Cucumbers are summer’s coolest overachievers. Here are 20 fresh, crunchy ways to turn them into salads, chilled soups, pickles, sauces, light meals, and more.
Cucumbers were made for hot summer days. Cool, crisp, and endlessly refreshing, they’re one of the ingredients I reach for most when temperatures climb. These 25 cucumber recipes make the most of them-from crunchy salads and quick pickles to cooling sauces, refreshing drinks, and easy summer meals.
If your garden is overflowing with cucumbers-like mine is, or you’ve come home from the farmers market with more than you know what to do with-you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find plenty of fresh inspiration here, including some of our most-loved cucumber recipes on Feasting at Home.
What can I make with lots of cucumbers? Fresh cucumbers are incredibly versatile-turn them into crunchy salads, chilled soups, tzatziki and raita, quick pickles, fermented pickles, ceviche, or add them to bowls and light summer meals.
My Best Tips for Cucumbers
Choose the best cucumbers. Look for firm cucumbers with smooth, vibrant skin and no soft spots or wrinkles. Smaller cucumbers generally have fewer, more tender seeds and a crisper texture.
Peel and seed only when needed. Thin-skinned Persian, Turkish and English cucumbers rarely need peeling or seeding. For larger garden cucumbers with tougher skins or mature seeds, peel all or part of the skin (in strips), slice lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
Salt for extra crunch. For cucumber salads, salting draws out excess moisture so your dressing stays flavorful instead of becoming watery. Toss sliced cucumbers with a little salt, drain in a colander for 15-30 minutes, then pat dry.
Change the cut, change the experience. Thin rounds soak up dressing beautifully, ribbons feel light and elegant, while thicker slices and chunks give you more crunch. A mandoline makes quick work of paper-thin slices.
Give cucumbers plenty of contrast. Their cool, mild flavor loves acidity, salt, spice, and fresh herbs. Pair them with lemon or lime, vinegar, yogurt, chile, garlic, dill, cilantro, mint, or basil.
Keep them crisp. Store whole, dry cucumbers in the refrigerator and protect them from excess moisture. Once cut, keep them in an airtight container and use them within a few days.
Fresh & Crunchy Cucumber Salads
Cool, crisp, and made for hot days, these cucumber salads are packed with fresh herbs, bright dressings, and plenty of crunch.
Korean Cucumber Salad
Tangy spicy Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim) is crunchy, cool, and refreshing. An easy-to-make Korean cucumber side dish that is healthy and delicious.
Asian Cucumber Salad
This Asian Cucumber Salad is cool and refreshing and pairs well with many things. It's vegan and gluten-free and is a nice addition to meals and bowls you are already making!
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Creamy Cucumber Salad with sliced cucumbers, dill and mint in a creamy yogurt dressing. Cool and refreshing this herby Turkish-inspired summer salad pairs well with grilled meats or fish, or falafels!
Dilly Cucumber Tomato Salad
This Cucumber Tomato Salad is fresh and light, made with vine-ripe tomatoes, juicy garden cucumbers, slivers of red onion, and fresh dill, tossed in a red wine vinaigrette.
Mexican Cucumber Salad
This cucumber salad recipe is quick and easy! Made with cilantro, red onion, and lime, it pairs with so many things! Tuck into tacos or Burrito bowls or serve as a refreshing side.
Cucumber Orzo Salad with Lemon & Basil
This light and refreshing Orzo Salad is packed with cucumbers in a flavorful lemon basil dressing.
Nectarine Cucumber Salad
A juicy Nectarine Salad with cucumber, basil, goat cheese, red onion, and optional Urfa Biber (Turkish Chili Pepper). A simple delicious Farmers Market Salad you can put together in minutes!
Greek Salad
This Classic Greek Salad is bursting with summertime flavor! Made with vine-ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, Kalamata olives, and sheep's milk feta, this salad highlights the best of summer produce and lets the vegetables shine!
Persian Cucumber Walnut Salad
Persian Cucumber Walnut Salad and mounds of fresh herbs like mint, dill, cilantro, chives and parsley. Refreshing!
Fennel Cucumber Salad
Simple, delicious Fennel Cucumber Salad with Dill- refreshing and light, this vegan salad can be made ahead, and pairs well with so many things!
Chilled Cucumber Soups
When it’s too hot to cook, cucumber soup is hard to beat. These chilled soups are cool, creamy, refreshing, and made for the hottest days of summer.
