21 Cucumber Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever (2024)

These healthy, flavorful recipes highlight cucumber, a hydrating veggie. There's something for everyone in this collection of four- and five-star rated dishes, with salads, sandwiches, soups and wraps all embracing cucumber's cool and fresh flavor. Recipes like our Cucumber Sandwich and Marinated Cucumber & Tomato Salad are some of the most popular recipes on EatingWell.

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Cucumber Sandwich with Cotija & Lime

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This easy vegetarian cucumber sandwich draws flavor inspiration from elote, the Mexican street corn dish. Instead of corn, we flavor cucumber slices with cotija cheese, lime and cilantro for a tasty filling. Cotija cheese, a salty, crumbly Mexican cheese, is similar in flavor and texture to feta cheese, which can be used as a substitute. Arugula adds a peppery flavor, but any tender greens will work well here.

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Marinated Cucumber & Tomato Salad

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This marinated salad is such a healthy way to enjoy those fresh summer veggies and can be easily customized. Try adding in some fresh herbs or feta cheese for a little added flavor. You can also swap in seasoned pepper, which is amped up with additional seasonings, in place of the plain ground pepper for an additional flavor boost.

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Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad

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Here's a healthy salad recipe to make at the height of summer when watermelon and cucumbers are at their juiciest and most flavorful. Feta adds the perfect creamy, salty, tangy edge, and mint makes this salad taste even brighter. This is one easy side salad you'll want to serve at all your summer BBQs.

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Cucumber Sandwich

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This creamy, crunchy cucumber sandwich recipe strikes a lovely balance between decadent and light. The cream cheese-yogurt spread complements the crisp refreshing cucumber while the hearty flavor and texture of the whole-wheat bread holds everything together.

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Cucumber Vinegar Salad

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This cucumber vinegar salad has the perfect balance between sweet and sour flavors plus a hint of fresh dill. The red onion adds a nice crunch.

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Creamy Cucumber Soup

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There's no reason to only eat cucumbers raw—they are wonderful sautéed then pureed with avocado for a silky cucumber soup that's good warm or cold.

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Cucumber Salad Sandwich

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Who said you couldn't put a salad on a sandwich? Flavor this creamy cucumber filling with your favorite fresh herbs, tangy feta cheese and lemon. Salting the cucumber then patting it dry removes some of the moisture from the cucumber so the filling doesn't make the bread too soggy. If you like crispy bread, toast it first for extra crunch.

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Creamy Cucumber, Radish & Tomato Chopped Salad

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A mix of cool, crunchy vegetables gives this healthy salad satisfying bite for a perfect potluck side.

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Loaded Cucumber & Avocado Sandwich

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This loaded cucumber-and-avocado sandwich is filled with creamy avocado and crispy cucumbers. Ricotta cheese mixed with extra-sharp Cheddar adds flavor while sliced red peppers offer a splash of color.

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Chile-Spiced Pork Tacos with Cucumber-Mango Salsa

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Feel free to use just one type of chile powder in this dish, but we find that the combo of ancho and chipotle delivers the most nuanced flavor. The chipotle (dried, smoked jalapeño peppers) adds fire, while the anchos (dried poblanos) lend a fruity, more moderate heat.

Cucumber & Celery Salad

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This cucumber and celery salad is crunchy and fresh and strikes the perfect balance between salty and sweet. Gochugaru, a coarse Korean chili powder, brings mild heat to the dish. Gently smashing the cucumbers helps to evenly distribute the flavor. This is the perfect salad to eat with rice and tofu or grilled fish or shrimp.

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Quick Cucumber Kimchi

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This cucumber kimchi recipe gets its flavor from garlic, fish sauce and a hint of Korean chile powder. Make this side dish ahead of time to let the flavors absorb into the cucumbers.

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Cucumber, Tomato & Feta Salad with Balsamic Dressing

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This Greek-inspired tomato salad is packed with fresh veggies and flavor-boosting ingredients, like balsamic vinegar, Kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese. This delicious salad takes just 15 minutes to make and while you could eat it right away, it tastes even better the longer it sits, so plan to leave at least an hour of marinating time before serving.

