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Easy 3-Ingredient Spring Cucumber Salad Recipe for Fresh Flavor

easy 3-ingredient spring cucumber salad - featured image

A quick and refreshing cucumber salad made with just three simple ingredients: cucumbers, fresh lemon juice, and salt. Perfect for a light, crisp side dish in under 10 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium English cucumbers or Kirby cucumbers, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (fine sea salt or kosher salt preferred)

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry cucumbers thoroughly. Slice them thinly using a sharp knife or mandoline for uniformity.
  2. Roll the lemon on the countertop to soften it, then cut in half and juice using a reamer or by hand. Measure out 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice.
  3. Place the sliced cucumbers in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of salt evenly over them, then pour the lemon juice on top. Toss gently until cucumbers are evenly coated.
  4. Let the salad sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld and moisture to be drawn out.
  5. Give the salad a quick stir and taste. Adjust salt or lemon juice if needed before serving.

Notes

Do not skip the 10-minute resting step to allow flavors to meld and cucumbers to become crisp. If salad is too watery, drain excess liquid before serving. Optional additions include cracked black pepper, fresh dill, or a creamy avocado dressing for variation.

Nutrition

Keywords: cucumber salad, easy salad, spring salad, 3-ingredient salad, fresh cucumber recipe, lemon cucumber salad, quick side dish