Quick & Refreshing Jamie Oliver Cucumber Salad Recipe

A cucumber salad bursts with refreshing simplicity, transforming mundane ingredients into a culinary revelation.

Mediterranean flavors dance across this light, zesty dish that promises maximum satisfaction with minimal effort.

Jamie Oliver’s approach celebrates raw ingredients and their natural vibrancy, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Crisp vegetables provide a cool, invigorating base that awakens your palate with each delectable bite.

The unique combination of tangy and herbal notes elevates this seemingly ordinary side dish into something extraordinary.

Bright, clean flavors merge seamlessly, offering a perfect accompaniment to grilled meats or as a standalone summer treat.

This recipe represents pure, uncomplicated cooking that highlights fresh produce in its most elemental form: prepare to be deliciously surprised.

Why Jamie Oliver’s Cucumber Salad Is Incredibly Refreshing

• Savor Quick Cucumber Freshness: This Jamie Oliver salad delivers lightning-fast preparation in just 10 minutes, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want delicious, healthy food without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Enjoy Vibrant Texture Play: The unique fork-striped cucumber technique creates beautiful, interesting visual patterns while ensuring each bite has a delightful crunch and interesting mouthfeel with olives, spring onions, and crisp cucumber pieces.
• Celebrate Mediterranean Flavor Burst: The combination of balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh mint transforms simple ingredients into a bright, zesty salad that transports your taste buds to sunny Mediterranean coastlines with minimal effort and maximum taste.

Ingredients for a Crisp Cucumber Salad

• Cucumber: Crunchy base vegetable with light, refreshing flavor, best when firm and bright green.
• Spring Onions: Sharp, mild onion flavor that adds brightness and color to the salad.
• Fresh Mint Leaves: Aromatic herb providing a cool, fresh finishing touch to the dish.

• Balsamic Vinegar: Tangy liquid that adds depth and complexity to the salad's overall taste.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Rich, smooth oil that helps bind ingredients and provides a silky texture.
• Lemon: Citrus fruit that adds bright, zesty acidity and helps balance the salad's flavors.

• Black Pepper: Subtle spice that adds a gentle warmth and depth to the salad.
• Olives: Salty, briny ingredient that contributes a Mediterranean flavor profile and interesting texture.

How to Toss Jamie Oliver’s Cucumber Salad

Step 1: Prepare The Cucumber

Use a fork to create uniform stripes along the length of the cucumber. Slice off both ends with a sharp knife on a clean cutting board.

Step 2: Remove Seeds And Chop

Cut the cucumber lengthwise into halves, then slice across the middle. Use a teaspoon to carefully scoop out the seeds. Chop the cucumber into 1 cm pieces and transfer to a mixing bowl.

Step 3: Prepare Olives

Crush olives using the palm of your hand. Remove and discard the stones. Roughly chop the olives and add them to the cucumber bowl.

Step 4: Add Spring Onions

Trim the ends of spring onions and slice them finely. Sprinkle into the bowl.

Step 5: Create Dressing

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Juice from 1/2 lemon (remove any seeds while squeezing)
• Freshly ground black pepper

Step 6: Combine And Garnish

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Tear fresh mint leaves and scatter on top of the salad.

Tips for a Perfectly Balanced Cucumber Salad

• Maximize Flavor Infusion: Let the salad rest for 15 minutes before serving to allow ingredients to meld together.
• Personalize Your Crunch: Experiment with different types of cucumbers like English, Persian, or local farm varieties for unique textures.
• Temperature Matters: Serve chilled for a refreshing summer side dish that keeps ingredients crisp and vibrant.
• Smart Storage Hack: Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 24 hours, draining excess liquid to maintain salad's crispness.
• Ingredient Upgrade: Consider using flaky sea salt instead of regular salt to elevate the overall taste profile and add subtle mineral notes.

