FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

  • Why You’ll Love My Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
  • My Recipe Variations
  • Meal Prep Tips
  • Serving Suggestions
  • More Avocado Salad Recipes
  • Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad Recipe card
  • Recipe Reviews

This cucumber tomato avocado salad is a riff on the cucumber tomato salad I grew up eating, born from my Eastern European roots where hearty, non-leafy salads were the norm. For this version, I jazzed it up with creamy avocado — because everything is better with avocado in my book — plus a splash of lemon juice and fresh herbs. And even though I like my greens these days, this one has become one of my family’s favorite salad recipes over the years. Let’s make it together… and maybe it’ll be one of your family’s faves, too!

Why You’ll Love My Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

Maya in the kitchen. - 1
  • Creamy meets crunchy textures – Smooth avocado contrasts the crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes so well. I’m tempted to call this salad summer on a plate , but I’ll be honest, I make it all year.
  • Light, bright, and fresh flavor – A big pile of colorful veggies, a tangy lemon dressing, a generous shower of summery herbs… this is one of the most refreshing salads I’ve ever made.
  • Quick and easy – My cucumber tomato avocado salad is so simple. You can whip it up in just 15 minutes, with ingredients you probably have in your fridge. It’s my I-don’t-have-a-side-dish-ready side dish.
Maya's signature. - 2 Fresh cucumber tomato avocado salad sprinkled with fresh herbs. - 3

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my avocado cucumber tomato salad recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

  • Avocados – Make sure they are soft, but not overripe. My little trick to know they are not too ripe is to remove the little nub where the stem was – it should be green and not brown.
  • Tomatoes – I diced up Roma tomatoes this time, but you can use any kind you’ve got. My kids actually prefer my tomato cucumber avocado salad with grape or cherry tomatoes instead, which is a bit easier too since you just have to slice them in half.
  • Cucumbers – I used English cucumbers, cut into quarter moons because they are pretty large. Persian cucumbers taste even better. (See more of my tips for selecting cukes in my creamy cucumber salad post.)
  • Fresh Herbs – A sprinkle of fresh dill and parsley is just what these summer veggies need. Any fresh herbs you like will work great! Try chives, basil, or cilantro for different flavors.

Salad Dressing:

  • Olive Oil – The base of the dressing. Sometimes I use mild olive oil and other times extra virgin olive oil. Avocado oil works, too!
  • Lemon Juice – Adds zing and emulsifies the dressing. I love fresh-squeezed lemon juice here, but you can substitute any acidic ingredient, such as lime juice, balsamic vinegar, or red wine vinegar.
  • Garlic Powder – I keep it simple, but if you want more bite, crush a couple garlic cloves into the dressing instead.
  • Sea Salt & Black Pepper
Sliced avocados next to labeled bowls of cucumbers, tomatoes, dill, parsley, and dressing ingredients. - 4

How To Make Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

  1. Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
  2. Make the salad. In a large bowl, combine the avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, fresh dill, and fresh parsley.
  3. Combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Lemon dressing whisked together in a bowl. - 5 Tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados, and fresh herbs combined in a large bowl. - 6 Pouring the dressing over the salad. - 7 My Recipe Variations - 8

My Recipe Variations

  • Want to pack in more veggies? Sometimes I add thinly sliced red onions for a sharp bite, or bell peppers or shredded carrots for extra sweetness.
  • For a creamy contrast, add cheese! Parmesan, feta cheese, or goat cheese can all work well here depending on the flavors you like.
  • Prefer a sweeter dressing? My standalone lemon vinaigrette recipe is like a sweeter version of the one I used here. It goes perfectly in this tomato cucumber avocado salad when you want a hint of sweet.

Meal Prep Tips

I don’t recommend keeping leftovers for later, because the avocado turns brown, even with the acidic dressing, and the veggies get mushy. But, I do like to meal prep some components of this tomato cucumber avocado salad! You can dice up the tomatoes and cucumbers, and mix up the dressing ahead of time. Just keep them in separate containers in the fridge.

Tomato cucumber avocado salad on a plate with a fork. - 9

Serving Suggestions

Got that salad all mixed up and ready to go? Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve it up:

  • Chicken – Since this salad is so fresh and loaded with summer veggies, I like to make it when I grill chicken or chicken kabobs . During the cooler months, try it with my pan seared chicken breast , crispy air fryer chicken legs or baked chicken thighs .
  • Pork – Cucumber tomato avocado salad pairs beautifully with some grilled pork chops or baked pork chops . When I don’t have time for all that and still want juicy chops, air fryer pork chops are the way to go.
  • Seafood – My fave with this salad is pan seared salmon , because its lemon butter sauce works so well with these flavors. For a fresh meal outside, make my grilled salmon or shrimp skewers .
  • Eastern European Dishes – For a complete taste of Eastern Europe, serve my kielbasa and sauerkraut and comforting beet soup .

