Cool, crisp cucumbers and a refreshing, creamy herb dressing make this cucumber salad a go-to for light summer meals and BBQs.
My garden is bursting with cucumbers in the summertime. You may already know that the Silver Slicer is our favorite cucumber to grow and eat.
It’s always sweet and crisp.
When we get tired of eating cucumbers raw, straight off the vine, I like to make simple cucumber salads like this one.
So this morning, I picked a few fresh cucumbers and herbs, got a couple carrots out of the fridge that we harvested last weekend, and my trusty jar of pickled onions and made this salad for lunch.
Why You’ll Love This Cucumber Salad Recipe
- creamy, yet light, dressing
- refreshing and cooling thanks to the cucumber and mint
- crisp and crunchy from the carrots and cucumbers
- perfect for summer BBQs and potlucks
- easy to make ahead
- can be made vegan and dairy-free
What You’ll Need to Make It
Grab these ingredients fresh out of your garden (or your local farmer’s garden!) and whip up this cucumber salad recipe in no time!
- 3 cucumbers, sliced
- 1 large carrot, shaved or ribboned
- 1/4 cup pickled red onion or fresh red onion, minced
For the dressing, you’ll need:
- 1/2 an avocado
- 1/4 cup of mayonnaise (any kind whether homemade or store-bought, vegan or not!)
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1/4 cup cucumber (just steal these from the salad)
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill
- 2 tsp fresh mint
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil
- salt and pepper to taste, always
Let’s Make This Salad
Prep all your veggies. Slice the cucumbers; shave the carrot into ribbons with a vegetable peeler; and mince the onion.
I think the carrot ribbons help make this salad look a little fancy.
It also makes it easier for my youngest to remove them from her plate.
Next up, making the dressing.
This dressing comes together so fast in a blender because you don’t have to bother chopping anything. I always use the smoothie cup that came with my Ninja for dressings like these.
Put the avocado, mayo, lemon juice, cucumber, herbs, salt, and pepper in the blender and blend until smooth. Add more cucumbers a slice at a time to thin out dressing if it’s still too thick.
Blending cucumbers into thick, creamy dressing is a little trick I like to use to thin out salad dressings. It adds more flavor and nutrition than plain water does.
In a large bowl, toss the cucumbers, carrot ribbons, and minced onion with the herby avocado dressing.
Garnish with extra fresh herbs if desired.
Keep the cucumber salad refrigerated until ready to eat. This salad tastes best when it’s cold!
Fully-dressed cucumber salad will stay fresh for 3 days in the fridge.
Undressed, a couple days longer if tightly covered.
Make It A Complete Meal
Although this salad does make an excellent summer snack, make it a complete meal by pairing with:
- grilled chicken, salmon, steak—basically anything fresh off the grill!
- meatloaf
- pot roast
- falafel or shawarma
- grain or lentil bowls
It wouldn’t be summer without one of these refreshing summer drinks as well!
FAQs, Tips, & Tricks for This Cucumber Salad Recipe
Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh?
Yes, absolutely! Sub 1 tsp dried dill, 1/2 tsp dried mint, and 1 tsp dried basil for fresh. Taste as you go and adjust to your liking.
How long will the avocado dressing last on its own?
The dressing will last about 3 days in the fridge. Give it a shake before using as the water will separate from the solids over time.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
I would make this recipe no more than a day ahead. Cucumber tends to lose water fast after being cut. If you can, slice the cucumber last and combine with the other prepped ingredients and pre-made dressing close to serving time.
How do I make pickled red onion?
It’s simple to make pickled onions, but it will require a few hours to absorb the brine. Find my favorite quick pickled onion recipe in this post.
Can I make this herby avocado dressing without mayo?
Sure! Skip the mayo and use a whole avocado and a bit more lemon juice instead.
Cucumber Salad with Herby Avocado Dressing
Equipment
- blender or food processor
- vegetable peeler
Ingredients
Cucumber Salad
- 3 cucumbers sliced
- 1 large carrot shaved or ribboned
- 1/4 cup pickled red onion or fresh red onion minced
Herby Avocado Dressing
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/4 cup of mayonnaise homemade or store-bought
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1/4 cup cucumber just steal these from the salad
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill
- 2 tsp fresh mint
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep salad veggies. Slice the cucumbers; shave the carrot into ribbons with a vegetable peeler; and mince the onion.
- Blend avocado, mayo, lemon juice, cucumber, herbs, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add more cucumbers a slice at a time, blending well each time, to thin out dressing if it's still too thick.
- In a large bowl, toss the cucumbers, carrot ribbons, and minced onion with the herby avocado dressing.
- Garnish with extra herbs if desired.
- Keep the cucumber salad refrigerated until ready to eat.