Strawberry Cucumber Salad

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This beautiful strawberry cucumber salad is refreshing and delicious!

It's perfect for late spring and early summer when fresh strawberries are at their peak. The crunchy, cool flavor of the cucumbers offsets the juicy brightness of the berries. Topped with a healthy portion of chopped herbs and crumbly feta and paired with a balsamic vinaigrette, it's a perfect salad.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Tips for Making a Strawberry Cucumber Salad
• Substitutions & Variations
• Storage
• How to Choose the Best Strawberries
• What to Serve with Strawberry Cucumber Salad
• More Fresh Fruit Salad Recipes to Try
• Strawberry Cucumber Salad

It's also just a really pretty salad, so it would be a great dish to take to a picnic or potluck or to serve at a dinner party or brunch.

This fresh summer salad is a delightful dish that serves 4 to 6 as a side salad. You could also enjoy it as a light lunch for 2 to 3 people.

Ingredients

You don't need much to make this recipe, so focus on getting the freshest/best quality ingredients possible!

• Fresh strawberries - I like to cut the strawberries into coins because they look cute, but they can be quartered as well.
• Cucumber - Keep the skin on if you use an English cucumber. If you use a regular hothouse cucumber for this recipe, peel the skin first, as it tends to be bitter. 
• Feta - I like to crumble feta quite small, that way there are more pieces of it throughout the salad and you get the flavor in each bite.
• Herbs - Chopped mint and chopped basil really tie this salad together and give it extra freshness. 
• Balsamic dressing - To keep things simple, we'll drizzle a good quality olive oil, a balsamic glaze (this is reduced balsamic vinegar), and flaky sea salt (I used Maldon) over the top of the salad.

Instructions

Slice the strawberries and cucumbers into thin, coin-shaped slices. Then toss with the feta. Place them in a large bowl. 

Drizzle the olive oil and balsamic over the top of the salad. Sprinkle the sea salt over the salad and then top with the basil and mint.

Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving, so the flavors come together.

Tips for Making a Strawberry Cucumber Salad

Specialty Ingredients - You can use any sea salt you like for this recipe, but I love Maldon sea salt - the large flakes work well in salads like this.

Ingredient Tips - Clean strawberries with vinegar if you want them to last longer. You can use this tip for all berries. 

Diet/Allergy Alternatives - If you'd like to make this recipe vegan or dairy-free, omit the feta cheese and add another ¼ of herbs or some toasted pine nuts.

Substitutions & Variations

Try some of these variations for some different flavors.

• Red Onion - If you'd like an allium kick, add a few slices of red onion or shallots to your salad.
• Cheese - You can substitute the feta for goat cheese or blue cheese.
• Salad Dressings - Feel free to substitute balsamic vinegar for the balsamic glaze or add in some apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, or lime juice.
• Nuts or Seeds - If you'd like a bit more heft, add in some chopped pistachios, sesame seeds, or toasted pine nuts.

Storage

You can save this salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. 

How to Choose the Best Strawberries

If you love fresh strawberries, you need to know these tips for choosing the freshest berries.

• Smell - The best strawberries will actually smell like strawberries. When you walk into a grocery store or pick up a pint at a farmer's market and you can smell the sweetness of the berries, they're going to taste great.
• Size - The best strawberries are usually smaller - they have the most flavor.
• Color - The best strawberries will be red all the way through. Berries that have been picked early will get redder on the outside but will never fully ripen inside.
• Appearance - Avoid berries that have holes, bruising, or gouges.
• Mold - If you're buying berries in a plastic container, flip them over to check the berries on the bottom. Usually the bottom of the container molds first, so make sure there are no signs of mold or moisture.

For more tips on strawberries, check out this guide on how to know if your strawberries have gone bad. 

What to Serve with Strawberry Cucumber Salad

• Baked Mahi Mahi - Mahi Mahi has a wonderful mild flavor with a bit of sweetness and a nice, firm texture. This one comes together in about 20 minutes. 
• Baked King Salmon - This is an easy, flavorful recipe that is sure to be a hit, and it's ready in less than 30 minutes.
• Lemon Herb Grilled Shrimp - I'll show you how to make a delicious marinade with herbs and spices and perfectly grill shrimp so they are tender and succulent.

More Fresh Fruit Salad Recipes to Try

If you like a refreshing fruit salad, check out some of our other simple recipes for busy weeknights.

• Strawberry and Cantaloupe Salad - Full of flavor and super easy to make, this strawberry cantaloupe salad is one of our all-time favorite recipes
• Goldenberry Burrata Salad - Tart and tangy goldenberries combine with creamy burrata for a wonderful salad that can be served with toasted bread
• Watermelon Mozzarella Salad - These fun watermelon mozzarella stacks are a perfect appetizer or side salad for summer
• Italian Tomato Salad - This fresh tomato salad is topped with herbs and a delicious dressing.

If you try this fresh strawberry salad recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos, or leave us a rating.