Description
This Zesty Mexican Cucumber Salad is a refreshing, vibrant side dish featuring crisp cucumbers, sweet corn, and colorful bell peppers, all tossed in a tangy lime and olive oil dressing with a hint of jalapeño heat. Perfect for a light lunch or a flavorful accompaniment to your Mexican meals, this salad is quick to prepare and packed with fresh, healthy ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 cup cucumbers, sliced
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or thawed frozen)
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 small jalapeño, finely chopped (optional)
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Begin your salad journey by washing and drying all the vegetables thoroughly. Slice the cucumbers into thin rounds or half-moons to ensure easy mixing and a pleasant texture.
- Chop Herbs and Jalapeño: Finely chop your fresh cilantro and jalapeño. If you prefer less heat, you may omit or reduce the jalapeño amount accordingly. Add these chopped ingredients to the prepared vegetables.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced cucumbers, corn kernels, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño to mix all the flavors evenly.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until well combined, creating a tangy and light dressing.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the combined vegetables in the large bowl and toss everything together thoroughly to ensure each bite is well-coated with the zesty flavors.
- Rest Before Serving: Allow the salad to sit for about 10 minutes before serving. This resting period lets the flavors meld beautifully and makes the salad even more delicious.
Notes
- For extra crunch, add some toasted pepitas or chopped nuts.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
- You can substitute lime juice with fresh lemon juice for a slightly different citrus flavor.
- To reduce heat, remove seeds from the jalapeño before chopping.
- Feel free to add avocado slices for creaminess.