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3-Ingredient Cucumber Boursin Wrap

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An easy lunch is only three ingredients away with this cucumber Boursin wrap. Boursin spreadable cheese is flavorful and functional, as it holds the chopped cucumber in place as you roll up the wrap. You can slice and enjoy this easy sandwich right away, or pack it up for lunch. If you are saving it for later, pat the chopped cucumber with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.

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Cucumber & Avocado Salad

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This healthy cucumber-avocado salad takes just five minutes to prep. Lime juice and fresh herbs boost the bright flavors in this crunchy and creamy salad that's a perfect side dish for grilled chicken, fish or steak. This recipe calls for an English cucumber, which doesn't have to be peeled, but regular cucumbers work well too--just peel them before slicing.

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Chicken & Cucumber Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

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We love the crunch from sliced cucumber and jicama in these savory chicken lettuce wraps. Serve with the simple peanut sauce for an easy dinner recipe that will impress kids and adults alike.

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Grilled Chicken with Cucumber-Radish Salsa

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Fresh salsa dresses up grilled chicken--or any other meat for that matter--in this healthy chicken dinner recipe. Want an island vibe? Swap mango for the cucumber and lime juice for the rice vinegar.

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Pineapple & Cucumber Salad

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Enjoy this sweet, refreshing salad alongside grilled meat or fish to cut through the richness and refresh the palate. If you like a little heat, adding jalapeño will give you the kick you crave. While packs of prechopped pineapple are convenient, they're almost always more expensive. When pineapple is in season, it's best to buy fresh and chop it yourself. Look for a pineapple with a golden-yellow exterior, which is a good indicator of ripeness.

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Chopped Cucumber & Tomato Salad with Lemon

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It doesn't get easier than a cucumber and tomato summer salad! Fresh cucumber and juicy ripe tomatoes are all you need to really make this salad shine. Marinating cucumbers and tomatoes in vinegar with a touch of lemon zest infuses the dish with tangy citrus flavor.

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Easy Refrigerator Pickles

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Don't let your cucumbers go bad or freeze in the fridge. Refrigerator pickles are easy to make, and there's no need for kettle steamers, special jars, and vacuum-tight lids. Make an extra batch to top off grilled burgers, diced for fresh tartar sauce, as the perfect side to a simple sandwich or just a quick, tangy snack. The pickling liquid can be used with other vegetables as well such as beets, onions and carrots depending on the season. Plus, unlike store-bought pickles, these scrumptious homemade pickles are low in sodium.

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Strawberry-Cucumber Juice

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This refreshing, healthy strawberry-cucumber juice is also made with an apple and carrots, making it taste like the farmers' market in a glass. No juicer? No problem. See the juicing variation below to make this strawberry-cucumber juice recipe in a blender.

21 Cucumber Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever (2024)

FAQs

What fruit pairs well with cucumber? ›

Spices: Cucumbers pair well with spices such as black pepper, cumin, and coriander. Fruits: Cucumbers pair well with fruits such as tomatoes, watermelon, and berries. Meats: Cucumbers pair well with meats such as chicken, salmon, and tuna. Seafood: Cucumbers pair well with seafood such as shrimp, crab, and oysters.

Which cucumber is best to eat? ›

Armenian Cucumbers

They are delightfully crunchy and are delicious when simply sliced and eaten raw. These cucumbers have very soft seeds and thin skin. They do not require seeding or peeling for eating. They are not good for pickling, however, because their softer texture means they turn to mush.

What to do with cucumbers besides pickles? ›

7 Different Ways to Eat Up Extra Cucumbers
  1. Find our Pickled Cucumbers recipe here. ...
  2. Tropical Cucumber Smoothie with Kale.
  3. Hydrating Cucumber Smoothie with Mango.
  4. Cucumber Mojito Mocktail.
  5. Mixed Berry & Cucumber Bellini Mocktail.
  6. Cucumber Melon Sangria Mocktail.
  7. Lemon Cucumber Virgin Cooler.
Sep 14, 2020

What kind of cucumber is best for salads? ›

Persian Cucumbers

They have a mild flavor and thin skins, so they're great sliced or chopped for salads and snacking, or even tossed in the blender to make a Spicy Cucumber Margarita. And because they're available year-round, Persian cukes are another good choice for pickling.

