Cucumber Zucchini Salad

This raw cucumber zucchini salad with a lemon basil vinaigrette is a fun and healthy way to enjoy the fresh flavors of summer.

Cucumber zucchini salad.

Every summer is farmers market heaven in West Michigan. On the weekends, I sneak out early so that I can beat the crowds and stroll the stands. The farmers pretty much know me by name with how often I come and ogle over the beautiful fresh produce. If you’re also a frequent farmers market attendee, then you might be looking for a new recipe to use up some of those gorgeous veggies. My Zucchini Cucumber Salad is fresh and tangy, with a delicious homemade lemon basil vinaigrette. It might just be the perfect summer salad.

Ingredients

  • Zucchini: Super high in antioxidants, when eaten raw, zucchini is very mild in flavor and slightly sweet.
  • Cucumber: Cucumber is crunchy, juicy, and usually sweet in taste.
  • Arugula: Also called garden rocket, it’s a little bit tart and peppery, which complements the more sweet cucumber and zucchini.
  • Cherry tomatoes: Juicy and slightly sweet, they add a lovely pop of color to the salad as well.
  • Lemon juice: Fresh, acidic, and bright citrus flavor that adds to the salad dressing.
  • Olive oil: Paired with the lemon juice, olive oil helps set the base for the dressing of the salad.
  • Basil: Fragrant and almost minty in taste, with the lemon and Dijon it adds flavor to the dressing that balances out some of the sweeter ingredients.
  • Dijon: Gives the dressing just a little bit of a kick, and it pairs well with the basil and arugula.

How to Make Cucumber Zucchini Salad

Slicing cucumber for salad

Start your cucumber zucchini salad by washing your produce and then slicing your cucumber and zucchini into thin slices. I find there are two easy ways to do this, one is using a mandolin.

Peeling slices of zucchini

Or you can also use a vegetable peeler to get the same effect.

Zucchini and cucumber in a bowl

Once your zucchini and cucumber are all sliced, add them to a large bowl.

Adding arugula to salad

Then add the arugula on top.

Adding tomatoes to salad

And add the halved cherry tomatoes next.

Adding lemon juice to salad

Then to start your dressing, add the fresh lemon juice. You could also mix the vinaigrette in a separate bowl, but I like to make it right on top of the salad.

Drizzling olive oil over salad

After the lemon juice, drizzle in the olive oil.

Adding dijon to salad

Followed by a bit of Dijon.

Seasoning cucumber salad

Add the minced basil and season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Tossing salad all together

Toss it all together until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.

Garnishing cucumber zucchini salad with lemon juice.

Serve and enjoy your Cucumber Zucchini Salad!

Shake It Up

  • Add more veggies. You can spice things up by adding some red onion, or give it more of a Mediterranean vibe by adding black olives.
  • Change the dressing. To give the vinaigrette more of a punch, you could add balsamic vinegar, or increase the citrus flavor with some lemon zest before juicing your lemon. You could also add more fresh herbs like dill or parsley.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you keep cucumbers crispy?

Don’t cut them too far in advance before making the salad. Keep them clean and dry in a ventilated space before using them.

What kind of cucumber do you not have to peel?

While you can eat the peel of any cucumber, sometimes the peel is quite thick and a tad bitter. English cucumbers and Armenian cucumbers tend to have a thinner skin, making them more pleasant to eat raw and unpeeled.

Is it healthier to eat zucchini raw or cooked?

As with most fruits or vegetables, zucchini is healthier raw, as cooking it cooks out some of the vitamins.

Side view of cucumber zucchini salad

More Summer Salads

Eat It, Like It, Share It!

Did you try this dish and love it? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your dish.

Liz eating Cucumber Zucchini Salad.

The perfect summer side, this cool and crisp Cucumber Zucchini Salad will satisfy your family while helping you clear out that bottom drawer of your fridge.

Your fork is waiting.

Cucumber zucchini salad

Cucumber Zucchini Salad

4.47 stars average
This raw zucchini cucumber salad with a lemon basil vinaigrette is a fun and healthy way to enjoy the fresh flavors of summer.
PREP: 5 minutes
TOTAL: 5 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
 

  • 1 medium zucchini
  • 1 medium cucumber
  • 2 cups arugula
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
  • 1 juice of lemon
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon dijon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • In the bottom of a medium bowl, whisk together the lemon basil vinaigrette: lemon juice through pepper.
  • Trim both ends of the zucchini and use a vegetable peeler to create long, wide ribbons. I find that it’s easiest to place the zucchini flat on a cutting board and peel the vegetable horizontally.
  • Repeat the same process with a cucumber and place both the zucchini and cucumber ribbons in the bowl on top of the vinaigrette.
  • Add arugula and cherry tomatoes to the bowl and toss well until vegetables are evenly coated with the vinaigrette. Check for seasoning and adjust accordingly.

Nutrition

Calories: 94kcalCarbohydrates: 7.1gProtein: 1.9gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 0.9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6.1gSodium: 367mgFiber: 1.8gSugar: 3.8g

38 thoughts on “Cucumber Zucchini Salad”

  1. Danni Lane Eldred

    Can’t wait to try this–looks simple, seasonal, fresh, interesting. Nice photo of you in the article, as well. Thanks for producing great recipes–I look forward to your posts. Happy 4th of July!

  2. The first line in the instructions: what exactly does “…whisk together the lemon basil vinaigrette, lemon juice through pepper” mean?
    I would like to try this recipe, but can’t quite figure this out…
    Thanks!

  3. What a gorgeous, vibrant, bright looking salad. I love raw zucchini at the moment (probably thanks to my newish zoodler/vegetable spiralizer gadget!) I’ll be making this one on the weekend as I always have those ingredients on hand. Thanks for sharing.

  4. I love the farmers market and just so happen to live two blocks from one so I’m always going and getting things on the weekend, definitely need to make this salad because it looks SO fantastic, absolutely beautiful and summery!

  5. This looks fabulous. I have so many cucumbers and zucchini in my garden right now. This looks like a great way to use some of them. Pinning.

      1. When you say ‘Dijon’, can a standard mustard be substituted? Also, in England our cucumbers are quite long. Should the amount of cucumber be the same as the amount of zucchini? Thank you

        1. Liz DellaCroce

          You could use regular mustard, but it’ll slightly alter the flavor. English cucumbers are longer, but usually thinner than American cucumbers, so doing an equal amount to the zucchini is probably the right move!

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