Cucumber and Sweet Pepper Salad (Printable)

Crisp cucumbers and sweet peppers in a zesty herby dressing. Ready in 15 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 2 large sweet bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange), thinly sliced
03 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Fresh Herbs

05 - 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped (optional)

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or white wine vinegar)
09 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
10 - ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - ½ teaspoon sea salt
12 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and dill.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently to coat evenly.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
05 - Serve immediately, or chill for 20–30 minutes for enhanced flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dressing emulsifies into this silky coat that makes every vegetable taste like itself but better
  • It actually improves after sitting for 20 minutes so you can make it ahead without stress
  • Perfect for those nights when you want something fresh but don't want to turn on the stove
02 -
  • Dont skip the mustard, it's not there for mustard flavor but to make the dressing actually emulsify properly
  • The salad releases water as it sits so add any toasted seeds right before serving to keep them crunchy
  • If making ahead, dress it at the last minute or the vegetables will get sad and wilted
03 -
  • Thin slice your onions and give them a quick ice bath if raw onion usually bothers you
  • English cucumbers save you from peeling and deseeding but regular ones work fine too

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