farmer’s market for the best flavor. Those mealy, underripe tomatoes that you purchase during the winter months simply won’t do.

Juicy tomatoes such as heirloom; beefsteak or even cherry tomatoes work well in this recipe. You can also combine different varities of tomatoes.

I generally avoid thicker fleshed plum tomatoes which tend to be less juicy.

Ingredient list

• Tomatoes: I used heirloom tomatoes
• Cucumber: one thinly sliced Lebanese cucumber or cucumber of your choice
• Onion: I prefer red onions for their sweetness but any variety will do
• Celery: the tender inner stalks as well as the leaves
• Olive oil
• Fresh basil
• Dry oregano
• Salt, to taste

The following are step by step instructions with images to guide you through this recipe. Please scroll to the end of this post for the detailed printable recipe card.

Step by Step Instructions

Ingredient prep:

• Wash and slice the tomatoes; cucumber; celery and onion.

Assemble the salad

• Place all ingredients in a large salad bowl.
• Add olive oil; salt; oregano and basil leaves.
• Toss to coat all ingredients with olive oil.
• Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.
• Let the salad sit for a few minutes to allow the tomatoes to marinate. Serve at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

More summer salad recipe suggestions!

• Italian Rice Salad (insalata di riso)
• Italian Green Bean Salad
• Kale Salad with Apples, Walnuts, Cranberries and Feta
• Italian Potato Salad with Roasted Peppers and Tomatoes
• Grilled Tuna and White Bean Salad
• Caprese Pasta Salad with Pesto