More Avocado Salad Recipes

Have more avocado to use up? Try one of my other avocado recipes below, or make my avocado brownies ! I also have a tutorial for freezing avocados , and love this avocado saver when I have just a half left.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

  • 1/4 cup Olive oil ▢
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Lemon juice ▢
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic powder ▢
  • 1/2 tsp Sea salt (to taste) ▢
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste) ▢
  • 2 large Avocados (~8 ounces each; halved, pitted, peeled, and cubed) ▢
  • 6 medium Tomatoes (cut into wedges or cubes) ▢
  • 2 cups English cucumbers (chopped) ▢
  • 3 tbsp Fresh dill (chopped) ▢
  • 3 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. (Alternatively, place in an airtight container and shake vigorously.)
  2. In a large bowl, combine the avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh dill, and fresh parsley.
  3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

Cucumber tomato avocado salad recipe pin - 10

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • The Basic Keto Meal Formula
  • Understanding Macros
  • Keto Food Swaps
  • Keto Food List
  • Electrolyte Basics
  • Keto Diet Types
  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 11

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Pick A ProteinPick A VeggieAdd Fat
Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder VenisonCauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama CeleryButter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Instead Of This…Eat This
PancakesAlmond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes
OatmealKeto oatmeal with hemp seeds
Cinnamon rollsFathead cinnamon rolls
CerealKeto nut granola
MuffinsAlmond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins
DonutsAlmond flour donuts
SconesAlmond flour scones
High-sugar smoothiesSmoothie with berries or avocado
Hash brownsCauliflower hash browns
Breakfast casseroleBreakfast casserole with no potatoes
Egg whitesWhole eggs
Turkey baconBacon
WafflesChaffles
Keto food swaps - breakfast - 12

Keto Swaps For Bread

Instead Of This…Eat This
BagelsFathead bagels
English muffinAlmond flour English muffin
White breadKeto white bread
Multigrain breadCoconut flour bread with seeds
Tortillas for wrapsCoconut flour tortillas
Corn taco shellsCheddar cheese taco shells
Burger bunsOopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps
BreadsticksCauliflower breadsticks
BiscuitsAlmond flour biscuits
CornbreadAlmond flour cornbread
CroutonsParmesan crisps
RiceCauliflower rice , konjac rice
Keto food swaps - bread and grains - 13

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Instead Of This…Eat This
Breaded wingsCrispy air fryer wings (unbreaded)
Low-fat meat & poultryHigh-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat
Mashed potatoesMashed cauliflower
Roasted potatoesRoasted or fried radishes
TacosTaco salad
PizzaFathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza
LasagnaEggplant lasagna
Potato saladCauliflower “potato” salad
French friesJicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries
Tater totsCauliflower tots
WrapsLettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas
SushiNaruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi
Breaded chicken or fishBreaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds
SpaghettiZoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles
Keto food swaps - meals and sides - 14

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Instead Of This…Eat This
NachosCheese crisps
High-sugar fruitBerries & other keto fruits
CrackersAlmond flour crackers
HummusCauliflower hummus
Soft pretzelsFathead pretzels
PopcornPuffed cheese
Granola barsGrain-free granola bars
JamSugar-free berry chia jam
Sweet fruity yogurtFull-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries
Sweet salad dressingRanch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette
KetchupMustard and/or sugar-free ketchup
BBQ sauceSugar-free BBQ sauce
Sweetened peanut butterNatural, sugar-free nut butters
Light mayoAvocado oil mayo
Maple syrupSugar-free, maple flavored syrup
Potato chipsZucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds
Keto food swaps - snacks and sauces - 15

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Instead Of This…Eat This
SugarMonk fruit or allulose
Powdered sugarPowdered monk fruit or allulose
White flourAlmond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes)
Making baked goods soft/chewyXanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder
BreadcrumbsPork rinds or almond flour
MargarineButter, coconut oil, or ghee
Vegetable oilOlive or avocado oil
BananasBanana extract
Chocolate chipsSugar-free chocolate chips
Cornstarch or flour rouxXanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end)
Simple syrupDissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat
Keto food swaps - baking and cooking - 16

Keto Swaps For Drinks

Instead Of This…Eat This
LemonadeWater with lemon
SodaFlavored sparkling water
MilkAlmond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream
LatteButter coffee
Coffee creamerHeavy cream
Sweet wineDry wine
BeerUltra light beer
Mixed drinksHard liquor with soda + lemon

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto food swaps - drinks - 17

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Keto foods to eat and avoid summary - 18

Foods To Eat On Keto

  • Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
  • Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
  • Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
  • Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
  • Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
  • Avocados
  • Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
  • Almond flour and coconut flour
  • Eggs
  • Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

  • White flour & sugar
  • Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
  • Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
  • Cereal
  • Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
  • Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
  • Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
  • Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
  • Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
  • Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 19

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

SodiumMagnesiumPotassium
Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts PicklesSeaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greensPotassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

  • Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
  • Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
  • Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
  • Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 20

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

Cucumber tomato avocado salad in a serving bowl with a wooden spoon. - 21

Whip up this quick, easy cucumber tomato avocado salad in just 15 minutes! Packed with fresh herbs, it’s the perfect healthy side dish.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/cucumber-tomato-avocado-salad/

Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad - 22 Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad - 23 Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad - 24

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp Sea salt (to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp Black pepper (to taste)
  • 2 large Avocados (~8 ounces each; halved, pitted, peeled, and cubed)
  • 6 medium Tomatoes (cut into wedges or cubes)
  • 2 cups English cucumbers (chopped)
  • 3 tbsp Fresh dill (chopped)
  • 3 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped)

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. (Alternatively, place in an airtight container and shake vigorously.)
  2. In a large bowl, combine the avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh dill, and fresh parsley.
  3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)