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Fresh Clementine Cucumber Salad

fresh clementine cucumber salad - featured image
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A vibrant and refreshing salad combining sweet clementines with crisp cucumber ribbons, enhanced by a light citrus dressing and fresh herbs. Perfect for spring and summer, this quick and easy salad offers a unique twist on traditional cucumber salads.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3–4 medium clementines, peeled and segmented (seedless if possible)
  • 1 large English cucumber, thinly sliced or peeled into ribbons
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
  • A small handful fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • Sea salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, a pinch
  • Optional toppings: crumbled feta cheese or toasted almonds

Instructions

  1. Peel and segment 3 to 4 medium clementines, removing any seeds and white pith carefully to avoid bitterness (about 5 minutes).
  2. Use a vegetable peeler to shave long ribbons from 1 large English cucumber, or slice thin rounds and cut into half-moons to yield about 2 cups of cucumber ribbons or slices (about 3 minutes).
  3. Thinly slice 1 small red onion, or skip if preferred. To soften the onion’s bite, soak slices briefly in cold water and drain well (about 5 minutes).
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
  5. In a large bowl, combine cucumber ribbons, clementine segments, red onion slices, and chopped fresh mint leaves. Pour the dressing over and toss gently until evenly coated.
  6. If using, sprinkle crumbled feta cheese or toasted almonds on top last to maintain texture.
  7. Serve immediately or chill for up to an hour to let flavors meld. If salad seems dry, add a splash more olive oil or lemon juice.

Notes

[‘Do not over-soak the onion to retain some bite and flavor.’, ‘Peel clementines carefully to remove pith and avoid bitterness.’, ‘Use room temperature ingredients for better dressing emulsification.’, ‘Toss salad gently to avoid bruising delicate clementine segments.’, ‘Prep cucumbers and onions ahead but add citrus and dressing just before serving.’, ‘Adjust lemon juice or honey in dressing to balance acidity and sweetness.’, ‘Optional variations include adding red pepper flakes for heat, swapping herbs, or adding protein like chickpeas or quinoa.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: clementine cucumber salad, fresh salad, spring salad, citrus salad, easy salad recipe, healthy salad, gluten-free salad, vegan salad option

Find it online: https://bouncybowl.com/fresh-clementine-cucumber-salad-recipe-5-easy-steps-for-a-vibrant-spring-twist/