Simple Cucumber Feta Salad

There’s nothing better than the tangy, salty kick of this cucumber feta salad! It’s perfect for lunches, picnics, summer barbecues and more.

There’s nothing better than the cooling crunch of cucumber salad: and this one takes it up a notch with the punch of salty cheese. Try this Cucumber Feta Salad! It’s simple and no-frills with a punch of tangy vinegar and a salty burst of feta in every bite. Thinly sliced shallots add a note of savory onions, and it’s seasoned liberally with salt and pepper. It’s the best crunchy pairing for just about any meal: it’s great for lunches, picnics, summer barbecues and more!

Ingredients in cucumber feta salad

There are loads of ways to make a cucumber salad. In fact, most often we make this Cucumber Salad with Vinegar, where thin slices of cucumber and onion are marinated in a vinegar dressing for an hour before serving. This cucumber feta salad is even easier: simply mix the cucumbers with olive oil, vinegar, feta and a few herbs and you can eat immediately. Here’s what you’ll need:

English cucumbers
Olive oil
Red wine vinegar
Feta cheese
Fresh herbs: chives, dill or other
Salt and pepper

Why to use English cucumber here

The best type of cucumber to use in this cucumber feta salad? English cucumber, aka Persian cucumber. It’s got a much better flavor and texture that works well in this salad. Here’s why we prefer it here:

English cucumbers are long and straight, with a thin skin with ridges. The seeds are very small and the flavor is sweeter than a standard cucumber. The flesh has a bright green color, which looks lovely in salads! The best part: because of the thin skin and small seeds, it doesn’t need to be peeled or seeded before eating. You can find English cucumbers next to the standard cucumber in the produce section: it’s sold with a plastic covering to protect the delicate skin.
Standard slicing cucumbers are shorter, with thick, dark green skin and very large seeds. The thick skin and seeds can be bitter, so they’re often removed when cooking. You can use it here, but you’ll need to peel and seed it first. But we highly recommend seeking out the English variety.

Herbs to add

This cucumber feta salad is best with a handful of fresh herbs. There are a few great options that work best here:

Fresh chives work well
Fresh dill pairs well with cucumbers
Fresh basil adds a peppery kick
Fresh oregano also works

What to avoid? Woody, strong herbs like rosemary, sage, and even thyme don’t pair well with cucumber: they have a darker, moodier flavor than you’d want in this fresh salad.

More cucumber salad recipes

There are so many ways to build a cucumber salad! We hope you love this one. If you’re looking for more ways to use cucumber, here are a few more ideas:

Try Cucumber Salad with Vinegar or German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat)
Opt for Creamy Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream
Go for Watermelon Cucumber Salad
Grab Tomato Cucumber Salad or Cucumber, Tomato & Avocado Salad

This cucumber feta salad recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free.