Looking for a quick and easy summer salad recipe? Add this Cucumber Strawberry Salad to your rotation! This light, fresh and flavorful salad is made with cucumbers, strawberries, rhubarb, feta cheese, pecans, pickled red onion, dried cherries, basil, mint, and topped with the best strawberry balsamic dressing. It is perfect for summer dinner parties, holidays, lunches, or light dinners!
Looking for more salad ideas? Be sure to check out our favorite Farro Salad and Roasted Vegetable Salad!
All About This Cucumber Strawberry Salad
- Flavor: Fresh, sweet, and tangy are the words I would use to describe the flavor of this salad. Cucumber with strawberry is the flavor pairing that you never knew you needed. Especially for the summer season! The salted cucumbers and feta cheese bring the perfect salty to the juicy strawberry and dried cherry sweetness. Then the rhubarb sprigs add just a touch of tang! All complemented by a sweet Strawberry Balsamic Dressing. And, now I'm going to have to make this for dinner again!
- Texture: This salad has the perfect mix of crunch and chew! The crunch of the cucumbers and pecans paired with the chew of the dried cherries and strawberries is so satisfying.
- Ease: Salads are usually an easy dish to make, but sometimes we may feel like we don't know where to start. That's why posts like this one that tell you exactly how much of everything to throw together help so much! A beginner can easily master this recipe by following my detailed instructions below. It is so quick and easy!
Frequently Asked Questions
It completely comes down to preference as to whether you want to peel the cucumbers or not. Different types have different thickness of skin. English or Persian cucumbers tend to have thinner skins while regular market cucumbers have a thicker peel. I always prefer to keep the skin on for a little crunch!
The most common way to cut cucumbers for salad is to dice them or slice them into rounds, but if you're looking for a change up using a mandolin to slice them into thin ribbons as pictured makes for the prettiest salad!
Ingredients
To make this salad, you will need the following ingredients. See the full recipe card at the end of this post for detailed amounts and instructions!
- Cucumbers - Our main ingredient for this salad! You only need one large or two small for this salad. You can slice or dice them however you prefer, but I used a mandolin for the one shown here.
- Strawberries - You'll only need about 1 cup of strawberries for the recipe below, but feel free to add as many as you like!
- Rhubarb - Rhubard looks like a redish purple celery stalk. When it is in season it's super easy to find in your produce section. You only need one stalk for this recipe. I like to cut mine into matchstick pieces, but you could also slice it.
- Pecans - I love using whole raw pecans for this salad, but use any kind you prefer.
- Feta cheese - This is completely optional, but the salty tang is a nice addition! I suggest using a vegan feta if you want a dairy free version.
- Pickled red onion - These add such an amazing flavor to anything you put them on, including salads! Try my easy quick pickled onions or buy them pre-made at the store.
- Dried cherries - I love this sweet and chewy addition! You only need a handful to make an impact.
- Basil - Fresh basil leaves all the way!
- Mint - Fresh mint leaves all the way!
- Strawberry balsamic dressing - Homemade is always the cleaner option so I've listed the easiest homemade version in the recipe card below, but store bought will work if you prefer.
How to Make Cucumber Strawberry Salad
To make this recipe, simply:
- Prep.
Slice the cucumbers into fine ribbons using a mandolin. Slice the strawberries. Slice the rhubarb into matchstick pieces. Roughly chop the basil and mint leaves.
- Assemble.
Add the cucumbers to a plate and sprinkle with sea salt. Top with the sliced strawberries, rhubarb, pecans, feta, pickled onion, dried cherries, basil, and mint.
- Make the strawberry balsamic.
Add the strawberries, white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and maple syrup to a blender. Blend until fully combined. Serve on the side.
To store: If you have leftovers, store the dressing and salad in separate air-tight containers. It will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Variations
- Swap out the toppings. If you aren't into certain ingredients here, make this salad your own with your favorite toppings!
- Make it even faster. To make this salad even faster, use a store bought dressing.
More healthy recipes you'll love!
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- Best Vegan Burger Recipe
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- Easy Recipe for Pico de Gallo
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- Quick & Easy Mango Habanero Salsa
Cucumber Strawberry Salad
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Looking for a quick and easy summer salad recipe? Add this Cucumber Strawberry Salad to your rotation! This light, fresh and flavorful salad is made with cucumbers, strawberries, rhubarb, feta cheese, pecans, pickled red onion, dried cherries, basil, mint, and topped with the best strawberry balsamic dressing. It is perfect for summer dinner parties, holidays, lunches, or light dinners!
Ingredients
SALAD:
- 1 large cucumber, sliced into ribbons
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- ½ a rhubarb stalk, sliced into matchsticks
- ½ cup pecans
- ½ cup feta cheese or vegan feta
- ¼ cup pickled red onion
- ¼ cup dried cherries
- A few basil leaves, chopped
- A few mint leaves, chopped
- 1 cup fresh strawberries
- 5 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Prep. Slice the cucumbers into fine ribbons using a mandolin. Slice the strawberries. Slice the rhubarb into matchstick pieces. Roughly chop the basil and mint leaves.
- Assemble. Add the cucumbers to a plate and sprinkle with sea salt. Top with the sliced strawberries, rhubarb, pecans, feta, pickled onion, dried cherries, basil, and mint.
- Make the strawberry balsamic dressing. Add the strawberries, white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and maple syrup to a blender. Blend until fully combined. Serve on the side.
Notes
- To store. If you have leftovers, store the dressing and salad in separate air-tight containers. It will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Swap out the toppings. If you aren't into certain ingredients here, make this salad your own with your favorite toppings!
- Make it even faster. To make this salad even faster, use a store bought dressing.
- Prep Time: 5
Keywords: Cucumber Strawberry Salad
