Mediterranean Cucumber Salad

It is summertime, and there is nothing more refreshing and delicious than a Mediterranean Cucumber Salad, either as a main meal or as a side dish. The crunchy cucumbers, zesty tomatoes, sweet red onion, and salty Kalamata olives create a delightful, bright, light, and fresh salad.

Perfect for hot summer days and beyond delicious. In my opinion, this Mediterranean Cucumber Salad is appropriate for any time of year.

Looking for more healthy salad recipes? Try my sesame kale salad, cucumber mint salad, or this pear pecan salad.

Why I think You’ll Love this Mediterranean Cucumber Salad

• Quick and Easy: This mediterranean salad is quick and easy to make. You basically cut the veggies, drizzle with a few ingredients, stir to combine, and you are good to go.  
• Healthy & Nutritious: This salad is filled with fresh and healthy vegetables and herbs, drizzled with a simple and light dressing, and contains a wealth of nutrition.  
• Portable: This salad is easily portable. You can take it along for a picnic, bring it to the office, pack it for lunch, etc.  
• Delicious: The flavor combination of this Mediterranean cucumber salad practically shouts summer. It is the perfect light meal or beautiful side dish for summer cuisine. But what really sets this cucumber salad apart is the beautifully balanced flavors, it is absolutely delicious.  
• Customizable: There is a wide range of herbs you can add to this Mediterranean cucumber salad for a different flavor. You can customize it to your palate and taste.  

So, what is a Mediterranean Cucumber Salad? 

Traditional Mediterranean flavors include basil, cucumbers, tomatoes, dill, fennel, garlic, red onion, lemon, parsley, mint, feta cheese, and oregano. Mediterranean cuisine uses all the elements of flavor, sweetness, acidity, bitterness, and umami. Today, we will use some of these flavors to create a beautiful, balanced, satisfying, and delicious Mediterranean cucumber salad.  

Ingredients & Substitutions

Fresh Cucumber: For this salad, use European cucumbers. They are the preferred choice because they are seedless and do not need to be peeled before eating. Another option would be mini cucumbers, which are plentiful at the supermarket these days. They have tender skins and are sweet and delicious.  

Cherry or Roma Tomatoes: Tomatoes bring vibrant color and sweetness to this Mediterranean cucumber tomato salad. Use either cherry tomatoes, adding an element of sweetness, or Roma tomatoes. Roma tomatoes hold their structure and are less juicy than heirlooms or regular tomatoes, so they work well in this salad. You can also try grape tomatoes for another beautiful recipe variation.

Kalamata Olives: Kalamata olives bring a unique flavor to this salad. If you are tempted to skip these, you may regret it. They provide a slightly bitter, unique umami flavor that is the foundation for the special flavor of this Mediterranean cucumber salad. However, if Kalamata olives are unavailable, settle for the mild green olives, which also have a unique but different taste.  

Red Onion:  Red onion adds a beautiful contrasting color to a salad and also a sweet and mild onion flavor. Should red onion not be available, look for a sweet and mild onion such as Walla Walla or Vidalia.

Olive Oil:  Use a high quality, cold pressed olive oil if at all possible. In this Mediterranean Cucumber Salad, the olive oil provides great texture, smoothness, and flavor. If olive oil is not available, use an oil that will provide some flavor.    

Lemon Juice:  Fresh lemon juice adds acidity and citrus notes to this cucumber salad. Be sure to use fresh lemon juice; it makes a huge difference. If fresh lemon is not available, try fresh lime juice.  

Agave: Bring some sweetness and balance to the greek cucumber salad by adding a touch of agave. You can replace agave with maple syrup, vegan honey, or other sweeteners you prefer. It only requires a touch, but it will take the flavor of the Mediterranean cucumber salad to the next level.   

Salt: Use sea salt or Himalayan pink salt as they contain important minerals needed for our bodies. 

Fresh Herbs: Parsley is our chosen flavor for this Mediterranean cucumber salad recipe, but a touch of fresh mint and basil will enhance the experience. You can customize the flavors to your taste by adding other herbs, such as fennel, fresh dill, and fresh garlic.

