What says fresh and flavorful like a Strawberry Cucumber Salad? Sweet, juicy strawberries, cool cucumber slices, tangy red onion, and zesty feta crumbles are all made even more flavorful with a hint of fresh mint. This salad recipe is everything you love about summer in one beautiful bowl.
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Whenever strawberry season rolls around, I find myself searching for new ways to use the freshly picked berries I pick up at the farmer’s market. This salad won’t disappoint!
Fresh salads hit the spot all summer long, but this one can be served anytime you need a bright and colorful salad on the table. You can serve it as a side salad, it makes a lovely complement to heavier grilled items. I often pair this with my smoked BBQ ribs recipe and my lemongrass pork.
Or you can simply serve it with grilled chicken or shrimp for a quick weeknight dinner.
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📖Why This Summer Salad Recipe Works
First off, I love a salad without lettuce. As someone who creates a lot of unique salad recipes, I can only eat so much lettuce.
In this salad crisp cucumbers pair with fresh fruit. The sweetness of strawberries and the cool and fresh flavor of cucumber complement one another perfectly, both in flavor and texture.
To make this cucumber strawberry salad recipe even better, I’ve included the yummiest recipe for a homemade poppy seed dressing. It’s creamy and flavorful, with a Greek yogurt base. It’s sweetened with honey and has just the perfect puckery goodness from a splash of apple cider vinegar.
But if you are more of a balsamic vinaigrette person just pop over to my strawberry and goat cheese salad and grab that salad dressing recipe instead. But personally, I love when the strawberries release their juice and it mixes with the creamy dressing.
To balance the sweetness of the fruit and dressing I paired this recipe with feta cheese. I tried blue cheese originally but found it to be overpowering.
This fresh strawberry and cucumber salad is quick and simple, and the delightful colors make this dish look lovely on the plate. And this recipe is gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly, so almost anyone can enjoy it.
🧾Ingredient Notes
Strawberries - Choose berries that are small to medium in size. These will be the juiciest and have the most flavor.
Cucumber - You can use either an English cucumber or 2 to 3 small Persian cucumbers in this recipe. If you use a garden cucumber scoop out the seeds as they may taste a bit soapy.
Red Onion - Slice into thin circles, then cut the circles into smaller pieces.
Feta Cheese - Feta in brine lasts longer. So if you aren't making the salad within a day or two of shopping get the brine. This ensures your feta hasn’t been exposed to any air, which will cause it to go bad quicker. Cut a small piece of the feta block and crumble in a small bowl. You can use cow’s milk or goat’s milk feta. Not a feta fan? Try goat cheese
Mint Leaves - If you don't have mint on hand you can use other fresh herbs. I recommend a mix of basil and parsley.
Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients
Greek Yogurt - Choose your favorite brand of plain Greek yogurt. It should be plain and unsweetened.
Apple Cider Vinegar - I love the flavor of apple cider vinegar in this recipe, but you can substitute it with white balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Extra virgin isn’t absolutely necessary, but it does contribute to a very flavorful dressing.
Poppy Seeds and Honey
See the recipe card for exact quantities.
⏲️How to Make a Strawberry Cucumber Salad
You only need a knife, a cutting board, and a whisk to make this yummy strawberry salad with cucumbers and poppy seed dressing. Let's review the step-by-step instructions.
Step 1- Chop
Slice the cucumber, strawberries, and red onion and place them in a large serving bowl. It is important to keep your strawberry and cucumbers similarly sized. You can do small slices or large chunks.
Regardless of the size of the other produce, your onions should be diced so the flavor doesn't overwhelm the salad. I prefer a quarter-moon shape.
If your onions have a strong taste soak them in ice cold water for 10 minutes. Then drain and pat dry with a towel before adding to the salad.
Step 2- Prep the Dressing
Measure your dressing ingredients and add them to a second mixing bowl (except for the oil). Use a whisk to mix everything together. Then, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the mix while you whisk it together.
As you whisk, it will fully combine and get creamy. You can also make the dressing in a blender. Season to taste with salt and fresh ground pepper.
Step 3- Assemble
Pour the dressing over the salad. Use tongs to toss it all together and serve while it’s cold and fresh.
For a better presentation save back half the cheese and mint leaves and sprinkle on the salad after mixing.
🥗What to Serve with Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Salads can make a whole meal, or they can be a starter or side dish. Serve it over baby spinach or arugula for a light lunch.
This makes a great side for a vegetarian grill night. It pairs well with grilled cauliflower steaks and grilled corn ribs. Pair with a strawberry whiskey cocktail and an easy peach crisp for the ideal summer meal.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tip
You can prep the dressing, cucumbers, and onions in advance but store them separately. Do not cut the mint and strawberries until you are ready to assemble the salad. When taking it to a potluck or picnic I assemble the salad and pour the dressing after I arrive at the party.
🌡️Storing Leftovers
The dressing should be kept in an airtight container and stored for up to a week in the fridge. The prepared salad will not have as long of a shelf life. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. It will keep for 1 to 2 days but will become watery the longer it sits.
More Summer Salad Recipe
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
That’s up to you, but as long as the peel is thin and easy to cut through, it should be ok to leave it on. If it feels difficult to cut or thick and strong, use a peeler to remove it before you slice it.
Did You Enjoy Making This Recipe? Please rate this recipe with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ or leave a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with our food.
📖 Recipe
Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large seedless cucumber sliced thinly
- 2 cups fresh strawberries hulled and sliced
- ½ red onion quartered and sliced thinly
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbles
- ¼ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
Poppy Seed Dressing
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt plain and unsweetened
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the sliced cucumber, sliced strawberries, sliced red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped mint leaves.1 large seedless cucumber, 2 cups fresh strawberries, ½ red onion, ½ cup feta cheese, ¼ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper.¼ cup Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- While whisking continuously, slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil until the dressing is well combined and creamy.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
Notes
- You can use an English cucumber or Persian cucumber in this recipe.
- This recipe can be made ahead, store the dressing separately and add it right before serving.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, keep in mind that the salad may become soggy over time due to the dressing.
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