Home Dinner Cucumber salad: “Health beast” made of 3 main ingredients

Cucumber salad: “Health beast” made of 3 main ingredients

Name: Cucumber salad: "Health beast" made of 3 main ingredients
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 4 pieces of medium-sized cucumber,; 1 small onion or chive, spring onion,; Salt,; Ground black pepper,; Lemon juice or vinegar (to taste),; Honey or crystal, cane sugar,

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Preparation time: 10 minutes

Servings: 4

Are you in a need of refreshing, low-calorie side dish to the majority of your main courses? The food blog Hana’s Recipes has a great tip for you: the cucumber salad recipe. With only 3 main ingredients (cucumber, onion and diverse spices), you can achieve a side dish full of balanced flavours as well as the overall pleasant aroma. Test it out today with the photo recipe below!

Cucumber salad: Why is it favourable amongst other salads?

It is usually quite hard to find favourites amongst huge food categories, as in the case of salads. There are plenty of different versions that people like to prepare, also thanks to the enormous advantage to adopt the ingredients exactly to one’s current cravings. Today, we would like to direct your attention towards the cucumber salad that is certainly enjoyable as a side dish, even as a light snack in the afternoon.

The recipe itself can of course be adjusted to anyone’s needs and dietary limitations but the original one typically contains 3 main ingredients. Those are cucumbers, onions and spices such as salt, ground black pepper and others (always depending on your preference). It therefore suits both vegetarians and vegans who can pair the salad with their everyday meals, since it goes well with almost anything.

Besides that, there is no doubt about its nickname “health beast”. Cucumbers on their own contribute to the salad with their low calorie content, yet high water level to provide the human body with proper hydration. Their natural taste is enhanced by the combination of spices like salt, pepper, lemon juice and a touch of honey, all adding balanced flavours for people currently being on a diet. Onions that are usually utilised are high in vitamins, particularly the vitamin C, which supports the overall immune system and is crucial for maintaining bone health of the person. Some studies even show that onions may have cancer-fighting properties, specifically against the digestive tract cancer type.

However, one of the most enjoyable parts about the cucumber salad is its preparation. The required time is minimal and the main actions like peeling, grating or slicing do not ask for professional cooking knowledge. Everything is done easily and quickly but most importantly with the aim to achieve a delicious outcome. Let’s find out together, following the list of ingredients and the overall photo preparation below!

Good luck!

Cucumber salad: Ingredients

4 pieces of the medium-sized cucumber,
1 small onion (chives can also be used),
Spring onions,

Spices:

Salt,
Ground black pepper,
Lemon juice or vinegar (to enhance the taste even more),
Honey or crystal / cane sugar

Cucumber salad: Preparation of the “health beast”

Start with preparing the cucumbers. Of course, homemade or the ones from local suppliers are the most suitable.

Continue with peeling them. However, if you prefer, you may leave the skin. Do not forget to wash the cucumbers properly.

Grate the cucumbers into thin slices (noodles). If you wish, you can also cut them finely.

Add salt to cucumbers and let them stand for a while to release their own juice. In this way, the salad will gain its prime flavour and strong aroma.

Next, prepare the marinade from water, salt, pepper, honey or sugar, lemon juice or vinegar. Mix altogether well.

Lastly, add finely chopped onion or chives as well as spring onions, if you decided at the beginning to utilise them. Well done! Now fully enjoy your light, yet highly flavourful side dish: the cucumber salad.

We have already mentioned that a simple side dish like the cucumber salad pairs well with almost any kind of main course. Here are some tips from Hana’s Recipes portal that you may confidently try out together with the salad:

Zucchini fritters known as the “crispy perfection”. In case you are missing a dip or a sauce, the cucumber salad is certainly a great alternative. Especially for vegetarians.
French boulangère potatoes. Not only pickled but also fresh cucumbers used in a salad suit well here.
Lasagne bolognese, an Italian classic. The cucumber salad goes ideally aside, thanks to the utilised combination of tomatoes and meat inside the pasta.
Spicy chicken wings. Two side dishes can usually be combined well together and the cucumber salad with these meat pieces is no exception. Try it out for yourself!

FAQ 1: How far in advance can I make the cucumber salad?

It is possible to make the cucumber salad few hours ahead of serving. What is necessary to remember is that you should keep it refrigerated in order to maintain its freshness. Additionally, stir well before serving to redistribute the balanced flavours that are typical for a salad like this.

FAQ 2: What are the most typical variations of the cucumber salad?

Although the salad procedure Hana’s Recipe has shown you earlier is the most traditional one, there are plenty of variations nowadays that people tend to make, as they directly reflect their personal needs as well as potential allergies. The most popular alternatives include extra ingredients like fresh tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, olives or peppers. For a sweeter twist, fruit like strawberries can be added too. Also very often, spring onions are substituted with red onions.

Do not be afraid to experiment and add ingredients you generally prefer. At the end, the salad has to suit your tastes! Bon appetite to any variation you choose to go with!