Recipe Variations and Add-ons:  

• Vegan Feta Cheese: Crumbled feta cheese is a traditional addition to a Mediterranean salad. Now that we have so many delicious vegan feta cheeses on the market, this will be a quick and great addition. A healthier option would be to marinate and crumble tofu. Tofu is bland and can take on the flavor you like, so be created.  
• Chickpeas:  For some extra protein, add half a cup of cooked chickpeas. Rinse with water and dry before adding to the greek salad.  

How to make Mediterranean Cucumber Salad:

Mediterranean Cucumber Salad is a quick and easy salad to make. Get ready to serve this recipe in less than 15 minutes!

Step one: Prepare the vegetables by cleaning and cutting them. Combine in a medium-sized mixing bowl. 

Step two: Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, and agave. Stir to combine.  

Step three: Add fresh minced herbs and salt to taste. Stir to combine.  

What Can I Serve with the Mediterranean Cucumber Salad?  

Pita Bread & Hummus:  Serve this salad in a fresh pita pocket with hummus, and you will be amazed at this quick and easy meal. Check out my hummus recipe.

Soups: Serve this greek cucumber salad recipe with quick and easy soups like my creamy cherry tomato soup, potato kale soup, or red lentil soup. The contrast between the comforting hot soup and this all-star salad recipe will be a tremendous meal. Serve with some fresh bread or garlic knots.  

Pasta Recipes: The Mediterranean cucumber salad will be a great addition to any of my pasta recipes. Check out my one-pot cherry tomato and basil pasta, this linguine cauliflower lemon pasta, or lasagna roll-ups.

Burgers: Serve this salad as a side dish to burgers. Its crisp, bright, and fresh flavors will elevate your burger meal to another level. Check out my mushroom oat burger, portoballo mushroom burger, and all-Americann burger.  

Garlic Knots:  Serve with homemade garlic knots. 

Tools and Equipment:

The following items would be helpful:

Cutting Board:  A cutting board for cutting vegetables and herbs

Chef’s knife: A good quality knife for preparing the vegetables and herbs

Salad Bowl: A large bowl for tossing and serving the salad

Salad tongs: Tongs help mix and serve the salad

Nutritional Health Benefits:  

This Mediterranean Cucumber Salad is a healthy addition to any meal. Because of its high water content, cucumbers are among the lowest-calorie vegetables on the planet and are a great choice for those concerned about weight management. Despite their high water content, cucumbers contain a decent amount of minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron, which are needed for many functions in the body. The cucumber is also a great alkalizer, cleanser, and purifier and is often used for internal and external hydration.

How to Store Mediterranean Cucumber Salad:

Fridge:  Store the Mediterranean tomato cucumber salad in the refrigerator for a couple of days. The flavors will continue to marinate, but the veggies will get a little soggier as time goes on.  

Freezer: I do not recommend freezing this salad. The vegetables will become very soft as they defrost.  

FAQ

What is the difference between a European cucumber and an American cucumber?

A European cucumber is longer and slimmer than American cucumbers, usually a little sweeter, less bitter, and contains fewer seeds. The American cucumber is shorter and wider, a little less sweet, sometimes bitter, and has more seeds.  

Is a European cucumber the same as an English cucumber? 

Yes. European cucumbers are sometimes called English cucumbers.

What is a hothouse cucumber?

Hot house cucumbers are the same as European and English cucumbers. They are called hothouse cucumbers because they are grown in greenhouses under controlled conditions.  

Do I need to peel the cucumber?

No, the European cucumber does not need to be peeled. An American cucumber have tougher skin and may need to be peeled.  

Why is the European cucumber wrapped in plastic?  

Because of their tender skin, European cucumbers are more prone to bruising, so they are wrapped in plastic to protect them in transit.  

What’s the difference between Kalamata olives and black olives?  

Kalamata olives are a variety of olives named after the town where they originated. They are almond-shaped olives with a reddish-brown color. Kalamata olives are usually picked tree-ripened, which gives them a more fruity, unique, and strong flavor. Kalamata olives are usually stored in a salt solution and are often cured to provide an extra special flavor. Kalamata olives provide a salty, delicious umami flavor, which is a great addition to our Mediterranean cucumber salad.  

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Looking for more salad recipes? Try my summer fruit salad, fresh corn salad, or this easy Mediterranean chickpea salad.