Refreshing Cucumber Strawberry Salad

When the weather starts to warm up, heavy meals tend to lose their appeal, and we naturally start craving dishes that are bright, crisp, and hydrating. Enter your new favorite summer side dish: the Cucumber Strawberry Salad.

If you spent the weekend indulging in hearty, savory favorites like a rich Tater Tot Breakfast Bowl with Sausage Gravy or a decadent Ultimate Breakfast Grilled Cheese, this sweet and tangy salad is the perfect restorative, feel good lunch to get you back on track.

It takes less than 10 minutes to throw together, requires absolutely zero cooking, and looks like a ruby and emerald masterpiece on your dining table. The sweetness of the ripe strawberries pairs flawlessly with the cool crunch of the cucumber, while a sprinkle of salty feta and a drizzle of balsamic glaze ties everything together.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

1. No Cook Wonder: When it is too hot to turn on the oven, this salad is a lifesaver. Just slice, whisk, toss, and serve!

2. Hydrating & Healthy: Cucumbers and strawberries are both packed with water and vitamins, making this a fantastic recipe for hot summer days.

3. Versatile Side Dish: Hosting a backyard BBQ? This vibrant salad cuts right through the richness of grilled meats. Pair it with your favorite cuts using these Chuck Steak Recipes and Tips, or serve it alongside a cold, fun Wheel Pasta salad for the ultimate summer spread.

4. Perfect Lunch Combo: For a cafe style lunch at home, serve a heaping bowl of this salad next to a warm High Protein Soup and a thick slice of toasted High Protein Bread.

Essential Ingredients

The beauty of this salad lies in its simplicity. Because there are so few ingredients, make sure you choose the freshest produce available!

• Cucumbers: 1 large English cucumber is best because the skin is thin (no peeling required!) and the seeds are minimal.

• Strawberries: 1 pound of fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced. Look for deep red, fragrant berries for the best natural sweetness.

• Red Onion: ¼ cup of thinly sliced red onion adds a necessary sharp bite to balance the sweet fruit.

• Feta Cheese: ⅓ cup of crumbled feta adds a creamy, salty element. Goat cheese is also a phenomenal substitute!

• Fresh Mint: 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh mint leaves elevate the dish and make it incredibly refreshing. Basil also works beautifully.

• The Dressing: A simple whisk of olive oil, balsamic vinegar (or glaze), a touch of honey, salt, and black pepper.

Meal Prep Tip: Need to prep a full day of food? Bake a batch of grab and go Easy Hashbrown Sausage Bites for your morning, pack this refreshing salad for lunch, and treat yourself to some Easy Sweet Cinnamon Twists for dessert!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Produce

Wash your cucumber and strawberries thoroughly. Slice the English cucumber into thin rounds (or half moons if it is particularly large). Hull the strawberries and slice them uniformly. Thinly slice the red onion.

Step 2: Whisk the Dressing

In the bottom of a large serving bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon of honey, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Pro tip: Making the dressing directly in the serving bowl saves you from washing an extra dish!

Step 3: Combine and Toss

Add the sliced cucumbers, strawberries, and red onion to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss everything together until the fruit and veggies are well coated in the vinaigrette.

Step 4: Add the Delicate Ingredients

Right before you are ready to serve, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh mint over the top. Give it one more very gentle toss. (Adding the cheese at the end prevents it from turning pink from the strawberry juice!)

Step 5: Chill and Serve

You can serve this immediately, but letting it chill in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes allows the flavors to marry beautifully. Serve cold!

Refreshing Cucumber Strawberry Salad

A bright, hydrating, and easy 10-minute summer salad featuring crisp cucumbers, sweet strawberries, tangy feta, and fresh mint in a simple balsamic dressing.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Calories 180 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 large English cucumber, sliced into thin rounds or half-moons
• 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (or goat cheese)
• 2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil for dressing
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze for dressing
• 1 tsp honey for dressing
• salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• In a large serving bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
• Add the sliced cucumber, strawberries, and red onion to the bowl and gently toss until evenly coated with the dressing.
• Just before serving, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh mint over the salad and toss gently.
• Serve immediately, or chill in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before serving for enhanced flavor.

Notes

If raw red onion is too strong, soak the slices in ice water for 5 minutes before adding to the salad to mellow the flavor. Best served fresh and cold.

Make Ahead and Storage Tips

Can I make this ahead of time? Because cucumbers release a lot of water and strawberries soften quickly, this salad is best eaten the day it is made. However, you can prep the ingredients ahead of time! Slice your strawberries, cucumbers, and onions and store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Whisk the dressing in a jar. When you are ready to eat, simply combine everything.

Storing Leftovers: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. The salad will release some juices and become a bit softer the next day, but it will still taste delicious!