• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Peel with Zeal

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • GF Resources
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • GF Resources
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Gluten-Free Sauces and Salad Dressings

    Published: Sep 7, 2020 · Modified: Jun 9, 2022 by Jen Wooster

    Cucumber Chutney

    571 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe
    green cucumber chutney recipe for pinterest

    The simplest recipes are the best. And this spicy cucumber chutney is no exception. With Caribbean roots, this chutney comes together in just minutes and is gluten-free and vegan.

    Perfect as a topping on grilled vegetables and meats, like our blackened cod. Serve with flatbreads or as a stand-alone side dish.

    cucumber chutney in bowl on cutting board
    cucumber chutney

    Please read the entire post for tips and tricks to ensure a perfect recipe every time. And don't forget to tag @peelwithzeal on Instagram so we can admire your creation!

    This post may include affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to:
    • 🧾Ingredients and Substitutions
    • ⏲️How to Make Cucumber Chutney
    • 🥘How to Serve Caribbean Chutneys
    • 🥗Cucumber Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Cucumber Chutney
    • ⭐Reviews

    🧾Ingredients and Substitutions

    This recipe is very straightforward and quick to make. But there are some substitutions so that you can vary the spice and adapt to what is available at your local grocery store.

    trini chutney ingredient chart
    • English Cucumber- Seedless varieties work best for this chutney. If you can only get standard cucumbers cut them in half and scrape out the bulk of the seeds before shredding.
    • Habanero Pepper- Other possible chili substitutes include a serrano, scotch bonnet, bird's eye chile, or Thai chili.  Not a fan of spice? Use 1 tablespoon of chopped roasted red pepper.

    • Lime- Fresh lime or fresh lemon.
    • Cilantro- I wrote this recipe using cilantro because it is easy to find and taste similar to the herb used in authentic cucumber chutney. Traditionally, cucumber chutney uses chadon beni, also called culantro and shado beni. Chadon beni is an herb with long thin leaves common in East Indian cooking. It is similar in flavor to cilantro but more pungent. It can be found at many international supermarkets. If you can get your hands on some only use 1 to 2 tablespoons. You need about half the amount of chadon beni as you do cilantro, it has a much stronger flavor.

    This recipe has some heat so I love to pair it with our cooling avocado lime crema.

    ⏲️How to Make Cucumber Chutney

    The key to this chutney is grated cucumber and a very fine chop on your other ingredients so that they blend seamlessly. Use the large side of a box grated or a similar size grater on your food processor.

    grated cucumber straining in a colander

    Once your cucumber is grated you want to put it into a strainer or colander to allow the excess water to drop out. At least 5 minutes, but longer is fine. You aren't on a time crunch with this step.

    Before combining with the other ingredients, you will want to gently press the grated cucumber to release any excess water.

    pressing water out of cucumber in colander

    The lime, cilantro, and habanero need to be finely chopped. I like to save my hands and do this in a food processor but a knife and cutting board work too.

    Simply combine your spicy herb mixture with the grated cucumber and salt to taste. Voila!

    cucumber chutney being mixed in bowl

    🥘How to Serve Caribbean Chutneys

    Cucumber chutney can be used as a sauce or topping and as a stand-alone side dish.

    We most often pair it with our Caribbean-inspired crockpot shredded beef or Vietnamese grilled pork and our homemade flatbreads (gluten-free, of course!).

    chutney in bowl on cutting board with cucumbers

    🥗Cucumber Recipes

    Big fan of cucumbers? Here are some our favorite recipes featuring cucumbers. Definitely worth saving for later!

    Pineapple Relish

    A quick and easy pineapple relish with cucumbers and fresh herbs.
    GET THE RECIPE PIN THE RECIPE
    pienapple cucumber relish in a bowl

    Chilled Peach Soup

    A refreshing cold peach soup with cucumbers and basil oil. The perfect recipe for peach season.
    GET THE RECIPE PIN THE RECIPE
    peach soup in a bowl with basil and flowers

    Vegan Beet Poke Bowl

    Skip the tofu for this all veggie poke bowl featuring marinated beets, all the pretty vegetables, and a spicy sauce.
    GET THE RECIPE PIN THE RECIPE
    vegan poke bowl with beets in a bowl

    If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave us a rating or a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with our food.

    📖 Recipe

    trini cucumber chutney in a clear bowl

    Cucumber Chutney

    A simple green cucumber chutney with a spicy kick. Use as a topping or a slaw.
    Servings: 6
    Prep: 10 mins
    Cook: 0 mins
    Total: 10 mins
    5 from 12 votes
    PRINT PIN SAVE

    Equipment

    • Blender or food processor
    • Colander or mesh strainer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 English cucumber
    • 1 fresh lime juiced
    • ¼ cup cilantro or 1-2 tablespoon chopped shado beni/ chadon beni
    • 1 habanero pepper or serrano for milder heat
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Grate the cucumber using a large whole grater or food processor attachment. Place the cucumber in a colander and allow it to strain for 5 minutes.
      grated cucumber straining in a colander
    • In a blender or small food processor, combine the cilantro, pepper, garlic, salt, and pepper.
      cilantro and pepper in food processor
    • Gently press the grated cucumber to squeeze out excess liquid.
      pressing water out of cucumber in colander
    • In a small bowl, mix together the cucumber and the pepper-cilantro mixture. Salt to taste and serve immediately.
      cucumber chutney being mixed in bowl
    Rate this Recipe

