When the weather gets warm, it’s hard to resist the allure of a classic summer cucumber salad.
Seasonal bonus: Any of these cucumber salads would be a great accompaniment to a summer-cookout spread.
The red onion adds nice crunch.
Photo: Photographer / Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke, Food Stylist / Ruth Blackburn
Enjoy this salad right after you’re done making it or store it away to snack on later.
Serve alongside grilled fish or chicken for a refreshing side dish.
If you like a little heat, adding jalapeno will give you the kick you crave.
Kelsey Hansen
While packs of prechopped pineapple are convenient, they’re almost always more expensive.
When pineapple is in season, it’s best to buy fresh and chop it yourself.
Look for a pineapple with a golden-yellow exterior, which is a good indicator of ripeness.
If the cucumbers are grated instead of chopped, this mixture can be served as a dip.
The heat from jalapenos can vary widely.
For those that like the heat, use a whole jalapeno.
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Serve with tortilla chips on the side.
Fresh cucumber and juicy ripe tomatoes are all you oughta really make this salad shine.
Marinating cucumbers and tomatoes in vinegar with a touch of lemon zest infuses the dish with tangy citrus flavor.
Cucumber Pasta Salad
This light and tangy cucumber pasta salad is fresh and bright.
This easy salad is perfect for a warm day or to serve as a lunch dish for company!
For a fruitier flavor, try apple-cider vinegar in place of white distilled vinegar.
Greg DuPree
(Recipe adapted from Zooba Restaurant.)
Cucumber & Avocado Salad
This healthy cucumber-avocado salad takes just five minutes to prep.
This recipe calls for an English cucumber, which doesn’t have to be peeled.
But regular cucumbers work well toojust peel them before slicing.
Choose a fairly firm avocado so it holds its shape in the salad.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
This creamy cucumber salad is an easy side dish for any summer BBQ.
Bright dill and white-wine vinegar add fresh tartness to cucumbers and red onions.
Enjoy this salad the day you prepare it so the ingredients don’t turn watery.
So plan for at least an hour of marinating time before serving.
Fresh basil elevates an easy vinaigrette recipe that dresses up this simple salad into something extraordinary.
Serve this smashed cucumber salad at a summer cookout alongside burgers and hot dogs.
Serve with sweet dishes like barbecue to lend a refreshing balance.
Want to make it a meal?
Just add grilled chicken, shrimp or canned chickpeas.
Look for preserved lemons at specialty-foods stores.
Andrea Mathis, M.A., R.D.N., L.D.