Storing Cucumber Salad for Extra Freshness

• Sealed Container Method: Transfer the cucumber salad to an airtight glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Glass containers prevent flavor absorption and maintain the crispness of ingredients better than plastic alternatives.
• Cool Temperature Strategy: Store the salad in the coldest part of your refrigerator, typically the back shelf, where temperature remains consistent. Avoid placing near the door where temperature fluctuates frequently.
• Moisture Control Technique: Place a paper towel underneath and on top of the salad before sealing the container. This absorbs excess liquid, preventing soggy vegetables and maintaining the salad's fresh texture for up to 3-4 days.

Variations to Elevate Cucumber Salad

• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Enhance the salad by adding chopped fresh dill, oregano, and parsley for a robust herb-infused flavor profile.
• Spicy Mediterranean Kick: Incorporate finely diced red chili peppers or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to introduce a zesty heat that complements the cucumber's cool freshness.
• Greek-Inspired Version: Replace balsamic vinegar with red wine vinegar, add crumbled feta cheese, and include sliced Kalamata olives for an authentic Greek salad experience.
• Protein-Packed Option: Mix in grilled chicken chunks or chickpeas to transform the light salad into a more substantial meal with added protein and texture.

A Cool Wrap-Up for Cucumber Salad

Cool Mediterranean flavors dance through Jamie Oliver’s cucumber salad, bringing zesty brightness to summer tables.

Cucumber stripes create visual intrigue while olives add salty complexity.

Mediterranean ingredients waltz together with elegant simplicity.

Fresh mint leaves provide aromatic finishing touches that elevate this classic dish.

Such Mediterranean charm speaks directly to culinary wanderlust and sensory exploration.

You’ll crave seconds after one refreshing bite – so snap a photo, share this recipe with friends, drop a comment celebrating Mediterranean magic, and let deliciousness inspire connection.

Jamie Oliver Cucumber Salad Recipe

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4.5 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Jamie Oliver’s refreshing cucumber salad brings Mediterranean zest to your table. Crisp vegetables dance with tangy dressing, creating a light and irresistible side dish you’ll want to savor alongside grilled meats or enjoy as a quick, cool lunch.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cucumbers
• 10 black olives, stone in
• 3 spring onions
• 5 or 6 sprigs of fresh mint

Secondary Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
• ½ a lemon

Seasonings:

• freshly ground black pepper
• ½ a fresh red chili (optional)

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Instructions

1. Using a fork, create uniform lengthwise stripes on the cucumber by gently dragging the tines along its surface.
2. Position the cucumber on a clean chopping board and trim both ends with a sharp knife for a neat appearance.
3. Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise, then cut each half crosswise into two equal portions.
4. With a teaspoon, carefully scoop out and discard the seeds from each cucumber quarter to reduce excess moisture.
5. Chop the cucumber into precise 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) cubes and transfer them into a spacious mixing bowl.
6. Place olives on the cutting board and crush them using the palm of your hand to release the stones, which should be removed and discarded.
7. Coarsely chop the olives and add them to the cucumber in the bowl.
8. Trim the root and tip of spring onions, then slice them into delicate, thin rings.
9. Sprinkle the finely sliced spring onions over the cucumber and olive mixture.
10. Drizzle 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar into the bowl.
11. Squeeze fresh lemon juice directly from half a lemon, carefully avoiding any seeds.
12. Grind a small amount of black pepper over the salad for a subtle kick of flavor.
13. Gently toss all ingredients to ensure even distribution of flavors.
14. Finish by garnishing with fresh mint leaves, torn into smaller pieces for an aromatic touch.

Notes

• Squeeze olives to release robust, salty flavors before chopping coarsely.
• Brighten the salad with fresh lemon juice for a tangy punch.
• Tear mint leaves gently to release aromatic oils and distribute evenly.
• Remove cucumber seeds to prevent watery texture and maintain crispness.
• Create elegant presentation by using fork tines to create decorative cucumber stripes.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 60 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 8 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg