Zesty Italian Cucumber Salad Recipe (2024)

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Updated: July 14, 2021 | 7 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. Click here for our full disclosure.

Growing up, summer meant spending lots of time at my aunt’s house going swimming. This usually evolved into an all day event ending with grilling and lots of food.

I have many fond memories of being tossed around in the pool or laying on a float with a good book. There was also never a shortage of snacks and foods.

My favorite though, was always at the height of summer, when we had lots of salads with garden fresh vegetables. There really is nothing like a ripe tomato or cucumber freshly picked. Added to some pasta with homemade dressing and I seriously could eat it all day long.

The Best Gluten-Free Pasta for Cucumber Salad

Sadly, now that I have a thyroid issue, I need to stay away from gluten. While there are a lot of gluten-free pastas, I have not found one that I enjoy in a cold pasta salad. The texture is always off.

I totally admit pasta was one of the most difficult things to give up for me. It sounds silly but I think it is strongly associated as part of my childhood. I’ve gotten used to it now but I sometimes totally crave those fresh salads.

Last summer though, I started seeing recipe for vegetable noodles and decided to try my hand at using a spiralizer. Well, hello yummy noodles, I was in love again!

Using fresh summer produce for noodles totally hit the spot of filling the void of the missed summer pasta salads. Even my kids raved about them!

Veggie noodles have been a game changer for my family. We love the variation of vegetables and dressings at each meal. It’s so easy to change up with different spices, dressings and whatever vegetables that are coming in from the garden.

If you’ve never spiralized a vegetable before, check out this guide to spiralizing from America’s Test Kitchen.

How to Make Italian Cucumber Salad

It really is super easy to make! We use a spiralizer to cut the cucumbers into thin “noodles”, which conjures up the texture and memories of a pasta salad.

Add the rest of the ingredients (which are flexible too) and voila – you have a magical combination that’ll find a place in your family’s fondest summer memories.

If you wanted to chop the cucumbers instead of spiralize that would also be delicious!

Can I Make Substitutions in my Italian Cucumber Salad?

What’s also great about these salads is they just make a great base for whatever sounds good to you. You can easily just add more of ingredients to bring it to a pot luck.

Or, if you don’t have something on hand, use what you have.

We have easily subbed in ham or salami for the pepperoni. No parm? Feta cheese is a great addition to this salad.

I am just happy I can create great food memories with my kids without compromising our diet. Veggie noodles are an awesome way to get those picky veggie eaters to try vegetables. I have not met a kid yet that has turned away a cucumber noodle.

Food not only fuels your body but it such a part of how we socialize as families and friends. With some creativity it can be fun and nutritious.

This salad reminds me so much of the pasta salad my mom used to make all the time. It was my all time favorite version. I am so happy to have a healthy version to share with my kids.

Recommended Equipment to Make Italian Cucumber Salad

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• 10+ Ways to Sneak More Fruits and Veggies Into Your Day

Firing up the grill to go with your cucumber salad? Try my Homemade Burger Patties recipe – it’s bursting with juicy flavor.

Add these Perfect French Fries (done on the stovetop, oven, or air fryer) and you have the perfect summer meal. Yum!

Use Up Your Tomato Harvest

If you have an abundance of fresh tomatoes to use up, check out my delicious Marinara Sauce recipe, my Italian Meat Sauce recipe, my Crockpot Bolognese Sauce, and my Lacto-Fermented Ketchup Recipe.

What are some of your favorite food makeovers you have done to makefamily favorites healthy?

Originally Posted by: Jessica in July 2015. Updated in 2020 by Red & Honey.

Jessica is a wife and mama to two boys and she loves spending her days with them, watching them grow and explore the world around them. Jessica grew up on fast food and quickly ditched that life when she became pregnant with her first. Since then it has been journey of learning about whole food nutrition, herbs and natural supplements. Her goal has been to keep her family healthy and happy…as naturally as possible.