If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy salad to add to your weeknight dinner rotation, then you need to try this 5-Minute Spicy Cucumber Salad. This dish is perfect as a quick and easy snack or as a side dish for salmon or chicken. It’s refreshing, satisfying, and packed with healthy fats and nutrients that will keep you full and satisfied for hours!
When it comes to weeknight dinners, I love anything that is quick, simple, and easy to throw together. After all, my days are spent recipe testing, so by the time I reach dinner time, the last thing I want to do is cook another meal! So, I rely on recipes that are simple, easy, and nutritious. One of my favorite recipes lately? This Spicy Cucumber Avocado Salad.
This salad makes the perfect side dish to accompany almost any recipe. I love pairing it with chicken for a delicious dish that my whole family will enjoy, or even a perfect salmon as we ease into the summertime. This salad is crisp, refreshing, and packed with flavors that perfectly complement almost any recipe!
Plus, not to mention, this salad is full of healthy fats. Healthy fats, like those found in avocados and olive oil (both of which are in this recipe) are vital for our health. They provide our bodies with energy, help our brains function properly, and promote healthy skin and hair. Not only that, but they also help our bodies absorb important vitamins and minerals. This helps us stay fuller for longer, making this salad a true winner, in my book!
What You Need to Make This Crisp & Refreshing Salad
- English Cucumbers: It wouldn’t be a cucumber salad without the cucumbers, after all! I love using English cucumber in this recipe because they are nice and crunchy.
- Avocado: Avocados add creaminess and health fats to keep you feeling fuller for longer.
- Cilantro & Parsley: The combination of cilantro and parsley adds the freshest, herby flavor to this salad.
- Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic whenever possible. Not only does it add the best flavor, but as this salad sits, the garlic flavor gets stronger (which, in turn, makes this salad even better!)
- Cumin: The cumin adds a warm, earthy flavor to this salad that perfectly compliments the avocado and cucumber.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Crushed red pepper flakes adds a little bit of heat, and perfectly ties this salad together. If you want it to be a little spicier, you can add more in!
- Olive Oil: Of course, the magic in this salad lies within the healthy fats, and olive oil is the king of healthy fats! It’s rich, it’s filling, and it makes for the perfect base for the dressing of this salad.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: I love adding apple cider vinegar to my salad dressings! Not only does it add an acid to the dressing, but apple cider vinegar has been shown to be good for your gut health as well. After all, it is fermented!
- Lime: A squeeze of fresh lime juice adds the perfect balance of acidity to this salad.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper: Of course, no salad is complete without a little sea salt and black pepper!
Three Steps to Making This Perfect Salad
Making this salad is so simple and easy, you’ll want to make it all the time! Simply start by chopping and dicing your cucumber, avocado, cilantro, and parsley.
Next, add them to a large bowl, alongside the rest of your ingredients. Toss to combine, then serve and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to one week.
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim
Ingredients
- 2 English Cucumbers, diced
- 1 Large Avocado, diced
- 2 Tablespoons Cilantro or Parsley, chopped
- 1 Clove Garlic, mashed
- ¾ Teaspoon Cumin
- ¼ Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Lime, juiced
- ½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Start by chopping and dicing your cucumber, avocado, cilantro, and parsley
- Next, add them to a large bowl, alongside the rest of your ingredients
- Toss to combine, then serve and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to one week.
Rate & review
SELECT A RATING and tell me what you think!
What others are saying
Amazing recipe! Super fresh and it really does keep you full for several hours. You can then pair the base of it with different proteins of your choice at meal time or eat it solo. I tried it both ways and it was so yummy! Thanks Nicole!
Woohoo! I am so thrilled to hear that you loved this recipe, Michelle! Thank you so much for making it, and for leaving such a kind review!
I love this salad and make it almost every week. So easy and delicious. Thank you, Nicole!!!
I am so thrilled that you loved this recipe, Anna! Thank you so much for your review!
Love this recipe, super easy and tasty
Yay! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for your review, Lysa!
I love this salad! I have made it several times. Today I added a bit of jalapeno and diced celery for extra crunch! I also zest the lime and ad it. I really enjoy your IG and many recipes. Thank you 🙏
Yum! That sounds like delicious additions to this salad, Mary! Thank you so much for making it, and for leaving such a kind review!
Also, Happy Birthday 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈. I missed the star rating on my first comment. This is definitely a 5 Star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ recipe.
Aww thank you so much, Mary!
So delicious!! My kids loved!
I’m so happy to hear that, Susan! Thank you for your review!
Made this to go with salmon & it’s delicious! I put the dressing ingredients into the food processor to get them mixed up & the flavor was great. My husband enjoy it as well. I’ll be making this again!
That sounds amazing, Samantha! Thank you so much for your review!
There was nothing spicy about this cucumber salad. It lacked any hint of heat. A quarter of a teaspoon of crushed red pepper in a large bowl of diced cucumbers doesn’t cut it. I ended up sprinkling some cayenne pepper to spice it up.
Beautiful recipe,