    Video

    Notes

    1. The salt will make the cucumber mushy, this chutney is best served the day it is made. 
    2. Other possible chili substitutes include a serrano, scotch bonnet, bird's eye chile, or Thai chili. 
    3. For no heat, use 1 tablespoon of chopped roasted red pepper. 
    4. Serves 6 as a chutney or 2 as a side dish slaw. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 13kcal | Carbs: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Fiber: 1g
    Author: Jen Wooster
    Course:: Appetizer, Sauce
    Cuisine: caribbean, East Indian
    Keyword chutney, Cucumber, hot, sauce, Spicy
    Tried this recipe?Tag us @peelwithzeal so we can see your creation!

    Next Recipe

    • BBQ sauce in a jar with a spoon.
      Gluten-Free BBQ Sauce
    • Salad dressing in a bottle with a bunch of red tomatoes.
      House Salad Dressing
    • Cajun butter sauce in a white bowl on serving platter with a seafood boil.
      Cajun Garlic Butter Sauce
    • Garlic butter in a white bowl.
      Garlic Butter Sauce
    571 shares
    • Share
    • Yummly
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Join the Discussion Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Virginia says

      July 12, 2022 at 1:28 pm

      Does this recipe freeze well?

      Reply
      • Jen Wooster says

        July 13, 2022 at 9:16 am

        5 stars
        I would not recommend freezing.

        Reply
    2. Andrea says

      December 27, 2020 at 8:13 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yum! I love cucumbers and this sounds so flavorful and refreshing. Can't wait to try it!

      Reply
    3. Laura says

      December 27, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      Tried this recipe last night to top our roasted veggies and it was delicious! It brought freshness to our dish and we really loved it! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Jen says

        December 28, 2020 at 8:30 am

        Thank you for the kind review!

        Reply
    4. Alex says

      December 27, 2020 at 2:12 pm

      Oh boy. My husband and 3-year-old eat almost a cucumber a day. Each. They would absolutely love this!

      Reply
    5. Jacqueline says

      December 27, 2020 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      I made this cucumber chutney as a side with our grilled prawns yesterday. perfect combination! The chutney added a fresh but slighly spicy flavour that we loved!

      Reply
      • Jen says

        December 27, 2020 at 3:35 pm

        Thank you so much for leaving areview. Glad it was a hit!

        Reply
    6. Erin says

      December 27, 2020 at 11:00 am

      This looks like just what I need after all the sweets and carbs from the past weeks! And that chilled peach soup also sounds amazingly refreshing.

      Reply
    7. Debbie says

      December 26, 2020 at 2:15 pm

      5 stars
      What an amazing cucumber chutney!! It is so light and refreshing . The little bit of heat in this is the perfect touch. I baked some salmon and it was the perfect combination.

      Reply
      • Jen says

        December 26, 2020 at 4:43 pm

        5 stars
        Sounds like a winning combo! Thank you for leaving a review.

        Reply
    8. Marta says

      December 26, 2020 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      I served this with some grilled sirloin and grilled veggies. It was refreshing and added another level of flavor to our meal.
      Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Jen says

        December 26, 2020 at 10:19 am

        5 stars
        Glad to hear everyone enjoyed! Thank you for leaving a review.

        Reply
    9. Eva says

      December 25, 2020 at 6:57 am

      5 stars
      Mmmh just reading this recipe made my mouth water. I bet this is fantastic with a grilled steak! While I'm not normally a huge fan of cucumber alone, adding lime, cilantro and habanero sounds like the perfect combination.

      Reply
    10. Alice | SkinnySpatula says

      December 24, 2020 at 5:16 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect recipe for a cucumber lover like me! I love the "other recipes with cucumbers" suggestions, too, I'm going to check them all out!

      Reply
      • Jen says

        December 24, 2020 at 7:58 am

        Glad you enjoyed the recipe. Such a great way to use up the last of a cucumber.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Greetings!

    picture of Jen

    My name is Jen and I am the recipe developer, writer, and photographer around here. Since being diagnosed with celiac disease over 10 years ago I have been slowly curating a recipe box full of gluten-free goodness. I adore vegetables, crave chocolate, and I am always up for an adventure.

    More About Me...

    Subscribe

    Not To Miss Recipes!

    • roasted eggplant on baking sheet
      Easy Oven Roasted Eggplant Slices
    • parmsean roasted zuchhini and yellow squash on a plate.
      Parmesan Roasted Zucchini and Squash
    • christmas cookies decorated with royal icing
      Royal Icing with Meringue Powder
    • Roasted cornish hens on a plate with oranges and herbs.
      Citrus and Herb Cornish Hens

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Check out our new Web Stories

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Partnerships

    Copyright © 2023 Peel with Zeal