This creamy viral cucumber salad makes a delicious and refreshing lunch or a quick side dish. Made with crunchy cucumbers, pungent onions, Greek yogurt, mint, cilantro, and lemon, this indulgent salad recipe is a must-try.
The creamy richness of yogurt, combined with the freshness of herbs, heat from red pepper flakes, and a hint of sweetness from honey, makes it a perfectly cooling and light salad for any day.
Create caviar-like pearls using agar-agar or sodium alginate for a stunning garnish.
Table of contents
Using a mandoline slicer and a jar, this salad comes together in just 5 minutes, making it an ideal meal option for a busy day.
If you love a cucumber salad or are looking for a fresh, delicious, and easy-to-make salad recipe, this viral cucumber salad is for you.
On this page, I have shared a step-by-step picture and video recipe on how to make cucumber salad, with all the important tips and variations!
About Cucumber Salad
This TikTok viral cucumber salad became viral in July when a TikTok user shared a cucumber salad video. It showed one of the best ways to eat an entire cucumber.
Made with crisp cucumbers, crunchy onions, tangy Greek yogurt, garlic, and a refreshing blend of fresh mint and cilantro, lemon juice, and honey, all tossed together in a simple jar.
This creamy, healthy, and flavorful cucumber salad is a refreshing twist on the classic cucumber salad, with a perfect balance of creamy, tangy, mildly spicy, and sweet flavors.
What I love about this salad is that there’s no need to make a separate dressing, and it can be customized to suit your taste.
This easy-to-make salad is perfect as a light lunch or a BBQ side dish. To make this cucumber salad, all you need is a jar and a mandoline slicer.
Whether you love cucumbers, need a quick side dish, or want a light meal, this easy salad recipe will surely impress you.
So, are you ready to try this viral cucumber salad and find out for yourself why it’s so popular?
Why You will Love This Recipe
You’ll love this viral cucumber salad because it:
✔ is quick and easy
✔ takes only 5 minutes
✔ is perfect for any meal
✔ can be made vegan
✔ is light, refreshing & cooling
✔ is creamy and flavorful
✔ is easily customizable
✔ is vegetarian & gluten-free
✔ is super delicious
Ingredients
-
Cucumbers: As the name suggests, they are the base of this salad. You will need a medium sized whole cucumber for making this salad. Fresh cucumbers add crispness, crunch, and hydration to the recipe.
-
Red Onion: Adds a sharp, spicy flavor that pairs well with the cool cucumbers.
-
Herbs: I use a combination of cilantro and mint for a bright and refreshing taste. You can also use parsley or dill here.
-
Greek Yogurt: Provides protein, a creamy texture, and tangy taste.
-
Honey: Adds a bit of sweetness to balance the heat from the red pepper flakes and the tang from the yogurt and lemon juice.
-
Lemon Juice: Adds bright freshness and acidity, enhancing the overall taste of the salad. You can also use rice vinegar, or white vinegar here.
-
Garlic: A clove of garlic adds aromatic flavor. However, if you’re not a fan of garlic, feel free to skip it.
-
Seasoning: I season this salad with essential salt and pepper, and I also add some red pepper flakes for a spicy touch.
Variations
Avocado Cucumber Salad
If you love the cucumber avocado salad combination, feel free to add some sliced avocado to this salad.
Cucumber Corn Salad
Cucumber and corn taste great together. You can add about 1/4 cup of cooked corn kernels to the jar along with the other ingredients.
Cheese
For a tangy and salty taste, you can add some cottage cheese or crumbled feta.
Spicy Version
For a spicier salad, add chopped green chilies or jalapeños. You can also increase the amount of red pepper flakes.
No Yogurt Cucumber Salad
If you don’t like yogurt dressing, you can make a yogurt-free version by replacing the Greek yogurt with olive oil.
Vegan Cucumber Salad
For a vegan version, replace the honey with maple syrup and the Greek yogurt with a dairy-free alternative, or simply use olive oil or sesame oil.
Serving Suggestions
This easy viral cucumber salad can be served as a light and refreshing lunch or snack. It’s delicious on its own for a light meal or snack.
For a sandwich experience, you can serve it over a cream cheese-topped bagel. You can also use it as a topping for wraps or tacos for added freshness and crunch.
Or serve it as a side with garlic bread, roasted potatoes, paneer tikka, chicken tikka, grilled chicken, fish, or lamb at BBQ parties or picnics.
Storage Suggestions
This salad tastes best when enjoyed immediately after making it, as it releases water over time and doesn’t stay fresh for long. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-6 hours. Stir the salad before serving.
Important Tips and Tricks for Making Viral Cucumber Salad
-
Cucumbers: For the best taste and texture, use fresh, firm, and crisp cucumbers.
-
Chilled Ingredients: Use chilled Greek yogurt and cucumbers for a refreshing salad.
-
Yogurt: I used Greek yogurt, but regular thick yogurt works fine too.
-
Serving: If you’re not serving the salad immediately, keep it chilled in the refrigerator.
-
Slicing: Thinly sliced cucumbers and onions absorb the dressing better. A mandoline slicer is ideal, but a knife works as well.
-
Flavors: Taste the salad before serving and adjust the dressing to your preference.
-
Make Ahead: If preparing the salad in advance, slice the cucumbers and onions and store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. When ready to eat, add the dressing, shake, and enjoy to avoid sogginess.
-
Garnishing: You can use spring onion greens, toasted sesame seeds and red pepper flakes for garnishing.
-
Seasoning: For a different flavor profile, you can also add bagel seasoning to this cucumber salad.
Viral Cucumber Salad (Step-by-step photo instructions)
For making Viral Cucumber Salad
- Thinly slice the cucumber directly into the jar using a mandoline slicer. Slice the red onion and add it to the jar as well. Add Greek yogurt, honey, lemon juice, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, ground black pepper, chopped mint, cilantro, and salt to the jar.
- Seal the jar tightly and shake well until the cucumbers and onions are fully coated in the dressing. Chill for 10-15 minutes, or transfer the salad to a serving plate. Garnish with chopped cilantro and enjoy as a healthy snack or lunch!
Recipe Card
Viral Cucumber Salad [Recipe]
★★★★★
(Rating: 4.9 from 5 reviews)
| Prep time 🕐 | Cook time 🕐 | Total time 🕐 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 mins | ||
| Category ☶ | Cuisine ♨ | Serves ☺ |
| Salads | International | 2 |
| Nutrition Info ⊛ | Serving size ⊚ | |
| 110 calories | 1 |
INGREDIENTS
For Viral Cucumber Salad
- 1 large cucumber, chilled
- 1/2 medium-sized red onion
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2-3 tablespoons cup Greek yogurt, chilled
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS:
For making Viral Cucumber Salad
- Thinly slice the cucumber directly into the jar using a mandoline slicer. Slice the red onion and add it to the jar as well. Add Greek yogurt, honey, lemon juice, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, ground black pepper, chopped mint, cilantro, and salt to the jar.
- Seal the jar tightly and shake well until the cucumbers and onions are fully coated in the dressing. Chill for 10-15 minutes, or transfer the salad to a serving plate. Garnish with chopped cilantro and enjoy as a healthy snack or lunch!
WATCH RECIPE VIDEO: Click the play button and video will load ...
NOTES:
- Thinly sliced cucumbers and onions absorb the dressing better. A mandoline slicer is ideal, but a knife works as well.
- Taste the salad before serving and adjust the dressing to your preference.
If this recipe helped you, then please spread the word by sharing and subscribing to us on YouTube to get more such Recipe Videos.
Your feedback is so helpful for me and other My Ginger Garlic Kitchen readers. So, for Facebook and Instagram, please mention @MyGingerGarlicKitchen or #mygingergarlickitchen. I would love to see your photos. :)
Author: Anupama
Recipe Source Link: https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/viral-cucumber-salad/
