Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 firm, crisp cucumbers
- 2 cups mixed sweet bell peppers (red, yellow, orange), thinly sliced or diced
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
Herbs
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh dill or mint, roughly chopped
Dressing
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Optional
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Wash the cucumbers and sweet bell peppers thoroughly. Slice cucumbers into thin rounds or half-moons. Cut the bell peppers into thin strips or bite-sized cubes. Thinly slice the red onion to maintain balanced texture.
- Combine Ingredients in a Bowl: In a large mixing bowl, gently toss together the cucumbers, sweet peppers, red onion, and your chosen fresh herbs, roughly chopped to keep their fresh flavor vibrant without overpowering the salad.
- Whip Up the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper until emulsified, creating a bright and tangy dressing that complements the vegetables’ natural sweetness.
- Dress and Toss: Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with more salt or lemon juice if needed. Optionally, sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top for added creaminess and saltiness.
- Chill Before Serving: Place the salad in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. The salad is also delicious served immediately if short on time.
Notes
- Use fresh, firm cucumbers and sweet bell peppers for the best crunchy texture and flavor.
- Slice vegetables uniformly to ensure balanced flavor in every bite.
- Keep the dressing light to enhance, not overpower, the freshness of the vegetables.
- Make the salad ahead of time for better flavor melding, but dress it close to serving to keep cucumbers crisp.
- Experiment with different fresh herbs like cilantro or basil to change the flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No Cooking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan (if feta omitted), Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: cucumber salad, sweet pepper salad, fresh salad, healthy side dish, vegan salad, gluten free salad, light salad, summer salad