This Mediterranean Cucumber Salad is the best side salad to pair with any main dish.
Its refreshing flavor pairs well with any grilled food, seafood or can be served as a part of multiple appetizers.
Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
This is the base recipe for this simple cucumber salad, and you can customize it with all sorts of Mediterranean ingredients, such as olives, salty, creamy feta cubes, artichokes, hearts of palm, and so much more!
This is one of the best universal side salads along with this incredibly popular on this blog Marinated Cucumber Tomato And Onion Salad.
Ideal for summer barbecues, your favorite grilled chicken or meat and seafood. We love to serve this simple salad with Olive Garden Baked Ziti, Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole, and Farmer's Casserole.
There are many versions of this salad traditional greek salad, and I hope you enjoy my take on it.
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If you like fresh and easy salad recipes please take a look at my similar recipes such as Cabbage and Cucumber Salad With Dill and Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad.
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Ingredients
This salad requires all fresh ingredients that are essential in Mediterranean recipes.
Use fresh local farmer's market cucumbers and tomatoes whenever possible. You can easily substitute other ingredients such as fresh herbs with dried herbs, different oil and seasonings.
- Cucumbers - Dutch, English, and Persian cucumbers (usually more expensive)—are juicy and skin not bitter. They have thin skins, which makes them great for salad. For the creamy salad, I like to peel the skins anyway, as it just tastes better when soft and creamy.
- If you’re not sure, actually long cucumbers are usually not as watery inside and have decent flavor. Too much water and cucumber juice will ruin the flavor and make the dressing diluted and hence resulting in less flavor.
- Different Fresh Herbs - the essential ingredients that you can't miss when making an authentic Mediterranean-style salad. Parsley, mint, basil, marjoram, sage, and fennel are one of the few herbs that can be used in refreshing Mediterranean salads. And you can get away with at least just two of these (I used a parsley and mint combo). Cut mint chiffonade or simply finely chop the leaves. Mix it into the dressing. Don't like mint? Substitute with widely available fresh basil or cilantro.
- For healthy fats, I recommend using quality extra virgin olive oil (best for authentic Mediterranean flavor).
- Salt and black pepper.
- Lemon juice - gives that needed acidity, substitute with apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar. I also like to drizzle a little balsamic glaze over the salad in addition to the existing dressing.
Check the step-by-step photos below the recipe card.
Tips
- Cucumbers. Use either Garden pickling cucumbers, English cucumbers, or Persian cucumbers.
- For pickling cucumbers (small cucumbers), I prefer to peel the skins off as they can be bitter and hard to chew on, for English ones leave the skins on.
- I like this style of salad where all the ingredients are diced very small, this way you can enjoy all the ingredients together in one bite. Delicious! If you don’t have enough time, a good mandolin will work wonders! Slice or dice those cucumbers away, whatever shape you like.
- Cucumber seeds - should you remove the seeds from the cucumber for a salad? It really comes down to your personal preference. It also depends if the salad will be consumed right away after making it or will be enjoyed the following day. I would save time and keep the seeds, but make as much as you’d need to consume on the day.
- This being said if you come home and find the cucumber you bought is TOO WATERY, cut them in half lengthwise and discard the seeds, then slice them. Also if the skin is too thick and harsh (like it is with smaller garden cucumbers) you would want to peel it off for this salad.
- I also love to add some lettuce to the salad, about 3 cups of 50/50 mix of arugula, romaine, and/or spinach.
- To make this salad more nutritious I recommend adding chopped toasted nuts (pecans, walnut, almonds).
- How to make toasted nuts: Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven to 350 Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or until they become fragrant and golden brown. Nuts burn easily! Keep an eye on these all time, especially during the last minutes.
- Tomatoes - Depending on the size of the ripe tomatoes used, you can either cut them into quarters or in half. Grape tomatoes, sweet cherry tomatoes, and Roma tomatoes are ideal. But any larger tomatoes such as heirloom tomatoes are perfectly fine, small diced though. I also recommend those tips on handling and storing tomatoes correctly for juicy and ripe flavor.
- If possible, purchase tomatoes with stems on, this indicates more ''life'' in them. Plus it helps to retain the incredible aroma and flavor!
Freezing And Storing Instructions
- Store the leftover dressed salad in the fridge in an air-tight container and consume it within 1 day (same day).
- Undressed salad will taste fine if stored in the fridge for 1-2 days but for best results (and fresh flavor) I highly recommend combining everything right before serving.
- No freezing.
🍅 Have too many cherry tomatoes? Freeze them for later!
Easy Salad Recipes
For more easy gluten-free Fresh Salad recipes check out my SALAD as well as ALL APPETIZER recipe index here.
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Recipe Card
Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
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INGREDIENTS
Salad
- 2 large fresh cucumbers, diced, see notes (i didn’t remove the seeds, personal preference can do either)
- 2 cups diced tomato, I used small grape tomatoes
- ½ cup red onion or sweet white salad onion, chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 4 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, good quality
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh
- 1 teaspoon salt , or more to taste
- black pepper , to taste
Optional Add ons
- kalamata olives, green olives
- feta cheese
- bell peppers
INSTRUCTIONS
- Wash and cut all fresh veggies (tip: for best flavor chill the vegetables prior)
- If you want the salad to remain fresh longer you can remove the seeds from the tomato and cucumber but it is not necessary because I'd make as much as you'd consume on the day 1.
- Mix the salad dressing in a small bowl or mason jar.
- Place cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, mint, parsley in a large mixing bowl, toss in the dressing, and serve! Optional add ons include salty feta cheese, trio of olives, bell peppers, artichokes.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Instructions
Wash and cut all fresh veggies (tip: if your veggies are at room temperature, take the time to chill the vegetables before you start = better flavor!).
If you want the salad to remain fresh longer, you can remove the seeds from the tomato and cucumber, but it is not necessary because I'd make as much as you'd consume on day 1.
Mix the salad dressing in a small bowl or mason jar.
Place cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, mint, parsley in a large mixing bowl, toss in the dressing, adjust the seasoning and serve!
Optional add-ons include salty feta cheese, a trio of olives, bell peppers, and artichokes.
We like to serve this salad with our pasta dishes the most, such as creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta, Salmon Casserole or Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake.
Or chop it very fine and serve as a dip!
Common Readers Questions
You don’t need to peel the cucumbers for a salad, it is optional. But depends on the type of cucumbers used - Dutch, English, or Persian cucumbers have thin and not bitter skin that makes them perfect to use in salads.
Smaller, homegrown cucumbers can have thicker skin that is advisable to be removed but not necessarily 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 for a couple of days.
The cucumber skin is not poisonous itself however you do need to wash them with soapy water before use as you would with any vegetable or fruit bought from the store or market. Mass production retailers do use different methods for growing their produce so it is necessary to make sure no toxins or bacteria are left on a cucumber before you consume it.
Ronnie J
So when you say 'easy salad recipes', how easy are we talking? Everyone's version of easy is different. I've seen some that say 'easy' and you need like 20 ingredients.
EllieMay Clarkson
Loved the Mediterranean Cucumber Salad recipe, Julia! I threw in some olives and feta cheese from the optional add-ons and it turned out amazing. Anyone else tried adding avocado? Thinking it might be a nice creamy contrast to the cucumbers.
Leah E Marty
Just made this I can't wait to serve it to my husband with Italian grinder for dinner. I added yellow pepper. Tastes awesome! Will make it again!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you so much Leah, it's delicious with so many dishes!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
A delicious and super refreshing side salad for any main course!