15 Creative Cucumber Side Dishes

By Hayley Sugg
lutzflcat

Perfect for adding a fresh bite and extra crunch to any meal, cucumbers are a delicious way to get more vegetables onto your dinner plate. These cucumber side dishes range from classic marinated salads to tasty international recipes, like tabbouleh or gazpacho. And since cucumber is easily found year-round, you'll be able to add a little green to your plate no matter the season with these unique cucumber side dish recipes

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Hungarian Cucumber Salad

lutzflcat
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"Great salad to make when you have a ton of cucumbers coming out of the garden," says recipe creator Michelle Berger. "Let it sit for a few days in the fridge and it's even better! Great make-ahead dish for BBQs and parties."

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2 of 15

Green Gazpacho

MrsFisher0729
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Utilize summer produce like cucumber, honeydew melon, and avocado in this creamy soup. Since it's no-cook, you'll be able to keep your kitchen cool while whipping up this dish.

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Mexican Cucumber Salad

Allrecipes Magazine
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For this simple side, all you need to do is chop and mix the ingredients for a quick 30-minute marinating session. Serve this recipe during your next Taco Tuesday. 

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Maurice's Tabbouleh

Volleyballmom
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A traditional Middle Eastern grain salad, tabbouleh starts with a base of bulgur and has a fresh, bright flavor thanks to lots of herbs, tomatoes, and cucumbers. 

5 of 15

Marinated Cucumber, Onion, and Tomato Salad

lutzflcat
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"I love this recipe because it is delicious and refreshing," says Lisa Lou. "It is an added bonus that it is very quick and easy to make too."

6 of 15

Fatoosh

Christina
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Sumac, a lemony spice found in specialty or Middle Eastern grocery stores, is the secret ingredient to this tangy salad. The standard salad fare — lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber — is made heartier with the addition of toasted pitas.

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Fried Cucumbers

chefbrit
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Recipe creator Carmen says, "My husband isn't crazy about fried green tomatoes, but he loves these. This is a different and easy way to use up all the cucumbers in the garden! They can be dipped in ranch dressing, horseradish sauce, or salsa."

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Tangy Cucumber and Avocado Salad

Holiday Baker
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Get all your favorite flavors from guacamole, but in this refreshing salad form. Crisp cucumbers pair up with creamy avocado, tangy lime, and fresh garlic. 

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Spicy Asian Cucumbers

lutzflcat
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Marinated in a super savory blend of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil, these cool cucumbers get quite the fiery kick from red pepper flakes and chili oil. If you want less heat, reduce the amount of or eliminate the pepper flakes. 

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10 of 15

Persian Cucumber Yogurt (Maast-o Khiar)

jennifer
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Whether you serve it on the side, or top your next gyro with it, this creamy dish will soon become a family favorite. "Refreshing on a hot summer day," says reviewer LAFLRA. "My husband said it was just like the stuff they serve in Turkey."

11 of 15

Tilapia Ceviche

armie Box
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Lime-marinated tilapia pairs up with cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions for this refreshing seafood salad. Put a scoop on your plate to enjoy as is, or serve with crackers for dipping.

12 of 15

Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad

Caroline C
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Packed with veggies and herbs, this cold noodle salad is the perfect side dish for a Vietnamese dinner. If vegetarian fish sauce isn't available in your area, many reviewers successfully substituted with traditional fish sauce or soy sauce. 

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Mediterranean Potato Salad

House of Aqua
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If you're not a fan of mayo-based potato salad, then this is the recipe for you. In this lighter take, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions are all tossed together in a combination of tangy Italian dressing and crumbled feta cheese.

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Picnic Marinated Summer Slaw

Molly
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Reviewer Caroline Botti says, "This summer slaw is delicious! It has a sweet and sour taste, and is super easy to make!" If you like your slaw a little less on the sweet side, some reviewers suggest starting with a lower amount of sugar and adding to taste.

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Dad's Creamy Cucumber Salad

cheesemite
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The key to this creamy salad is salting the cucumbers ahead of time. This draws out excess moisture and fixes the common complaint of cucumber salads being watery. 

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