Discover the perfect balance of sweet and savory with this Cucumber Strawberry Salad, a vibrant and refreshing dish ideal for any occasion. This recipe offers a quick and easy way to elevate your meals with wholesome ingredients.
Key Ingredients for Cucumber Strawberry Salad
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion (optional, for a little bite)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional, for a salty tang)
- For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (for vegan option)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
How to Make Cucumber Strawberry Salad
This Cucumber Strawberry Salad is a culinary delight that’s incredibly easy to prepare, making it a weeknight savior and a crowd-pleaser. Its refreshing simplicity, bursting with the natural sweetness of strawberries and the crispness of cucumbers, is truly satisfying. The optional creamy feta and fragrant herbs add layers of flavor that elevate this dish beyond a simple side. You can whip up this delightful salad in just 15 minutes, perfect for those busy days.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Strawberries and Cucumbers: Begin by thoroughly washing your fresh strawberries. Carefully remove the green hulls and then quarter them. If your strawberries are particularly large, you might want to slice them in half after quartering for a more bite-sized piece. Next, wash the cucumbers and slice them thinly. You can leave the skin on for added texture and nutrients, or peel them if you prefer a smoother finish. If you’re using English cucumbers, you can often skip the peeling altogether.
Add the Aromatics (Optional): If you enjoy a little zing, now is the time to prepare the red onion. Slice it very thinly; you can even use a mandoline for uniform, delicate slices. For a milder onion flavor, you can soak the sliced red onion in ice water for about 10 minutes, then drain thoroughly before adding it to the salad. This step is entirely optional, but it adds a wonderful depth of flavor for those who love it.
Incorporate the Fresh Herbs: Gently wash and pat dry your fresh mint and basil. Finely chop the herbs. The vibrant aroma of fresh mint and basil will infuse the salad with a summery essence. Add the chopped mint and basil to the bowl with the prepared strawberries and cucumbers.
Make the Balsamic Dressing: In a small bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine all the dressing ingredients: the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, and Dijon mustard. Whisk vigorously or shake the jar until the dressing is well emulsified and the ingredients are thoroughly combined. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste. You can adjust the sweetness or tanginess by adding a little more honey or vinegar.
Combine and Toss: In a large salad bowl, gently combine the sliced strawberries, cucumbers, and optional red onion. If you’re using feta cheese, sprinkle the crumbled feta over the ingredients at this stage. Pour the prepared balsamic dressing over the salad. Gently toss everything together until all the ingredients are lightly coated with the dressing. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can bruise the strawberries.
Serve Immediately: For the best flavor and texture, serve your Cucumber Strawberry Salad immediately after tossing. This allows the ingredients to meld beautifully without becoming soggy.
Why You’ll Love This Cucumber Strawberry Salad
Get ready to fall in love with the refreshing simplicity of this Cucumber Strawberry Salad! Its star feature is the incredible contrast between the sweet, juicy strawberries and the cool, crisp cucumbers, all brought together with a bright and tangy balsamic vinaigrette. This salad is not only a treat for your taste buds but also your wallet; making it at home is significantly more cost-effective than buying pre-made salads from the store, allowing you to enjoy fresh, seasonal ingredients without breaking the bank. The addition of fragrant mint, basil, and optional creamy feta cheese provides a sophisticated flavor profile that truly makes this dish special, offering a delightful twist on classic fruit and vegetable pairings.
This vibrant salad is a fantastic alternative to heavier green salads, offering a burst of freshness that’s perfect for picnics, barbecues, or a light lunch. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the flavors of summer and truly showcases how simple, wholesome ingredients can create something extraordinary. Don’t just take our word for it – give this Cucumber Strawberry Salad a try at home and experience its amazing taste and versatility for yourself!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing Leftovers:
This Cucumber Strawberry Salad is best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers for a short period.
- Refrigeration: Store any uneaten salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will typically stay fresh for 1-2 days. However, the cucumbers might soften slightly over time, and the strawberries can become a bit mushy.
- Dressing Separately: For optimal freshness, consider storing the salad ingredients and the dressing separately. If you do this, you can toss the salad with the dressing just before serving, even the next day.
Reheating:
This salad is best served chilled and is not meant to be reheated. The flavors are at their peak when the ingredients are fresh and cool. If you find your salad has become a bit watery after being refrigerated, you can gently drain off any excess liquid before serving.
Freezing:
Due to the high water content of cucumbers and strawberries, this salad is not suitable for freezing. Freezing will alter the texture significantly, resulting in a mushy and unappealing consistency upon thawing.
Final Thoughts
This Cucumber Strawberry Salad is a testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly remarkable. Its refreshing taste and ease of preparation make it an absolute must-try for anyone seeking a light and flavorful dish. We encourage you to whip up this delightful salad and enjoy the burst of fresh, vibrant flavors it offers!
Cucumber Strawberry Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Begin by thoroughly washing your fresh strawberries. Carefully remove the green hulls and then quarter them. If your strawberries are particularly large, you might want to slice them in half after quartering for a more bite-sized piece. Next, wash the cucumbers and slice them thinly. You can leave the skin on for added texture and nutrients, or peel them if you prefer a smoother finish. If you’re using English cucumbers, you can often skip the peeling altogether.1 pound fresh strawberries, 2 large cucumbers
- If you enjoy a little zing, now is the time to prepare the red onion. Slice it very thinly; you can even use a mandoline for uniform, delicate slices. For a milder onion flavor, you can soak the sliced red onion in ice water for about 10 minutes, then drain thoroughly before adding it to the salad. This step is entirely optional, but it adds a wonderful depth of flavor for those who love it.1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- Gently wash and pat dry your fresh mint and basil. Finely chop the herbs. The vibrant aroma of fresh mint and basil will infuse the salad with a summery essence. Add the chopped mint and basil to the bowl with the prepared strawberries and cucumbers.1/4 cup chopped fresh mint, 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, 1 pound fresh strawberries, 2 large cucumbers
- In a small bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine all the dressing ingredients: the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, and Dijon mustard. Whisk vigorously or shake the jar until the dressing is well emulsified and the ingredients are thoroughly combined. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste. You can adjust the sweetness or tanginess by adding a little more honey or vinegar.1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, to taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- In a large salad bowl, gently combine the sliced strawberries, cucumbers, and optional red onion. If you’re using feta cheese, sprinkle the crumbled feta over the ingredients at this stage. Pour the prepared balsamic dressing over the salad. Gently toss everything together until all the ingredients are lightly coated with the dressing. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can bruise the strawberries.1 pound fresh strawberries, 2 large cucumbers, 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion, 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, to taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- For the best flavor and texture, serve your Cucumber Strawberry Salad immediately after tossing. This allows the ingredients to meld beautifully without becoming soggy.