Cucumber Avocado Salad is the perfect easy and light side dish. Made with fresh ingredients and a simple dressing, this is a great dish to bring to outdoor picnics and gatherings.
Avocados are my favorite and my best. (Is “my favorite and my best” something that is only used in my house? We are notoriously weird and random, so it’s possible.) I could eat all the avocados all the time, but I especially love them mixed in with other ingredients, like in my avocado tuna salad.
In this amazing salad made with cucumbers, avocados, and tomatoes, we are combining really just a few ingredients to make this fast and simple salad. This would be perfect as a side dish if you are grilling up some hamburgers or grilled chicken legs, but it would also go great with my baked salmon.
This is a perfect side dish that I encourage you to serve your kids, they might surprise you and gobble it up!
How to Make Cucumber Avocado Salad
Find the full recipe with all of the measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Step 1: Chop the Vegetables
Chop up the cucumber, tomato, red onion, and the cilantro. Whenever making a dish like this, or like my pasta primavera for example, I like to cut everything into as uniform pieces as possible. The exception to that rule is onion. No one likes a giant chunk of onion.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey, hot sauce, and kosher salt. Read more about the dressing below.
Step 3: Combine and Add Avocado
In a large bowl, toss the vegetables with the dressing to fully coat everything. Then carefully fold in the avocado. The less you stir in the avocado the more it will hold up in the salad, this is why we add it after everything has been tossed once.
Cucumber Avocado Salad Dressing
It took me a few tries to get the salad dressing just perfect for this cucumber tomato and avocado salad. I wanted the zip of the lime juice, but it needed to be balanced just right with the sweetness of the honey. Finally, I wanted just the slightest heat from the hot sauce. What we are left with is the perfect dressing with ingredients that are kept on hand in your pantry.
Picking a Ripe Avocado
While everyone loves the texture of creamy avocado in guacamole, for this avocado cucumber salad recipe we want avocado chunks that are firm enough to hold up in the salad. Here is what to look for in this recipe.
- Skin color: The avocado’s skin should be dark green, or almost black.
- Skin texture: The avocado’s skin should be bumpy rather than smooth.
- Softness: When you gently squeeze the avocado, it should have just a slight give. It shouldn’t feel overly soft or hard as a rock.
English Cucumbers
English Cucumbers are the ones that you see in plastic in the grocery store. They are long and thin. I love using them in this cucumber tomato avocado salad because their seeds are smaller, making them ideal for a dish like this. Additionally, they are a little less bitter than other cucumbers. If you can’t find an English cucumber, use a regular cucumber.
Storing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three or four days. Keep in mind that while the dressing will help the avocado from browning a bit, it won’t completely prevent it.
What to Serve with Cucumber and Avocado Salad
This recipe pairs with so many main dishes. I have several listed in the intro to the post up above, but here are a few of my favorites.
- Fish Tacos: With the avocado, lime, and cilantro, this recipe is prime to be served with some tacos, and these fish tacos are legit.
- Flatbread Pizza: A night of simple pizza, this salad, and some wine sounds absolutely dreamy to me.
- Chicken Kabobs: This salad is perfect to pair with grilling recipes, and my kabobs are one of our favorite!
If you make this cucumber tomato avocado salad or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Cucumber Avocado Salad
Ingredients
- 2 Roma tomatoes chopped
- 1 English cucumber cut into 1/4 moons
- 1/2 small red onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped fine (see note)
- 2 avocados diced
Instructions
- Add the chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and onion to a large bowl.2 Roma tomatoes, 1 English cucumber, 1/2 small red onion
- Whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, honey, hot sauce, and salt. Mix into the vegetables and then mix in the cilantro.2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons honey, 2 teaspoons hot sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 avocados
- Gently fold in the avocado and serve.1/4 cup fresh cilantro
Notes
Ellen Lonsdale says
This is so similar to one I had in Spain a couple of years ago. I fell in love with it and even took a picture. It had all the same veggies but I think they added chopped jalapeños. I made up a dressing similar to the one in Spain but I’ll try your’s for a different variation.
I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Sharon Wagner says
I love your recipes. So good and tasty, and simple. I’ve made many of them with great results and saved sooo many more for another day.
Sharon in Montag says
I am on keto so I could not use the honey so I Used some monkfruit sweetener and Persian cucumbers! It was absolutely wonderful and super easy to make. Love your recipes and blog.
I’m so happy to hear that you were able to make this keto! And thank you so much for your kind words.
Cathy Rodriguez says
I really like the idea of making salads and I appreciate you sending different recipes to try out.
I’m so glad, Cathy!
Karen says
You are one of my go to’s when I need a recipe. This salad looks delicious.
I’m so happy to hear it!
Audrey says
Do Mediterranean salads not use lettuce?
I wouldn’t call this one a Mediterranean salad, but no, I don’t use lettuce in it. :)