Strawberry Cucumber Salad is a vibrant, simple, and refreshing summer salad. Fresh strawberries burst with sweet, juicy flavor, cucumbers give their signature refreshing crunch, topped with lime honey vinaigrette and mint.
Simple 6 ingredient salad!
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Cucumber Strawberry Salad
This simple recipe has about 3-4 servings as a smaller side dish. Or add protein for a wholesome lunch meal prep meal.
We love refreshing salads and over time I've shared with you my popular Watermelon Strawberry Salad, and sweet and salty Spinach Strawberry Salad With Feta.
Ingredients
It's a light meal with preferably seasonal produce (by the way, it makes a whole lot of difference in terms of taste!) that is bursting with nutrients!
- Strawberries are not only a strong carrier of iron but they act as an active iron absorber. Most of the berries are a naturally good source of vitamin C which helps to absorb non-heme iron. Slice the strawberries in quarters or into thinner slices.
- Cucumber - I get small types of cucumbers from my local farmer's market that have strong cucumber flavors and are not watery at all. Smaller, homegrown cucumbers can have thicker skin that is advisable to be removed but not necessary as well.
- This is difficult to find, but if you have your trusted source, you know what to look for. Usually, for salads, the best suitable cucumbers are Dutch, Persian, and English Cucumber. These have very less or almost no bitterness to them and have smooth skins.
- If you're not sure, long cucumbers are usually not as watery inside and have decent flavor. Too much water and cucumber juice will ruin the flavor, dilute the dressing, and, hence, result in less flavor.
- Lime Honey Vinaigrette - sweet and refreshing salad dressing that works best when pairing both refreshing fruits and vegetables for a salad. These two need balancing ingredients - refreshing mint. Cut mint chiffonade or simply finely chop the leaves. Mix it into the dressing. Don't like mint? Substitute with fresh basil or cilantro.
- Dressing substitutions - If you want to stretch this dressing further and make it creamy, add a little nonflavored greek yogurt (about ½ cup) to it or use my other salad dressings such as Creamy Strawberry Poppy Seed Dressing or my Greek Yogurt Dressing.
- Honey has a sweetening effect but you can barely feel its flavor. Maple syrup is also great with cucumbers and strawberries but it has a more intense caramel flavor.
I'd also recommend getting your fresh ingredients from a local farmer's market (where you get far the BEST strawberries by the way!). This way you get fresh produce and more healthy stuff.
How To Make Cucumber Strawberry Salad
- Mix the dressing in a small bowl or a tightly sealed mason jar. Stir/shake well until all combined.
- Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, add cucumbers and strawberries.
- Drizzle with the dressing (assess the amount of the dressing; we want this salad to be tossed lightly without the ingredients swimming in the liquid), and serve the salad with the remaining dressing on the side or keep it in the fridge for later.
- Season with salt and pepper (you only need a little, but it enhances all the flavors!), top with fresh mint, and serve immediately.
Tips
- If cucumbers are too watery, cut them in half lengthwise and spoon out the seeds, then slice them. Also, if the skin is too thick and harsh (which happens with smaller cucumbers), you would want to peel it off for this salad.
- You can use my simple lime honey dressing provided in this recipe but if you want something more special you can't miss my Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Dressing! It has!
- I also love to add some lettuce to the salad, about 3 cups of 50/50 mix of arugula and spinach.
- Just like in my arugula salad I love adding toasted nuts (pecans, walnut, almonds). How to toasted nuts: Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven to 350 Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or until they become fragrant and golden brown. These will burn quickly, so make sure to keep an eye on the nuts, especially during the last minutes.
- To make this salad into a more substantial meal, top it up with grilled shrimp or chicken. Any cooked gluten-free grains are a big plus (think quinoa, gluten-free couscous, gluten-free croutons (especially with parmesan), toasted nuts, and seeds.
- Chill the ingredients - For the best flavor, keep the strawberries and cucumbers in the fridge before cutting. This fresh cucumber strawberry salad does honestly taste better when the ingredients are chilled.
- Serving the salad. Combine all the ingredients and dress only before serving. The juices from the strawberry and cucumber will be released so we don't want the salad to stand out for long and become too watery.
Don't Throw Away the Strawberry Tops
Store strawberry tops in an airtight container: Keep in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for a few months. Use them in:
- Add strawberry tops for infused water or spirits.
- Add the tops to smoothies.
