Carrot Cucumber Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing

Fresh Carrot Cucumber Salad

This carrot cucumber salad has a creamy greek yogurt dressing with lemon juice and lemon zest and filled with lots of fresh herbs. This is a refreshing salad to add to your line up to go alongside a barbecue, big family dinner, or an easy weeknight meal.  It’s the perfect recipe to make ahead and enjoy later that day or the next. It’s crisp, creamy, herby, and will pair with just about anything.

The Supplies

Ingredients

To make this carrot cucumber salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Hot house cucumber
• Carrots
• Salt
• Greek yogurt
• Lemon juice and zest
• Fresh dill
• Fresh mint leaves
• Black pepper

For the exact ingredient amounts, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Equipment

In order to make this simple carrot cucumber salad, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment:

• Cutting board and knife
• Mandoline (optional)
• Large colander
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk

Frequent Recipe Questions

Is this recipe best made ahead of time?

• A: Yes! This recipe is even better when made ahead of time. This allows the ingredients to meld together nicely. If making this more than 4 hours in advance, note that the dressing will become runnier as more liquid is released from the cucumbers. Just stir to incorporate the liquid back in, taste, and adjust the seasoning if you think it needs it.

Can I substitute the greek yogurt?

• A: Definitely! The greek yogurt can be substituted with sour cream or creme fraiche.

Is it ok to substitute the hot house cucumber with a garden cucumber?

• A: Yes! If using a garden cucumber, slice the cucumber in half lengthwise and remove the seeds from the center. Once the seeds are removed, thinly slice the vegetable and continue the rest of the recipe as written.

Recipe Tips

When making this carrot and cucumber salad, here are a few tips to make sure it turns out perfectly:

• To make the slices of carrots and cucumbers even, you can use a mandolin. This tool will give you thin, even slices. Just be sure to follow the instructions for your mandolin carefully, as mandolins are incredibly sharp!
• I like the flavor and texture of the rind on a hot house cucumber. That said, I know it’s not for everyone. If you prefer to peel the cucumber before slicing it, the recipe will still be delicious as written.

Carrot Cucumber Salad Recipe Details

Prep the Carrots and Cucumber

To get this carrot and cucumber salad started, you’ll first slice and season the produce. Slice off and discard the end of the cucumber. Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise and then thinly slice it into small pieces.

For the carrots, peel the rough outside of the carrots, discarding the peels. Thinly slice the carrots using a sharp knife or mandoline. Add both the sliced carrots and cucumber into the bowl of a large colander.

Place the colander in your sink and sprinkle the kosher salt over the top. Toss to coat the carrots and cucumber in the salt and leave the colander in the sink. Let the veggies marinate in the sink for about 15 minutes, allowing any liquids released from the produce to drain off into the sink. 

Prepare the Salad

While the carrots and cucumbers are in the sink, add the greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, and black pepper to a large mixing bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until a smooth dressing is formed. 

After the carrots and cucumbers have sat in the sink for about 15 minutes, rinse them well with cold water. Make sure each piece is rinsed well and no granules of salt are left. Shake the colander a couple times and then lightly dry them off with a kitchen towel to remove any excess water.

Add the rinsed cucumbers and carrots to the mixing bowl with the dressing. Toss to coat the cucumbers and carrots in the lemony greek yogurt dressing. Add the chopped dill and mint to the salad and stir to incorporate. Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. Stir the salad to mix in any liquid that’s released from the cucumbers and carrots. Enjoy!

This carrot cucumber salad is a perfect companion to a grilled chicken dinner, alongside other sides at a barbecue, or with a loaded veggie and cheese sandwich.

If you make this carrot cucumber salad, be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating – I can’t wait to hear how it goes. As always, tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook in your photos. It makes me feel like we’re getting to cook together!

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