This Strawberry Cucumber Salad with honey-lime dressing is another knockout summer salad! Sweet strawberries and cool, crisp cucumbers pair perfectly with the refreshing dressing, while creamy queso fresco and fresh mint take it to the next level.
Table of Contents
This crisp strawberry salad is so easy to throw together, it’s the perfect side for everything from grilled meats and burgers to hearty casseroles and roasts. Finish it with a crumble of creamy queso fresco and fresh mint for an elegant touch that’s holiday-party worthy, yet easy enough for any night of the week.
Ingredient notes
For the salad
- Strawberries – I like to quarter or halve the fresh strawberries, depending on their size. Make sure to wash the berries well and remove their stems.
- Cucumber – I prefer to use English cucumbers for this salad since they have fewer seeds, are thin-skinned, and hold less water than slicing cucumbers, but any variety will work. Check out the most popular types of cucumbers that you can find in stores. Mini cucumbers work well too.
- Queso Fresco – Crumbled feta is delicious too. While an optional addition to the salad, I love the creamy element it provides.
For the dressing
- Olive oil – The base of this salad dressing. It thickens the dressing, offers a smooth texture, and rich flavor.
- Lime juice and zest – Brightens the dressing and cuts through the sweetness and rich flavors of the salad.
- Honey – The sweetness from the honey balances the rest of the rich flavors. If you don’t want to use honey, use maple syrup, granulated white sugar, coconut sugar, or cane sugar instead.
- Fresh mint – Adds extra freshness to the strawberry cucumber salad dressing. Set more aside as garnish for the assembled salad.
- Salt and pepper – To taste.
How to make it
Step 1
Make the dressing
- Combine the salad dressing ingredients in a large salad bowl and whisk to emulsify.
- Season, as needed.
Step 2
Assemble the salad
- Add the strawberries and cucumbers to the bowl with dressing and toss gently.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed.
- Sprinkle the salad with fresh mint leaves and queso fresco before serving.
More ways to use excess summer strawberries
Don’t let your fresh strawberries go to waste! Buying them in bulk towards the end of the season can save you money and there are endless ways to make them the star ingredient in your cooking, baking, and beverages!
- Strawberry cocktails: Kickstart your summer parties with this Easy Strawberry Mojito Recipe or Strawberry Sauvignon Blanc Spritz.
- Strawberry desserts: Nothing beats the sweet-tart flavors of fresh strawberries in home-baked desserts. Try this Strawberry Ricotta Cake and Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Strawberry salads: Give light leafy salads a pop of bright strawberry flavor and color or add your fresh strawberries to a fruit salad. Perfect for your summer BBQ cookouts.
Tips and tricks
- Assemble this salad dressing ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container or jar.
- Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad. If too tart, add a touch more honey; if too sweet, a splash more lime juice and zest.
- Double the salad dressing and refrigerate for easy use later on in other salads.
- Shake the jar hard for at least 30 seconds to ensure the dressing doesn’t separate too quickly.
- Toss the strawberries and cucumber just before serving for the best texture and freshness. Be gentle when tossing in the salad dressing to avoid bruising the fresh strawberries and cucumbers.
- Slice the cucumber and strawberries evenly to create uniformity and the texture (rustic versus refined) that you desire.
Variations
Strawberry cucumber salad is simple enough to adapt with easy ingredient swaps and additions. Here are some of my top suggestions:
- Dairy-free: Omit the queso fresco (or crumbled feta) from this strawberry cucumber salad.
- Vegan-friendly: Swap the honey in the dressing for maple syrup or regular granulated sugar.
- Nuts and seeds: Add in your favorite nuts or seeds for a delicious crunchy texture. Walnuts, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, or hazelnuts are all great options.
- Boost of protein: Sprinkle the salad with crispy bits of bacon, toss in some chickpeas, or add shredded chicken if you’re looking for a heartier version with a boost of protein.
- Add leafy greens – Baby spinach or arugula can be used as a base for this salad – a great way to add more bulk and increase servings.
Serving suggestions
This summery strawberry cucumber salad is a light and refreshing addition to grilled meats, burgers, and other hearty dishes. You could even add some sliced or shredded chicken breast to the salad for a complete meal!
Here are a few of my favorites to enjoy alongside this strawberry cucumber salad:
Storing
If you don’t plan to serve the salad immediately, it’s best to keep the salad and dressing in separate containers. The dressing can be made up to five days in advance. When you’re ready to serve, just toss them together and enjoy!
Erin’s wine pairings
This refreshing summer salad pairs beautifully with a range of wines. Here are a few I know you’ll enjoy:
- A quality rose with its bright acidity and red fruit notes complement the fresh strawberries, while its dry or off-dry style balances the honey-lime dressing without overpowering the salad.
- The slight sweetness of an off-dry Riesling harmonizes with the honey in the dressing, and the high acidity cuts through the creamy queso fresco or feta. It also enhances the mint’s freshness.
- The herbaceous, citrus-driven profile of Sauvignon Blanc echoes the lime and fresh mint in the dressing. Crisp acidity keeps the salad feeling light and refreshing.
More vibrant summer salads
Did you make this strawberry cucumber salad?
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Full Recipe
Strawberry Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup strawberries (stems removed and sliced)
- 2 cups cucumber (sliced, mini cucumbers or english cucumber preferred)
- 1/4 cup queso fresco (or feta, crumbled (optional))
Dressing
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice (freshly squeezed, plus 1 teaspoon zest)
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 Tablespoon fresh mint (chopped, plus more for garnish)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1 Tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon lime zest, 1 Tablespoon honey and 1 Tablespoon fresh mint. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add the 1 ½ cup strawberries and 2 cups cucumber and toss gently to combine. Taste and season again with salt and pepper, if needed. Garnish with mint leaves and sprinkle with 1/4 cup queso fresco, if desired.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad. If too tart, add a touch more honey; if too sweet, a splash more lime juice and zest.
- Double the salad dressing and refrigerate for easy use later on in other salads.
- Shake the jar hard for at least 30 seconds to ensure the dressing doesn’t separate too quickly.
- Toss the strawberries and cucumber just before serving for the best texture and freshness. Be gentle when tossing in the salad dressing to avoid bruising the fresh strawberries and cucumbers.
- Dairy-free: Omit the queso fresco (or crumbled feta) from this strawberry cucumber salad.
- Vegan-friendly: Swap the honey in the dressing for maple syrup or regular granulated sugar.
- Nuts and seeds: Add in your favorite nuts or seeds for a delicious crunchy texture. Walnuts, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, or hazelnuts are all great options.
- Boost of protein: Sprinkle the salad with crispy bits of bacon, toss in some chickpeas, or add shredded chicken if you’re looking for a heartier version with a boost of protein.
- Add leafy greens – Baby spinach or arugula can be used as a base for this salad – a great way to add more bulk and increase servings.
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