Description
This Healthy Cucumber Avocado Salad with Tangy Lime & Cilantro is a fresh, vibrant, and nutritious salad perfect for a light meal or a side dish. Featuring crisp cucumbers, creamy avocado, zesty lime, and fragrant cilantro, it combines simple ingredients with a bright, tangy dressing made from lime juice and olive oil. Ready in just 15 minutes, this refreshing salad is perfect for warm weather or any time you want a healthy, flavorful dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 English or Persian cucumbers
- 1 ripe Hass avocado
- 1/4 red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 lime (zested and juiced)
- 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: a tiny drizzle of honey or agave nectar
- Optional: a tiny pinch of cumin
- Optional: finely minced jalapeño for heat
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Wash the cucumbers thoroughly and dice them into bite-sized pieces, about half an inch. Finely dice about a quarter of a red onion and wash and roughly chop a generous amount of fresh cilantro.
- Zest and Juice the Lime: Zest one whole lime into a small bowl, then cut the lime in half and squeeze out all its juice into the same bowl.
- Make the Simple Dressing: Add 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to the lime juice and zest. Season generously with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, and whisk until well combined. Optionally, add a drizzle of honey or agave nectar, a pinch of cumin, and/or finely minced jalapeño for extra flavor.
- Dice the Avocado: Cut the ripe avocado in half, remove the pit, and cube the flesh right in the skin before scooping it out with a spoon.
- Combine and Gently Toss: In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced cucumbers, red onion, and chopped cilantro. Pour the lime and olive oil dressing over everything and gently toss to coat.
- Add Avocado and Serve: Add the diced avocado to the bowl and gently fold it into the salad to minimize bruising. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving.
Notes
- Use Persian cucumbers for a sweeter, thinner-skinned option if available.
- Adjust the amount of jalapeño based on desired spice level.
- For extra protein, consider topping with a sprinkle of toasted nuts or seeds.
- This salad is best served fresh; avocado may brown if left too long after dicing.
- Optional honey or agave nectar adds a slight sweetness balancing the tangy lime.
