Today’s post is for my friend Jes, a girl with a big laugh and a good heart. We became fast friends our freshman year of college. Several road trips and lots of late-night shenanigans later, I consider her a close friend. Suddenly Jes is all grown up; she graduated from her master’s program in May, bought a house in Tulsa with her love, and starts a full-time job later this month. She chronicles her [mis]adventures in first-time home ownership at her blog, Curb Side Appeal.
Always ambitious, Jes has been tending her garden in Tulsa and has cucumbers “out the wazoo”. A couple of weeks back, she requested some cucumber recipes. I made up a Persian-inspired cucumber and dill recipe based on some salads I’ve eaten at local restaurants. This one’s for you, Jes!
Cucumber Dill Salad
- Author:
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 small salads 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Greek
This refreshing, light salad is wonderful on its own, but also great with whole wheat pita bread (or tortilla) and plain Greek yogurt. I also enjoyed it on a bed of mixed greens, with a little bit of olive oil and vinegar as dressing.
Ingredients
- 3 cucumbers, seeded and chopped
- 3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
- 1 red onion, chopped
- ⅓ cup finely chopped fresh dill
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss all of the ingredients together. Season with salt and pepper.
- If you have time, cover and store in the refrigerator for a few hours to let the flavors blend. This salad is best consumed within a couple of days.
Notes
Preparation tips: Taste each cucumber before chopping it up! If you find one that has bitter skin, peel it before dicing. One of my three cucumbers, strangely, tasted bitter and I wish I had removed the skin on it before adding it to the rest. At first, I chopped the tomatoes and cucumbers into pretty big chunks, but I later found that I enjoyed the salad more when they were chopped more finely (see the cucumber salad on top of the mixed greens). I suggest chopping them into small pieces from the beginning.
Make it dairy free/vegan: Skip the feta.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Heidi @ Food Doodles
That looks so fresh! It looks perfect for a hot day too, which I’m loving this week – it’s so hot here! I love the dill in it, I think I may have just enough in my garden, mine didn’t grow very well this year. So sad because I love dill :( It looks great in this salad!
Erin
This looks so yummy and like a great, fresh salad for summer! I’m going to try this one. -^_^-
la domestique
The salad looks so refreshing and perfect for these hot days of summer. Yum.
Caroline
How refreshing! Yum!
Jes
Oh man. Honored! And so glad. I never thought I’d have an excess of anything in my garden, but turns out the cucumbers are the only thing producing what-so-ever. You’re great K-dizz! Come to Tulsa and you can have all the mint, chives, oregano, basil, and parsley that you can stand! Thank you thank you thank you. And hooray for shenanigans.
kate
I’m coming to Tulsa for those herbs soon, don’t you worry. See you soon!
Rev. Michael
how did you not talk to your persian friend before you did this? alt., some might say, more authentic, dressing, some tangerine zest and jucie.
kate
Sorry Michael, I don’t know what I was thinking. Tangerine zest sure sounds good.
chinmayie
What a refreshing salad! I am never tired of new cucumber salad ideas as it’s one of the best salads for summer :) Dill and cucumber is a match made in heaven anyway… I love how you have used feta with it.
Katrina
This looks so fresh and yummy. Awesome recipe for summer!
Katie
I absolutely adore dill, this salad looks like heaven! xo
Kimberley
Simple and lovely. Nothing like fresh summer cucumbers.
Lori
This recipe looks divine! I can’t wait to eat it this weekend. Happy to have found your site. It’s so lovely and jam packed with healthy recipes, which makes me very happy. Thanks.
Kate
Thanks again, Lori. I’m glad you found my site! :)
Malia
Love this recipe Kate. Thanks. :) It’s so refreshing, especially on hot days and easy. The dill is really a nice touch!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy you enjoyed it, Malia!
Carlotta
I have made this salad 8 times this summer. It’s an elegant recipe, so simple, classic, yet impactful with peak summer flavors. I used the most luscious striped heirloom tomatoes, and a small, tangy block of goat/sheep feta. The garlic, olive oil, white wine vinegar, dill and fresh lime juice is well balanced with the cucumber and red onion. It’s brisk and refreshing on a hot day – love it!! Will have to try a bit of tangerine juice and zest as Kate’s Persian friend suggested in the comments (10 years ago! Time flies.) .
★★★★★
Kate
Sounds like a delicious summer salad with heirloom tomatos! Thank you for sharing, Carlotta.