Description
This Light and Zesty Pineapple Cucumber Salad is a refreshing and vibrant snack perfect for warm days or as a healthy side dish. Combining sweet pineapple, crisp cucumber, and a tangy lime dressing, this salad offers a delightful balance of flavors with a hint of heat from jalapeño and a creamy touch from optional feta cheese. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s ideal for quick, nutritious snacking or an easy addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Vegetables
- 1 medium Fresh Pineapple, diced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 large English Cucumber, sliced into half-moons or small cubes
- 1/2 medium Red Onion, thinly sliced
- 1 small Jalapeño (optional), sliced thinly
- 1/4 cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons Freshly squeezed Lime Juice
- 1 tablespoon Honey or Maple Syrup
- 2 tablespoons High-quality Olive Oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon Freshly ground Black Pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
Optional Toppings
- 1/4 cup Feta Cheese, crumbled (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Gather all ingredients. Dice the fresh pineapple into bite-sized pieces to maximize their sweetness. Slice the English cucumber into half-moons or small cubes for easy mixing and eating. Thinly slice the red onion and jalapeño if using, and chop the fresh cilantro finely. Crumble the feta cheese if you choose to include it.
- Mix Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together freshly squeezed lime juice, honey or maple syrup, olive oil, salt, freshly ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. This zesty dressing brings a perfect balance of tartness, sweetness, and mild heat.
- Combine Salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the diced pineapple, sliced cucumber, red onion, chopped cilantro, and jalapeño slices. Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Add Cheese: If desired, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the salad and toss lightly again to combine without breaking up the cheese too much.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately for the freshest crunch and zing, or refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together more deeply. Garnish with additional cilantro leaves or a lime wedge before serving if preferred.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, keep the jalapeño seeds and membranes; remove them for milder heat.
- Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor; bottled juice may alter the taste.
- To keep the salad crisp if making ahead, store the dressing separately and toss just before serving.
- Substitute maple syrup with agave nectar for a vegan option.
- Omit feta cheese to make the salad vegan.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated up to one day for convenience.
