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Smashed Cucumber Salad – With Feta and Dill Recipe

Smashed Cucumber Salad - With Feta and Dill Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 30 reviews

This Smashed Cucumber Salad with Feta and Dill is a refreshing and vibrant dish perfect for a light lunch or side. Combining crisp cucumbers smashed for texture, creamy avocado, tangy feta cheese, and aromatic fresh herbs with a zesty lemon and mustard dressing, this salad bursts with fresh flavors and satisfying crunch. It’s quick to prepare, healthy, and ideal for warm-weather meals or as an elegant accompaniment to grilled dishes.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 4 Persian cucumbers or 1 English cucumber
  • 1 medium ripe avocado
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped pistachios
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

Dressing Ingredients

  • 2–3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 2 cloves garlic – peeled and minced
  • Salt and pepper – to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the cucumbers: Wash and dry the cucumbers thoroughly. Chop each cucumber in half lengthwise. Place the flat side of each half on a cutting board and use the flat side of a knife along with your hand to gently smash the cucumber halves. Then chop the smashed cucumbers into about 1-inch pieces and place them in a medium-sized bowl. If cucumbers are larger, cut each half again horizontally and vertically to make smashing easier.
  2. Add the avocado and other salad ingredients: Peel the ripe avocado and chop it into chunks. Add the chopped avocado to the bowl with the smashed cucumbers. Then add the crumbled feta cheese, chopped pistachios, fresh dill, and fresh chives to the bowl.
  3. Make the dressing: In a glass jar or small bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake vigorously to emulsify and create a smooth dressing.
  4. Toss the salad: Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture in the bowl. Toss gently but thoroughly to evenly coat all ingredients with the dressing.
  5. Serve and garnish: Transfer the salad to a serving dish or individual bowls. Sprinkle extra fresh herbs on top if desired and enjoy immediately for the freshest taste.

Notes

  • Use Persian cucumbers for a crunchier, less seedy salad; English cucumbers work as a good substitute.
  • Adjust the honey and lemon juice in the dressing to suit your desired balance of sweetness and acidity.
  • For a nuttier flavor, lightly toast the pistachios before chopping.
  • This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.
  • To make the salad vegan, omit the feta cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.

Nutrition

Keywords: smashed cucumber salad, cucumber avocado salad, feta salad, dill salad, pistachio salad, healthy side dish, Mediterranean salad

Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/smashed-cucumber-salad-with-feta-and-dill-recipe/