Stay cool as a cucumber this summer with these crispy, crunchy, refreshing cucumber recipes. Whether you have lots of cucumbers from your vegetable garden or you found a bumper crop at your local farmer's market, we have cucumber salads, drinks, dips, sandwiches, and more to help take advantage of this summer veggie.
Cucumber-Tomato Salad with Mint
Cherry tomatoes, mint, and cucumber are a classic pairing in Mediterranean cooking. Dress the trio with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and salt—that's all you need to make this quick cucumber tomato salad recipe. It's great over pasta, alongside chicken, or all on its own.
Cucumber Radish Slaw
We bet you already have all the ingredients for this summer slaw in your cupboard or growing in your garden. A super-simple vinaigrette helps fresh cucumbers and radishes shine in this bright recipe for cucumber salad that screams summer.
Spicy Watermelon Salad
Tantalize picnic and potluck-goers alike with this stunning cucumber watermelon salad. Tiny cucumber wedges frame fresh watermelon cubes, while a sprinkling of serrano chile slices give this salad heat and a pretty dotted pattern. You definitely won't be taking any leftovers home with you.
Spicy Fermented Pickles
Cross pickle spears off your grocery list—it's so easy to make your own at home, and you can use up all those extra summer cucumbers. To make this pickled cucumber recipe unique, we tossed in a dash of red pepper to give each bite a little spice.
White Cucumber Sangria
Summer just isn't complete without a cool glass of sangria. If you want an extra refreshing version to sip on sweltering days, this recipe with white wine, cucumber slices, and honeydew melon is sure to hit the spot.
Chicken with Basil Sauce & Cucumber-Radish Slaw
Cucumbers, radishes, and broccoli sprouts make a fresh and delicious side salad for the chicken breasts in this dish. A simple vinaigrette made from lemon juice, olive oil, and salt really helps the fresh veggies shine.
Cucumber-Honeydew Salad with Feta
Who says salads have to be all about leafy greens? Cucumber slices and honeydew melon star in this potluck-worthy dish, while red onions and dill are delicious supporting players.
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
The key to making a great cucumber sandwich is liberally spreading the bread with garlic and herb cheese and cutting the cucumbers very thin. Use your favorite fresh herbs to top the cucumber sandwich recipe—we went for a mix of basil, dill, and oregano.
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with Lemon-Cucumber Relish
Grilled chicken may seem like this recipe's main attraction, but the lemon-cucumber relish is the real star. Combine fresh-from-your-garden cucumbers and tomatoes with onion, lemon peel, lemon juice, and garlic, then spoon over chicken for a fast and fresh supper.
Cucumber-Grape Smash
Meet your new favorite summer mocktail. This refreshing cucumber drink is made by blending the vegetable with grapes, mint, and lime. Pour the mix into a tall glass and top with bubbly ginger beer. As one BHG reviewer raved, "The flavors were great together and I made it multiple times over one weekend."
Gazpacho Verde
Usually gazpacho is all about tomatoes, but not this recipe—cucumbers, avocados, spinach, and celery all play a role in this chilly veggie-filled soup.
Cucumber, Olive, and Dill Salad
If you think all summer cucumber salads start with a mayo-based dressing, this is the recipe you need to try. Dress thinly sliced red onion, cucumber, and olives with a red wine vinaigrette for a light and refreshing side dish. Let the cucumber salad recipe chill for at least two hours before serving to allow the flavors to marry.
Tofu Spring Rolls
If you've ever had spring rolls before, you know they're not complete without a few crunchy cucumber sticks. And if you've never tried making your own spring rolls before, this recipe is a great place to start! All you need is five ingredients and 20 minutes.
Pepinos
Get your cocktail glass ready—we found your new favorite summer drink! This cool-as-a-cucumber drink is the perfect combo of sweet and spicy, thanks to pineapple juice, jalapeno peppers, and cucumber slices. And it has a boozy twist of tequila, of course.
Cucumber Kimchi
If you're not familiar with kimchi, it's a Korean side dish often made with fermented cabbage. It's spicy, salty, and filled with a complex flavor that will keep you coming back for bite after bite. Plan ahead and make our cucumber kimchi recipe a day before your summer cookout. It goes well with grilled meats, sandwiches, and veggies.
Matcha-Cucumber Crostini
You may have seen matcha in lattes on the menu at your local coffee shop but the versatile ingredient goes far beyond drinks. Here, it's blended with goat cheese, lemon zest, and honey to create a creamy spread. Slather it on crusty bread and top with sliced cucumbers and edible flowers.
Creamy Cucumbers
This inventive take on coleslaw combines cukes with creamy yogurt (or sour cream, if you prefer), vinegar, dill, and onion. The result is a delicious, cooling dish that could be served as a side or piled on sandwiches.
