This strawberry cucumber salad is light and refreshing, making it the perfect dish to enjoy throughout spring & summer! Loaded with fresh mint, feta and avocado, it's healthy, satisfying and packed with flavor.
Similar to other fruit salads like this blueberry cucumber salad and watermelon cucumber salad, this strawberry cucumber salad is a simple recipe made with fresh ingredients and fresh produce. It's the perfect option for meal prep or gatherings, as it can easily be made ahead of time.
This is a perfect salad to enjoy throughout summer, whether it's on it's own as a meal or served as a side salad paired with a quinoa burger at your next picnic or barbecue.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- It's quick and easy to make! You just need to toss everything together in one bowl and it's ready to eat in under 10 minutes.
- This cucumber strawberry salad recipe is refreshing & light yet packed with flavor!
- It's versatile! Serve this on its own as a light lunch, as the perfect side dish at a BBQ, or add your own twist by changing out the strawberries or throwing in different herbs and veggies.
Equipment
Luckily, because salads are naturally so simple to make, you don't need any special equipment. All you'll need are:
- Mixing bowls: one small mixing bowl to make the dressing in and one large bowl to toss the salad in
- Cutting board & chef's knife
- Whisk: for the dressing
Ingredients
- Strawberries: the star of the show, seriously! I recommend using fresh, juicy strawberries, as they add the best texture and flavor. Frozen strawberries that have been thawed usually have a mushier texture and don't hold up well in a salad.
- Fresh Cucumber: any cucumbers will work in this recipe! I typically use mini cucumbers, seedless cucumbers, persian cucumbers or english cucumbers.
- Red Onion: just a little bit for added color and nutrients.
- Avocado: for some healthy fats, creamy texture and to ensure this salad is filling and satisfying.
- Feta Cheese: this will help to cut the sweetness from the strawberries and add a nice tang to the salad. I used Violife's dairy-free feta but if you're not dairy-free, goat cheese would be a great alternative.
- Fresh Mint: mint will help to add even more flavor and freshness to the salad. You can use any fresh herbs you prefer!
- Homemade Dressing: we'll be making a simple dressing that consists of olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, maple syrup and sea salt & pepper. You can also use store bought salad dressings of your choice.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Variations & Substitutions
- Serve with a different dressing. Dressings play a big role in a salads overall flavor, so if you have a dressing you swear by, use it! Even a simple balsamic glaze is also delicious.
- Make this a seriously substantial meal by adding your favorite proteins and grains. Feel free to round out this salad by adding beans (I recommend chickpeas or white beans), hemp seeds, tofu, tempeh, nuts (I recommend walnuts or slivered almonds), or, if you're not vegan, some chicken or shrimp. Quinoa or couscous are also a great addition to round out this salad, just make sure they're cooled before tossing them in.
- Add more berries! Blackberries, blueberries, or raspberries would be a great addition to this salad.
- Add some greens. Spinach, arugula, romaine lettuce, or spring mix would all be a great addition to this salad.
This recipe has not been tested with any other substitutions or variations than the ones listed above. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Instructions
There's no cooking involved with this fresh summer salad, so the step-by-step instructions couldn't be more simple:
Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, salt and pepper until combined.
Step 2: Combine cucumbers, strawberries, avocado, red onion, feta and mint in a large bowl. Either keep the dressing on the side or drizzle desired amount onto the salad, tossing once more to combine.
Serve in a serving bowl as a meal or multiple side salads and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use fresh strawberries for the best flavor and texture! Frozen strawberries are frozen when perfectly ripe but they will defrost on top of the salad making it watery and ultimately separating the oil based dressing from the salad ingredients.
- Serve the dressing on the side. Aside from being able to control how much or how little dressing goes on your salad, this is better for storage purposes if there are any leftovers so the strawberries don't start to break down.
- Keep the ingredients chilled for the best flavor.
How to Store
Refrigerator: Make this salad ahead of time or store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend keeping the salad and the vinaigrette in separate airtight containers. When ready to serve, drizzle with desired amount of dressing and give it a quick toss. Extra dressing will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 7-10 days.
Freezer: I do not recommend freezing this dish.
FAQ
If you're eating the salad right away, you should have no problem with the cucumbers staying crispy! But if you're prepping the salad ahead of time or just want super crisp cucumber chunks, place the cucumber slices or chunks in a colander in the sink. Sprinkle them with a bit of salt (¼ to ½ teaspoon), toss to coat, and let them rest for about 15 minutes to draw out excess water. Pat them dry with a paper towel and proceed with the recipe.
I recommend peeling cucumbers that have a waxy coating or thicker skin. The skin of mini cucumbers or seedless cucumbers don't typically need to be peeled (unless you want to).
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📖 Recipe
Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Equipment
- Salad Bowl
Ingredients
Salad:
- 1 lb strawberries halved or quartered
- 2 mini cucumbers sliced or chopped
- 1 avocado cubed
- ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup feta cheese
- ¼ cup fresh mint chopped
Salad Dressing:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until combined.⅓ cup olive oil, 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, salt & pepper
- In a salad bowl or large mixing bowl, add all of the salad ingredients and toss until combined. Drizzle with as much dressing as desired and toss once more.1 lb strawberries, 2 mini cucumbers, 1 avocado, ½ cup red onion, ¼ cup feta cheese, ¼ cup fresh mint
Allie Hagerty says
This salad is sooo good! The feta cheese adds a nice salty element!
Lauren Casolaro says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! The feta is my favorite part lol
Jess says
The perfect summer salad! What a great way to use up your strawberries and cucumbers before they go bad
Lauren Casolaro says
Totally agree!