Cucumber Strawberry Salad (Printable)
Crisp cucumbers, sweet strawberries, mint, and a tangy balsamic-honey dressing for a light, colorful summer dish.
# What You Need:
→ Fresh Produce
01 - 2 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
→ Dressing
05 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon honey
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Optional Additions
10 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
11 - 2 tablespoons toasted slivered almonds
# Steps:
01 - In a large salad bowl, gently toss together the sliced cucumbers, strawberries, red onion, and chopped mint leaves until evenly mixed.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to ensure an even coating.
04 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and toasted slivered almonds over the salad just before serving, if using.
05 - Serve immediately to preserve maximum freshness and crunch.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- There’s a secret hint of honey in the tangy balsamic dressing, so each bite pops with sweet-tart flavor.
- Whipping it up takes less time than brewing iced tea – it’s a true fifteen-minute wonder on hot days.
02 -
- It only took one rushed attempt to learn not to overdress the salad—wet strawberries go soggy fast.
- Letting the onions sit in cold water briefly keeps their bite without outshining the fruit.
03 -
- Don’t skip toasting the nuts if you’re using them—the aroma alone will have people asking what smells so good.
- The smallest drizzle of really thick aged balsamic just before serving is magic—people will ask for your ‘secret’ every time.