What should not be mixed with cucumber? ›

Cucumber and tomato are both eaten together in salads. But this is not the right food combination in terms of health. Actually, the way these two are digested is completely different, so eating them together should be avoided.

Is it OK to eat cucumber and watermelon together? ›

While cucumbers and watermelons have many health benefits, watermelon is sweet, too much of this good thing can raise blood sugar levels. The combination of watermelon and cucumber makes for a tasty, fresh, and healthy salad. The recipe below calls for lemon, which also happens to be a diuretic, antioxidant ingredient.

Why should you crush a cucumber before you eat it? ›

That's why chefs and home chefs from Asian cuisine have been using this technique of crushing cucumbers before slicing them for a long time. The reason for this is most likely to make sure the vegetable dries out a little bit. This way, it will become more flavoursome and it can absorb other flavours better.

Should I eat cucumber at night or morning? ›

Cucumber can be consumed at any time of the day or night as it helps to balance all the three doshas and helps to maintain the water content of the body. If you have weak or poor digestion then you must avoid taking at night because Cucumber seeds are heavy to digest.

Are cucumbers healthier than tomatoes? ›

Tomatoes are higher in immune-boosting vitamin C than cucumbers. They are a good source of vitamin K, which ensures that blood can clot so wounds heal properly. The lycopene in tomatoes can help to keep the prostate gland healthy. Tomato skin contains the antioxidant naringenin, which fights inflammation.

What can you put on cucumbers to make them taste good? ›

Salt – It draws moisture out of the cucumbers, giving them a crisp, pickle-like texture. It also makes the flavors in this salad pop! Fresh dill and chives – Dill is a classic ingredient in a cucumber onion salad, as its sour flavor pairs perfectly with the sweet and tangy vinegar dressing.

Can I freeze cucumbers? ›

Yes, you can freeze cucumbers, but there's a catch. Frozen cucumbers will never have the same crisp snap as fresh cucumbers. Here's why. Cucumbers are about 95% water, so freezing and thawing will affect their cell structure, resulting in a mushy texture.

Why do you soak cucumbers in salt water? ›

Cucumbers are often soaked in salt water to remove some of the naturally high water content. Cucumbers will otherwise give up water and dilute the salad dressing. Unpeeled cucumbers are higher in nutritional value as fiber and vitamin A are lost by peeling.

What are co*cktail cucumbers? ›

The most obvious difference between Mini and co*cktail Cucumbers is their size. While you may think that Mini Cucumbers are the smallest variety of Cucumber, the smallest is actually the co*cktail Cucumber! co*cktail Cucumbers measure 2 1/2 inches long. Mini Cucumbers measure 4-6 inches long.

What are number 1 cucumbers? ›

1 consists of cucumbers which are fairly well colored, fairly well formed, not overgrown, and which are fresh, firm, and free from decay, sunscald and from damage caused by scars, yellowing, sunburn, dirt or other foreign materials, freezing, mosaic or other disease, insects, cuts, bruises, mechanical or other means.

What is the best tasting cucumber in the world? ›

Striped Armenian (aka Painted Serpent)

Striped Armenian is one of the sweetest cucumbers. It has small seeds and thin skin. Though it looks like a cucumber, it is actually a melon—a species of Cucumis.

What is the best companion for cucumbers? ›

Best Cucumber Companion Plants
  • Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
  • Corn.
  • Root vegetables (radishes, beets, carrots, garlic)
  • Select flowers (marigolds, nasturtiums, sunflowers)
  • Select herbs (dill and oregano)
Jun 6, 2023

Can we eat fruits and cucumber together? ›

There is no problem in consuming cucumber with fruits like watermelon or muskmelon. If you are not having any digestion problems or stomach issues, you can consume it.

Is it OK to eat apple and cucumber together? ›

Yes, apples and cucumbers are a great combination because they're packed with nutrients your body needs. Consuming both of them together provides a nice flavor balance with the sweetness from the apple combined with the cucumber's refreshing and hydrating feel.

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