Whether you’re looking for crunchy cucumber salads, tangy pickles, or cooling cucumber soup, these refreshing cucumber recipes celebrate one of my favorite summer vegetables!
My Baba’s Way to Stay Cool As a Cucumber
Growing up, my dad was in charge of all the “extras” that make a meal, and this almost always included a cucumber salad in some form or another. He loved to make a chopped salad with cucumber, tomato, parsley, and a little lime juice. Once the vegetables released their juices into the bowl, he would collect the leftover liquid, which he called “salad whiskey.” He’d then drink a juicy shot of the savory vegetable “whiskey” with beads of extra virgin olive oil skimming the surface. I inherited the same love for both salad whiskey and cucumber salads, and now, no warm-weather dinner is complete without one!
Cucumbers are, for me, a grocery staple year-round, but they absolutely shine in summertime. People all across the Mediterranean have relied on cooling cucumbers to beat the heat because the Mediterranean sun is no joke in the summer months!
Because they’re loaded with water, they rival even watermelon as a particularly thirst-quenching ingredient. They’re cool, crunchy, and versatile. Even better? In season, they’re inexpensive and easy to find, a great way to add a hydrating element to almost any meal, including breakfast.
We have so, so many delicious recipes where cucumbers are an essential ingredient (hello, horiatiki!), but in these recipes, they’re the star. Sliced, diced, smashed, pickled, or blended, these refreshing cucumber recipes will keep you cool and hydrated all summer long!
Crunchy Cucumber Salads
Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
This is my Baba’s go-to “salad whiskey” salad, and, where I grew up in Egypt, it’s called simply salata. I grew up eating it at nearly every meal, and it is as simple and satisfying as cooking gets. Cucumber, ripe tomatoes, and red onion come together with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. Use it as a topping for quinoa bowls or as a cooling side for grilled chicken kofta.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
My most popular cucumber salad recipe! This creamy salad combines sliced cucumbers in a tangy, garlicky Greek yogurt dressing. A few key tips make sure the cucumbers stay perfectly crisp and crunchy, not soggy! It’s especially wonderful alongside anything with a little heat, like this grilled harissa chicken.
Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
I make this four-ingredient salad on repeat all summer long. The combination of cucumbers, shallots, radish, and fresh dill in a light citrus dressing made with good Greek extra-virgin olive oil tastes a little bit like a fresh pickle, so it’s endlessly versatile. Tuck it into a pita stuffed with chicken shawarma, or spoon it alongside grilled seafood.
Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon and Feta
A couple of summers ago, I went crazy for smashed cucumber salads. The rough edges make the cucumber seem even more crunchy and refreshing. Plus, they hold onto the dressing. This version, with tangy olive oil-fried fried lemon slices, creamy feta, and fresh parsley, makes an elegant and unexpected salad.
Cucumber Radish Salad
Cooling cucumber is a perfect partner for equally crunchy radish and celery. A generous handful of herbs —fresh mint, chives, and dill—adds layers of bright flavor, and a touch of creamy goat cheese gives it just the right finishing richness. Pack it along with a pan bagnat for a picnic, or serve it alongside tender salmon sandwiches or juicy shrimp kabobs.
Cooling Cucumber Dips and Sauces
Tzatziki
I probably make this cucumber recipe more often than any other! My recipe for this creamy, Greek cucumber and yogurt sauce includes yiayia-approved tips that make all the difference in achieving the right texture and flavor. Use it to sauce chicken gyros, Greek potatoes, and almost anything else you can think of! Avoiding dairy? Try this vegan version!
Cucumber Salsa
Cool, fresh cucumber is the star of this easy salsa, one of my favorite accompaniments for easy pan-fried fish. Pistachios bring a welcome crunch and a Mediterranean vibe, while Aleppo pepper adds depth with its sunny warmth. The result is an herbaceous and refreshing ready-to-eat topping.
Persian Yogurt Cucumber Dip (Mast O’Khiar)
While it shares a similar spirit with tzatziki, this Persian yogurt dip gets its own distinct character from lime and dried mint. It’s a staple at Persian family gatherings, a perfect condiment for Joojeh Kabob (Persian saffron chicken kebabs); or with Persian rice dishes such as Adas Polo or Baghali Polo (dill and fava bean rice). It’s also a delicious dip for potato chips or pita chips as a healthier option!
More Cucumber Goodness
Cold Cucumber Soup
On the hottest days of summer, sometimes only a cold bowl of soup will do — and this Persian cold cucumber soup, known as Ab Doogh Khiar, is the most refreshing reset I know. Think of it as a cucumber gazpacho. One sip and the heat of the day simply melts away. For dessert, go for something equally refreshing, like this Strawberry Pudding.
Cucumber Sandwiches
Forget soggy tea sandwiches, these cucumber sandwiches are in a completely different league. The secret is labneh, creamy, extra-thick yogurt. Mixed with fresh herbs — parsley, dill, and basil — and spread generously on soft white bread, they make a lovely lunch for Mother’s Day, graduation, tea parties, bridal or baby showers.
Quick Pickled Cucumbers
Pickles are having a moment! This style of pickles, which aren’t cooked, keep all that mouth-watering crunch and tangy flavor. Once you try these, there’s no going back to store-bought! Keep a jar in the fridge to add to mint-feta turkey burgers or lamb burgers all summer long.
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