Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad with Basil Pesto - Healthy, Mediterranean recipe with lots of fresh vegetables. This recipe uses just a few ingredients, it's easy to make, and the salad looks beautiful on the table for so little effort. Use both red and yellow cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes) to add colors!
I love basil pesto. I've used it in so many dinner recipes, like in this pesto chicken and mushroom pasta or this shrimp pesto pasta, or pesto chicken and veggies. The basil pesto makes the simplest of the recipes taste so good. Just like this avocado salad. I pretty much use the basil pesto as the salad dressing here, because the pesto already has olive oil. I just add a little bit of lemon juice, salt and pepper, and that's it! The salad is ready.
I used to make my own basil pesto all the time but these days there are so many good store-made pesto sauces, that I just buy one in the store and use it with my favorite recipes.
If you look at the ingredients list in this avocado salad, there are very few ingredients. But, the salad look super colorful and refreshing because I am combining both red and yellow cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes), avocados, cucumber and then mixing everything with the basil pesto.
This avocado salad is packed with nutrients and flavor!
Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad with Basil Pesto
Ingredients
- ½ pound red cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ pound yellow cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 avocados , diced
- 1 cucumber , sliced
- ⅓ cup red onion , diced
- ¼ cup basil pesto
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine halved red and yellow cherry or grape tomatoes, diced avocado, sliced cucumber, diced red onion.
- Add basil pesto and lemon juice to the salad and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Use more basil pesto, if desired.
- Want to make basil pesto from scratch? Here is the best, the most flavorful, and the creamiest 20-Minute Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Good salad but if you’re using the avocados they disintegrate after a day of being in the salad. I was disappointed since I love avocados.
Could I add sweet peas and corn off the cob? Not sure how it would taste with pesto
I’m making on Palm Sunday
Thank you
I am making for Easter. I bought sweet English peas. Would love to know how yours turned out.
I was looking for a different cucumber and tomato salad tonight. I had tiny cherry tomatoes and pickling cucumbers and red onions from the end of this year’s garden. I also have Pesto that I made from my abundant basil plants. I’ve made pesto for years and I’d never used it on a salad! We loved this salad! Everything in it was from our garden except for the avocados! This recipe is definitely a new favorite..
Sharon!! I’m envious of your abundant basil plants.. I’ve been trying for years to sustain a healthy plant with plentiful leaves to pick without success, they always harden... I’d love to know how you do it!!!
The lemon zest is an excellent addition. For future reference, I will make only The volume that will be eaten that day. Delicious on the 1st day, but didn’t hold up well on day 2. ( lots of water in cucumbers)
My family loved this salad, I just used balsamic and olive oil, salt and pepper and fresh chopped basil. Yum
Can I add bell peppers as well to this recipe
Thanks
Yes, you can - they will taste delicious in this salad!
Will make this salad for our Thanksgiving get together,
Enjoy!
How many servings per recipe please?
This recipe makes 6 servings.
How long will this keep in the refrigerator for weekday lunches?
Thx for a good recipe, I was looking for a recipe to use my home made basil pesto
You are very welcome! Homemade basil pesto sounds so good! I used to make it all the time.
What specific basil pesto dressing do you use? If I can't find it at the store, how do you make it?
I bought a basil pesto sauce at Whole Foods. Here is a good and simple recipe for basil pesto: https://www.cookingclassy.com/pesto-how-to-make-beautifully-green-pesto/
This salad looks delicious! Any idea how it holds up if made 4 or 5 hours ahead of time?
This salad would be just fine if made 4 or 5 hours ahead of time.
OK... I do not understand what and when you cook for 10 minutes...
Do you cook it when all vegetables are put together?
Thanks
There is no need to cook anything for 10 minutes. I just removed the mention of "10 minutes cook time" to avoid confusion.
Exactly what I need after Easter festive meals ! Thank you 1
This looks amazing - and makes me want to run out and get the ingredients for lunch tomorrow!
Thank you!