Crisp Cucumber and Creamy Avocado Salad Recipe for Summer

This easy cucumber avocado salad is cool, refreshing, and quick to make — an ideal side for barbecues, sandwiches, and outdoor picnics.

Cucumber Salad from Around the World

Cucumbers might not be the first vegetable you associate with Middle Eastern cuisine, but cucumber salads have a long history that reaches back to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Originally cultivated in India, cucumbers spread through the Middle East and into Europe, becoming a staple in many regional salads.

With a mild, cooling flavor and high water content (up to 95%), cucumbers are perfect for summer dishes. They feature in many refreshing salads such as cucumber, feta, and watermelon combinations and in Levantine salads like fattoush.

Cucumber salads take many forms around the world. Some use dairy—yogurt in Indian raita or sour cream in a Russian-style salad. Others are dairy-free, dressed simply with olive oil, lemon, and salt as in the classic Israeli salad, or marinated in vinegar and dill for a bright, tangy finish.

Ingredients in our cucumber avocado salad

This simple, healthy salad combines seedless English cucumbers (or Persian cucumbers), creamy ripe avocado, and a light dressing of apple cider vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Black sesame seeds add a nutty crunch, and chopped marinated hot cherry peppers bring subtle heat. A pinch of salt balances the flavors.

Variations on cucumber salad

Cucumber salad is extremely versatile and adapts well to different flavor profiles:

• Keep it classic with vinegar and dill for picnics and barbecues.
• Go Asian with rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, tamari, and fresh ginger.
• For a Russian-style version, use dairy-free sour cream (or regular sour cream), dill, and a little sugar.
• Turn it into Indian raita by julienning the cucumber, adding yogurt, and a pinch of garam masala.

Fun Fact – Cool As a Cucumber

The saying “cool as a cucumber” has a basis in fact: because cucumbers are mostly water, their interior can be several degrees cooler than the surrounding air. That cooling quality makes cucumber salads an excellent accompaniment to spicy dishes like buffalo cauliflower tacos, eggplant chickpea curry, or spicy couscous salads.

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Avocado Cucumber Salad

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5 from 4 reviews

• Author: Vicky & Ruth
• Total Time: 10 mins
• Yield: 6 cups
• Diet: Gluten Free