Cucumber Gazpacho
Cool and refreshing Cucumber Gazpacho with yogurt, cilantro, coriander and lime. Top this with shrimp or keep it vegetarian! So simple and tasty. With a Video!
Green Gazpacho
Here’s a refreshing recipe for Green Gazpacho – a chilled raw soup, made with fresh garden ingredients that can be made in 15 minutes. A nourishing and delicious summer treat! Allow 30-60 minutes to chill.
Cucumber Melon Soup
Chilled Cucumber Melon Soup - an easy, healthy summer soup that can be served as an appetizer or light meal. Refreshing and delicious!
Easy Meals with Cucumbers
Thai Quinoa Salad
This bright and cheery Lentil Quinoa Salad is packed with Thai flavor! Crunchy veggies and fragrant herbs in a tangy Thai Dressing. Vegan & gluten-free.
Shrimp Ceviche Verde (Mexican Green Ceviche Recipe)
If you love ceviche, wait until you try it verde! Tangy tomatillos, fresh lime, cilantro, and jalapeño make this shrimp ceviche incredibly bright and refreshing. A fresh, vibrant no-cook Mexican appetizer perfect for summer!
Easy Ceviche Recipe
This easy ceviche recipe is made with fresh fish (or shrimp), tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, red onion, cilantro and lime juice. Serve it as an appetizer with tortilla chips or a light, refreshing summer meal. Video.
Cooling Cucumber Sauces and Dips
Cucumber brings instant freshness to creamy sauces and dips. These cooling classics are especially delicious alongside spicy dishes, grilled meats, vegetables, and warm flatbread.
Cucumber Tzatziki
Cooling Cucumber Tzatziki is a traditional Greek cucumber-yogurt sauce that can be made in just 20 minutes!
Raita
This simple Indian cucmber yogurt sauce is made with cucumber, mint, and cilantro. Cooling and refreshing, it is served with spicy Indian dishes to help cool the palate.
Fermented & Pickled Cucumber Recipes
When the garden gives you more cucumbers than you can possibly eat, pickle them! These easy recipes preserve their irresistible crunch while adding plenty of tangy flavor.
Homemade Dill Pickles!
How to make Manhattan-style, homemade fermented Pickles with Garlic and Dill! An easy step-by-step guide to making the most flavorful, crunchy, tangy pickles full of healthy probiotics, with only 20 minutes of hands-on time!
Cucumber Kimchi Pickles
How to make fermented Cucumber Kimchi Pickles in 3-5 days with 20 minutes of hands-on time! Easy to make and full of healthy, gut-supporting probiotics.
We hope you enjoy these delicious cucumber recipes! Have a favorite? Let us know! Mine are our Asian Cucumber Salad, Cucumber Gazpacho, and Creamy Cucumber Salad! Oh! And of course, Raita and Tzatziki, both staples around here! xoxo Sylvia
More Veggie Collections
Asian Cucumber Salad Video
20 Fresh Cucumber Recipes
- Prep Time: 15
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: salad
- Method: tossed
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Cucumbers are summer’s coolest overachievers. Here are 25 fresh, crunchy ways to turn them into salads, pickles, sauces, drinks, and more. Here is our Creamy Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 large English Cucumbers (or 6 Persian cucumbers) thinly sliced (skin on) see notes.
- 1/4 of a red onion, very thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, lime juice, rice vinegar or white wine vinegar (more to taste)
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped herbs -dill, cilantro, mint, Italian parsley, or basil (or use a combo)
- pinch aleppo chili flakes or Urfa biber– optional
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a medium bowl, and gently tossing together or stir.
Taste, and sprinkle more salt and acid as needed. You want this to taste flavorful!
Store leftovers in a sealed airtight container for up to 2 days in the fridge.
Notes
English and Persian cucumbers have thin skins that are perfectly edible. If you use regular cucumbers peel the skins off.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 61
- Sugar: 2.2 g
- Sodium: 196.9 mg
- Fat: 4.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 5.1 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 0.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
My family loves this dish!
Love all these cucumber recipes.
Often underrated and overlooked are cooked cucumber recipes, that for some are easier to digest and super tasty. Sautéed, baked, grilled, asian or mediterranean flavors..delicious!
I will have to try cooking them!
We have made many of these and love them all.
Great to hear Allen!
So excited to try the cucumber salads. Boston is incredibly hot right now and these are just what need.
Yes, cucumbers are so refreshing on hot summer days!