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When summer arrives, I find myself craving simple foods that require very little effort. That’s one reason I make this Easy Cucumber Salad again and again.
Made with just a handful of ingredients, it’s cool, crisp, refreshing, and comes together in less than 10 minutes. Inspired by the cucumber salads often served in Japanese restaurants, this simple vinegar-based salad is light, flavorful, and surprisingly satisfying.
I love keeping a container in the refrigerator during the warmer months. It makes a refreshing snack, an easy side dish, and a quick addition to lunches and dinners.
If you’re looking for a healthy cucumber salad that’s simple, affordable, and delicious, this recipe is hard to beat.
WW Friendly Cucumber Salad
Why You’ll Love This Cucumber Salad
Ready in about 10 minutes
Just 4 simple ingredients
Crisp, cool, and refreshing
Naturally low in calories
Perfect for warm weather
Great make-ahead side dish
Pairs with almost any meal
Easy to customize
Ingredients & Substitutions
Rice vinegar – Gives the salad its signature light, tangy flavor. Rice vinegar is traditional, but apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar can be substituted.
Sweetener – I use Truvia(affiliate link) to keep the salad light, but regular sugar, honey, maple syrup, monk fruit sweetener, or your favorite sweetener all work well.
Salt – Enhances the flavor and helps draw moisture from the cucumbers.
Cucumbers – English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers, or traditional garden cucumbers all work well. If using larger cucumbers with thick skins or large seeds, consider peeling and seeding them first.
How Many Calories and WW Points?
According to my calculations, each serving has about 36 calories and 0 WW Points.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App! (You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 0PointsPlus (Old plan)
Fresh sliced cucumber
How to Make Cucumber Salad
Step 1: Prepare the dressing
In a large bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, sweetener, and salt until dissolved.
Step 2: Add the cucumbers
Thinly slice the cucumbers and add them to the bowl.
Step 3: Toss
Toss the cucumbers until evenly coated with the dressing.
Step 4: Chill
Serve immediately or refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for even better flavor.
The longer the cucumbers marinate, the more flavorful they become.
Recipe Notes
This simple salad is inspired by the cucumber salads often served alongside sushi and other Japanese dishes.
The beauty of the recipe is its simplicity. A few basic ingredients transform ordinary cucumbers into a refreshing side dish that pairs well with almost everything.
For extra flavor, consider adding:
Thinly sliced red onion
Sesame seeds
Chopped fresh dill
Fresh mint
Chopped cilantro
Thinly sliced radishes
A pinch of red pepper flakes
The cucumbers release liquid as they sit, which is perfectly normal. Simply give the salad a quick stir before serving.
WW Low-Fat Cucumber Salad
The longer the cucumbers marinate the better this tastes. I placed mine in a plastic container that I could shake once in a while to coat the cucumbers in the marinade. A ziplock bag with the air squeezed out would work well tool.
This refreshing salad pairs especially well with:
Grilled chicken
Salmon
Shrimp
Tuna
Burgers
Sandwiches
Rice bowls
Asian-inspired meals
Picnic and barbecue foods
It’s also delicious as a light afternoon snack straight from the refrigerator.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
The cucumbers will soften slightly as they marinate, but the flavor continues to improve.
If you don’t have rice wine vinegar, most any vinegar will work in a pinch.
The longer the cucumbers marinate the better this tastes. I placed mine in a plastic container that I could shake once in a while to coat the cucumber. A ziplock bag with the air squeezed out would work well tool.
Weight Watchers Lifetime Member, Yoga Practitioner and Blogger who loves to share her passion for trying to create a happy, healthy, balanced life in what often feels like an overwhelming out of control world.
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