Description
This Smashed Cucumber Salad with Feta and Dill is a refreshing and vibrant dish that can be prepared in just 10 minutes. Featuring crisp cucumbers, creamy avocado, tangy feta cheese, crunchy pistachios, and fresh herbs, all tossed in a zesty lemon-Dijon dressing, this gluten-free salad is perfect as a light side or a healthy snack.
Ingredients
Cucumber Salad
- 4 Persian cucumbers or 1 English cucumber
- 1 medium ripe avocado
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup chopped pistachios
- ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
- ¼ cup chopped fresh chives
Dressing
- 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
- Prepare the Cucumbers: Wash and dry the cucumbers thoroughly. Chop each cucumber in half lengthwise. Place each half flat side down on the cutting board and use the flat side of your knife combined with your hand to gently smash them. Then chop the smashed cucumbers into roughly 1-inch pieces and transfer to a medium-sized bowl. For larger cucumbers, slice each half horizontally and vertically before smashing for ease.
- Add Avocado and Salad Ingredients: Peel and chop the ripe avocado, then add it to the bowl with the smashed cucumbers. Add crumbled feta cheese, chopped pistachios, fresh dill, and fresh chives to the same bowl.
- Make the Dressing: In a glass jar or small bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk well until the dressing emulsifies and is smooth.
- Toss and Serve: Pour the dressing over the salad, toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly. Garnish with additional fresh herbs if desired and serve immediately for the best freshness.
Notes
- For a crisper salad, chill cucumbers before preparing.
- You can substitute pistachios with toasted walnuts or almonds if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of honey in the dressing to suit your desired sweetness level.
- This salad is best enjoyed fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.
