Mint and Cucumber Salad

Some of the best things in life are the simplest. From a nice walk on a sunny day to a smile that brightens up the room. Simplicity is perhaps the secret to happiness, and that is definitely the case when it comes to food! This wonderful Mint and Cucumber Salad is one of the easiest dishes to prepare, taking no time at all, yet the flavors are so amazing. The beautiful flavor pairing of Mint and Cucumber, finished with a simple dressing and topped with Feta Cheese makes for an amazing Salad perfect for any occasion

The key to making the best Mint and Cucumber Salad

With such few ingredients and little prep work, the secret to making this dish taste so good is the quality of the ingredients. Try to source some good quality Mint, preferably from an organic market or top-quality grocery store if you can

You can test the quality of the Mint by simply rubbing a leaf with your thumb and forefinger then giving your fingers a smell. If the smell is overpoweringly Minty and fresh, you’ve found some great Mint!

Cucumber is a little more challenging to source as there’s no real way to test the quality before you take it home to eat. My advice here is simply to purchase the Cucumber at the same place you got the Mint. Chances are they take care of all their produce, so you’ve got a better chance of finding great Cucumber where you find great Mint!

What about the Feta Cheese and Dressing Ingredients?

The same goes for these ingredients too, which form the remainder of the dish (Feta being a simple garnish for the Mint and Cucumber Salad, and Lemon being a key ingredient in the Dressing)

Lemons are surprisingly at their best and most abundant during the winter months, but they’re such a popular ingredient that they can be found all year round. Nothing beats freshly picked Lemons off a Lemon Tree if you have the means! For even more Lemon flavor, try washing the Lemon and grating off some Lemon Zest to add to the dish

For this dish I like to use a nice creamy, and slightly crumbly Feta Cheese. Try to avoid the stuff that’s super squishy and aim for something a little more structured. It just holds together in the Salad and avoids the Cheese getting squished down to the point it becomes part of the Dressing!

How to make Mint and Cucumber Salad

With the ingredients procured, this dish is so simple to make. First to prepare the Cucumbers. I like to remove the seeds from the inside of the Cucumber but keep the skin for some added texture. To do so, simply slice the Cucumber down the center and then scoop out the seeds with a spoon

Try to avoid scooping out any of the Cucumber flesh, so use an appropriate spoon such as a teaspoon to get the job done. You can keep the Seeds in the Salad if you like, but I find their mild flavor dulls the overall taste of the Salad, so best to remove them

For the Mint, you can keep it whole or bunch it all up and roughly chop it. I prefer chopping the Mint as it’s easier to eat in the Salad. It doesn’t look as pretty, however. So, if you’re looking for a striking visual appeal on the plate, try leaving a handful of Mint leaves whole and use them as a garnish

Set the Mint and Cucumber aside and work on the Dressing

Place the Mint and Cucumber in a Salad Bowl so when the Dressing is done you can simply pour it over the top and serve. The dressing is so easy to make too! It’s simply a combination of Lemon Juice and Olive Oil (1 part Lemon to 2 parts Olive Oil should do the job)

Season the dressing well with Salt and Pepper and then mix / whisk to emulsify. You can use a whisk or simply add the ingredients into a sealable jar and give it a good shake!

I recommend making more Dressing than you need and then pour it slowly over the top of the Mint and Cucumber and mix through. Add just enough so that the Vegetables are coated, but not swimming or drowning in dressing

Finishing the Salad

The final step in our Mint and Cucumber Salad is to add the Feta Cheese. Usually, Feta will come in a large block, but sometimes you can also buy it already cut up in cubes (usually this version is swimming in a delicious Olive Oil)

So, if needed, cut the Feta Cheese into bite-sized cubes and then sprinkle them over the top of the Salad. I like to be generous with the Cheese as it really does bring the whole dish together. Try to avoid tossing the Cheese into the Salad too much as it’ll break up. You can even plate the Salad onto individual plates and then garnish if you prefer

Optional additions to the Mint and Cucumber Salad

As with any home cooking, you can get creative and add whatever you like to the Salad. I’m not here to tell you what should and shouldn’t go into a home cooked Salad! A great addition to this dish is some roughly chopped Tomatoes that have been deseeded

Adding Tomatoes really brings out the Mediterranean roots of this dish, and it ends up being more in line with a classic Greek Salad. You can also add some Olives and thinly sliced Red Onion for a truly authentic Greek Salad!

Mint and Cucumber Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Cucumbers
• 1 cup of Mint
• ½ cup of Feta Cheese, cut into bite-sized pieces
• Juice of 1 Lemon
• 3 tbsp. Olive Oil
• ¼ tsp. Salt
• ¼ tsp. Black Pepper
  
  

Instructions

1. Slice the Cucumbers down the middle and then scoop out the seeds using a teaspoon (try to avoid scooping out any of the flesh when doing so). Cut into half-moons and place into a Salad Bowl
2. Bunch up the Mint and then roughly chop it using a heavy knife and then add to the Salad Bowl with the Cucumber. You can leave a few Mint leaves whole and use as a garnish
3. Combine Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Salt, and Pepper in a separate bowl or sealable Jar and whisk well / shake well to emulsify. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary
4. Pour about half the Dressing over the Cucumber and Mint and Toss to coat. You likely won’t need all the Dressing, so just add enough so the Mint and Cucumber are evenly coated without drowning them
5. Finish the dish by adding the Feta Cheese before serving
   
   

Recipe Notes

• Try adding some Tomatoes or even some freshly sliced Red Onion and Olives for a classic Greek Salad
• Avoid the super-creamy style Feta Cheese, as it may end up melting and mix into the Dressing which isn’t ideal
  
  

This wonderfully fresh and vibrant Mint and Cucumber Salad is so easy to make at home. It’s healthy, simple, and tastes great – making for the perfect side dish or even a main course for a light dinner

For more amazing and healthy recipes just like this one, check out these wonderful recipes:

• Thai Style Chicken Salad
• Grilled Chicken and Halloumi Salad with Lemon Dressing
• Greek Meatball Salad
• Poached Shrimp Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
  
  

Happy Cooking!