Cucumber Beet Salad – Pair crisp cucumbers with the tender sweetness of raw beets to make our healthy and delicious cucumber beet salad. Toss the fresh vegetables with herbaceous dill and homemade lemon poppyseed dressing for a bright and refreshing side dish, perfect for spring and summer, or try bright colored beetroot dip or zesty cucumber carrot salad.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CUCUMBER BEET SALAD
- Beetroot: I love using nutrient-dense raw beetroots, but you can replace them with store-bought pickled or canned beats.
- Cucumbers: Persian or English cucumbers provide the perfect crunch.
- Dill: Brighten the salad with fresh dill. Mint is another tasty addition if you’re not a fan of dill.
- Dressing: Create your own sweet and tangy homemade lemon poppy seed dressing using lemon juice, dijon mustard, poppy seeds, dried thyme, honey, olive oil, and a pinch of sea salt; it’s the perfect addition to this salad.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS
- Protein: Consider adding grilled chicken, baked salmon, or tofu to make the salad a complete meal.
- Cheese: For added creaminess, top the salad with feta, gorgonzola, or goat cheese.
- Nuts and Seeds: Toasted walnuts add a delicious crunch to the salad, but replace them with pecans, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds.
- Dressing: I am obsessed with the lemon poppyseed dressing in this recipe, but our sherry shallot dressing or homemade salad dressing would be a tasty variation.
- Grains: Include quinoa or couscous for a more filling salad.
HOW TO SLICE THE BEETROOTS AND CUCUMBERS
The best way to get a consistent and uniform cut on the beetroots and cucumbers is to use a mandoline. Or you can use a vegetable peeler to achieve a similar effect.
EXPERT TIPS
- Wear gloves if you don’t want your fingers to change color as you cut the beetroots.
- Slice the cucumbers and beets the same size for a more consistent bite; I use a mandoline. You can also cut the vegetables into cubes or shred them.
SEARCHING FOR MORE LIKE THIS?
If you love this recipe, pair it with one of these dinner favorites!
HOW TO SERVE BEET AND CUCUMBER SALAD
- Air Fryer Ribeye Steak, Bison Steak Recipe, Lamb Shoulder Chop
- Roasted Chicken with Moroccan Spices, Grilled Chicken Drumsticks, BBQ Baked Chicken Legs
- Butter Bean Hummus
WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFTOVERS
- Refrigerate – Store the leftovers in an airtight container. Cucumber beet salad keeps in the fridge for 3-5 days. However, the entire salad may take on a pink color of the beets as it sits.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can beetroot be eaten as salad?
Fresh, raw beets are a fantastic addition to salad; slice them thinly, cut them into cubes, or finely grate them for salad. You can also use pickled or canned beets for another variation.
What tastes good with beetroot?
Beets taste great with other root vegetables like carrots, onions, or radishes; greens like cucumber, dill, mint, arugula, cabbage, celery, scallions, fennel, endive, and spinach complement the sweetness of the beets.
MORE HEALTHY SALAD RECIPES:
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Cucumber Beet Salad
- Glass Jar
- 2 lemons, juiced and ½ teaspoon zest
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- ¼ teaspoon thyme, dried
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 pinch sea salt
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2-3 small raw beetroot, peeled and thinly sliced
- 6 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 2-3 tablespoons Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
- ¼ walnuts, toasted
- Combine lemon juice, poppy seeds, thyme, honey, and salt in an airtight container. Then, whisk in the olive oil to emulsify. Store the leftover dressing in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Cut the beets, cucumbers, and dill and add them to a serving bowl. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of dressing over the top and gently stir to combine. Garnish the salad with toasted walnuts to serve.
- Wear gloves if you don’t want your fingers to change color as you cut the beetroots.
- Slice the cucumbers and beets the same size for a more consistent bite; I use a mandoline. You can also cut the vegetables into cubes or shred them.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.