This Panera Tomato Basil Cucumber Salad Copycat captures the best of summer with its vibrant colors and refreshing tastes.

With just a handful of fresh ingredients and a simple dressing, you’ll be able to enjoy this delicious salad in the comfort of your own kitchen.

If you’re watching your waistline, Tomato Basil Cucumber Salad is one of those salads that makes sticking to a diet easy! It’s low in carbs and full of textures and flavors that are sure to cure all the cravings.

Why You’ll Love Tomato Basil Cucumber Salad

• Garden Fresh Ingredients: This Tomato Cucumber Salad includes ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and aromatic basil, all of which contribute to its delicious flavor. I harvested these ingredients from my garden in the morning and used them in the salad in the afternoon.
• Refreshing and Light: The combination of tomatoes and cucumbers provides a juicy and hydrating element, while the basil adds a fragrant, herbaceous note. It’s perfect for a warm day or when you’re craving a healthier, lighter meal.
• Balanced Flavors: The flavors in this salad are well-balanced. The sweetness of the tomatoes complements the crispness of the cucumbers, and the basil adds a slightly peppery, aromatic flair to the salad. The dressing ties everything together with a tangy and slightly sweet flavor.
• Nutrient-Rich: Tomatoes and cucumbers are both rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin C and potassium. They are also low in calories, making this salad a nutritious and low-carb choice.
• Customizable: You can adjust the ingredients in this salad to your taste. If you like more or less of a certain ingredient or prefer a different dressing, you can simply make substitutions.
• Pairs Well: This salad can be a great side dish or a light meal on its own, but it also pairs well with many main dishes, like Easy Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken, Easy Instant Pot Shredded Beef, or Instant Pot Creamy Ham and Tortellini Soup.

Ingredients to make Panera Tomato Basil Cucumber Salad:

• Fresh produce: When it comes to the produce in this recipe, the fresher it is, the better. These ingredients are easily grown in your own garden and available at Farmer’s Markets in the summer months.

Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing Ingredients:

• Olive oil and vinegar: These are the staples of any homemade vinaigrette. In this case, red wine vinegar gives the dressing a tang while the olive oil smoothes out the flavor profile.
• Seasonings: The recipe calls for 1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper, but you can increase or decrease the amount to suit your taste preferences. The garlic is optional, but you can also substitute garlic powder or garlic salt.

How to Make Copycat Panera Tomato Salad:

Start by washing the cucumbers and grape tomatoes under cool running water. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.

Cut the cucumbers into 1/4 inch rounds. You can also first slice the cucumber lengthwise and make 1/4-inch half moons for smaller pieces. If you prefer a milder flavor, you can peel the cucumbers beforehand.

Slice the tomatoes in half. (See below for the easiest way to do this.)

Slice the onions to about 1/8 of an inch thick. You can leave them longer, but I like to dice them so that I have a little bit of the flavor in each bite. Red onion gives the salad a gorgeous color contrast and a sweeter flavor, but you can use any onion that you’d like.

Take a handful of fresh basil leaves and stack them on top of each other. Roll them tightly into a cylinder, then slice across the roll to create delicate ribbons of basil.

In a large bowl, combine the sliced cucumbers, halved grape tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and the basil ribbons. Gently toss the ingredients together, ensuring an even distribution of flavors and colors.

To complete the Copycat Panera Tomato Basil Salad, we need the perfect dressing – a tangy and vibrant Red Wine Vinaigrette. Here’s how to whisk up this delightful dressing:

In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard until well combined.

Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while whisking continuously to emulsify the dressing.

Season the dressing with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences. Remember, a pinch of salt can elevate the flavors.

Give the dressing a final whisk to ensure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.

Drizzle over the salad. Toss gently to combine.

Whether enjoyed as a light lunch, a side dish, or a potluck favorite, this salad is sure to impress your taste buds and leave you craving for more. So, gather the ingredients, follow the steps, and indulge in this delicious salad that brings the flavors of Panera right to your own table!

The best thing about bringing this salad to someone else’s barbecue is that you know you’ll have something diet-friendly to eat. It’s usually a big hit for anyone whether they’re on a diet or not, so why not be sure that you don’t leave hungry? Bring Tomato Basil Cucumber Salad, make the hostess happy, and give yourself a delicious meal. Win win!

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Tools Needed to make a Panera Tomato Basil Cucumber Salad Copycat:

paring knife
wooden spoon
measuring spoons
cutting board

How to easily slice grape tomatoes:

First, grab two plates or lids. I use the lids from Chinese food containers. Place the tomatoes in between the lids like a sandwich.

While firmly holding the tomatoes down with the top lid, carefully slice through the tomatoes in between. Boom. You now have perfectly sliced tomatoes with less work!

Questions People Ask about Panera Tomato Cucumber Salad:

For more salad recipes, check out my side dish category! You’ll find all kinds of different salads there, and some homemade dressings too! My absolute favorite salad is the Loaded Iceberg Wedge salad. It’s made with creamy dreamy homemade blue cheese dressing! You’ll also love this Dairy-free Caesar salad (no egg) with homemade dressing!

If you made this recipe, share it in our Facebook group – The Moody Blonde – Cooking Tips and Easy Recipes! We’d love to hear how you liked it!

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