Storing Instructions
- Store the leftover dressed salad in the fridge and consume it within 1 day (same day). Undressed salad will taste fine if stored in the fridge for 1 day but for best results (and fresh flavor) I highly recommend combining everything right before serving.
- Make ahead. Salad dressing can be mixed in advance for up to 4-5 days. I use these glass meal prep containers to store leftovers - they keep everything fresh for days.
Why is My Cucumber Salad Watery?
If your cucumber salad is watery, it's likely because cucumbers have a lot of water. To fix it, drain the cucumbers well after salting or use a less watery dressing.
Variations
- Take it to the next level by adding some seeds and nuts! Candied walnuts or pecans work very well with fruit and vegetable salads.
- Fill it up! To add creaminess and a little salty flavor, goat cheese and feta cheese work well too.
- Bulk up! Romaine lettuce, spinach, arugula, and butter lettuce add a whole different feel to this salad.
- If you don't love lime, swap it with lime or apple cider vinaigrette.
- As this is a cold salad, and you are adding grains to it, please make sure to cool them completely before mixing them into the salad.
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Recipe Card
Cucumber Strawberry Salad (Just 6 Ingredients)
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare the dressing by mixing it in a small bowl or a tightly sealed mason jar. Stir/shake well until all combined.1 ½ tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 ½ teaspoon fresh mint + more for garnish
- Assemble the salad. In a large bowl add cucumbers and strawberries. Drizzle with the dressing (assess the amount of the dressing, we want this salad to be tossed in the dressing lightly without the ingredients swimming in the liquid), serve the salad with the remaining dressing on the side or keep it in the fridge for later.1 ½ cup strawberries, 2 cups sliced cucumber
- Season the salad with salt and pepper (you only need a little but it enhances all the flavors!), top with more fresh mint and serve right away.
Nutrition
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Cucumber Strawberry Salad: FAQs
You don't need to peel the cucumbers for a salad; it is optional. However, it depends on the type of cucumbers used. Dutch, English, or Persian cucumbers have thin and not bitter skins that make them perfect for salads.
Smaller, homegrown cucumbers can have thicker skin that is advisable to be removed but not necessary as well.
The best way to have the freshest cucumbers for consumption is to wash and cut them right before you are going to eat them.
Whole cucumbers will remain fresh for a week or two in the fridge; however, sliced cucumbers only last a couple of days.
The cucumber skin is not poisonous; however, you need to wash it with soapy water before use as you would with any vegetable or fruit bought from the store or market.
Mass-production retailers use different methods for growing their produce, so it is necessary to ensure that no toxins or bacteria are left on a cucumber before you consume it.
Can you slice strawberries ahead of time?
Yes and no. If you are going to consume the salad on the same day as slicing the fruit, then I'd say yes, go for it.
But pack the berries properly in an airtight container and store them in the fridge.
Yes, cucumber and strawberries can go together in a salad or as a refreshing combination.
The crispness of cucumber complements the sweetness of strawberries, creating a delightful contrast of flavors and textures.
Soaking cucumbers in salt water before making cucumber salad helps draw out excess moisture from the cucumbers.
This prevents the salad from becoming too watery and ensures a better texture.
If yu plan to consume the salad right away, you can skip salting the cucumbers.
It's up to you whether to peel cucumbers for salads. Some people like the crunch and color of unpeeled cucumbers, while others find the peel bitter or tough.
To prevent cucumbers from becoming soggy:
1. Use Fresh Cucumbers: Choose firm cucumbers that feel heavy for their size.
2. Remove Seeds and Pulp: These parts contain a lot of moisture, so removing them can help prevent fogginess.
3. Salt and Drain: Sprinkle salt over sliced cucumbers and let them sit for about 10-15 minutes. Then, drain off the excess liquid before using them in your salad.
4. Serve Immediately: If making a salad, toss the cucumbers with the dressing just before serving to minimize moisture release.
Slimy cucumbers in your salad may be due to overripe or old cucumbers. Always use fresh, firm cucumbers to avoid this.
If your cucumber salad tastes bitter, it might be because of the cucumber variety or its skin.
Try using sweeter cucumbers or peeling them before adding to your salad.
Easy Summer Salad Recipes
For more easy gluten-free Fresh Salad recipes check out my SALAD as well as ALL APPETIZER recipe index here.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
What a great way to use those leftover berries this season!