Spicy Cilantro Cucumber Salad with Avocado
This spicy cilantro cucumber salad is a refreshing salad that combines the crisp freshness of cucumber with the vibrant flavor of cilantro. It’s perfect for a summer side dish or a light lunch.
Cucumbers are one of my favorite summer vegetables, they are healthy, refreshing, easy to prepare and there are so many ways to enjoy them. This salad has become our new favorite cucumber recipe. It takes minutes to make and makes enough for two big helpings or three small. When there are leftovers, I use it up for lunch the next day.
Why you will love this recipe
- Fresh! It’s made with fresh, simple ingredients. Crisp cucumbers add a satisfying crunch and spicy jalapeno peppers paired with cilantro adds a unique taste and a pop of color.
- Siimpe! This easy recipe is made with minimal ingredients and a few simple steps.
- Versatile! Add more veggies, or change the dressing to make it your own.
What you will need
This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this cucumber salad recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.
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Ingredients
Here is how to make spicy cilantro cucumber salad
Prepare: chop the tomatoes, cucumbers and avocados into bite-sized pieces. Slice the onions thin, chop the jalapenos and shred the cheese. Mix the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or jar.
STEP 1: Place the salad ingredients including the cheese into a large bowl
STEP 2: Add the dressing and combine all of the ingredients.
Substitutions and variations
Cilantro – If you don’t like the taste of cilantro, you can substitute it with an equal amount of parsely.
Jalapeno peppers – These add a nice spicy kick to this salad. If you don’t have a jalapeno pepper you and add a 1/2 teaspoon or red pepper flakes. If you prefer a milder version, feel free to leave the peppers out.
Add more vegetables – Add red bell peppers, beans, olives, or zucchini to make the salad more interesting and nutritious.
Add protein – Make this salad a complete meal by adding grilled chicken breast, cooked shrimp, tofu or beans such as chickpeas or black beans.
Change up the dressing – Swap the lime juice for lemon juice or a balsamic or red wine vinaigrette. Or you can mix in a little Greek yogurt with the lime dressing for a creamy dressing.
Cheese – Replace Cotija cheese with feta cheese or parmesan cheese. For a dairy-free version you can leave the cheese out.
What to serve with cilantro lime cucumber salad
One of the simplest and most delicious ways to enjoy this salad is to pair it with grilled meat or seafood. It’s also a great side dish for tacos or burgers.
How to store leftovers
If you have leftover cilantro cucumber salad, you can store it in a glass airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. If you anticipate leftovers, reserve some of the dressing when making the salad which can be used on leftovers to refresh the leftover salad.
If your leftover salad seems to be soggy, you can drain some of the excess liquid off and add reserved dressing or give it a squeeze of lime juice to brighten it up.
Tips
- Use fresh herbs that are bright green without yellowing or wilting.
- Do a taste test after mixing the salad to make sure the falvor are right for you.
- If the cucumber has large seeds, scoop them out to reduce the moisture content of the cucumbers.
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Spicy Cucumber Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers medium
- 1/2 avocado or 1 small
- 1 jalapeno pepper chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons red onion minced
- 6 cherry tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 cup cotija cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: slice 6 cherry tomatoes in half, chop 2 cucumbers and 1/2 avocado into bite-sized pieces. Mince 2 tablespoons red onion1 jalapeno pepper and 1 clove garlic. Shred 1/4 cup cotija cheese. Mix the dressing ingredients ( 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil,1 teaspoon chili powder and garlic) together in a small bowl or jar.
- Place the salad ingredients including the cheese into a large bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the top and stir gently to combine.