Cucumber Salsa

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 1 mins

Chill: 30 mins

Total: 41 mins

Servings: 8 servings

Yield: 4 cups

For a refreshing take on salsa, introduce diced, fresh cucumber to the mix. Of course, it tastes great when served with tortilla chips, but it’s also a stellar topping to spoon over a simple grilled salmon or fish tacos. Cucumber salsa is a great keto-friendly, gluten-free choice to make any dish even more flavorful and exciting.

This recipe calls for an English or hothouse cucumber—they’re long, seedless cucumbers that are usually sold in plastic sleeves. The skin is thin and the seeds are undeveloped, therefore they can simply be sliced and diced when used in recipes such as this. This salsa also incorporates some diced tomato for color, red onion and garlic for bite, and chopped jalapeño pepper for heat. All these flavors come together with a bit of lime zest and juice for acidic balance.

Ingredients

2 cups diced English cucumber, about 1 large English cucumber
3/4 cup diced tomato from about 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded
1/2 cup red onion
1/4 cup minced jalapeño pepper, seeded and cored
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon freshly-grated lime zest
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Tortilla chips, to serve

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
In a large bowl combine the cucumber, tomato, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro. Toss to combine.
Add lime juice, zest, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin and toss gently to coat.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve cucumber salsa with tortilla chips.

How to Store

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within two days.

Tips

Remember, it is important to wear disposable gloves whenever cutting hot peppers as the oils can burn the skin. Be especially careful around the seeds and ribs of a hot pepper because that is where the heat is concentrated the most.
You should also avoid touching your face until your hands have been thoroughly washed after handling any hot peppers.

Recipe Variations

If you opt for another type of cucumber, it is important to peel and seed the cucumber before adding it to the salsa; otherwise, you might end up with a watery outcome. To seed a cucumber, simply cut it in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the pulpy center before dicing.
If you prefer a salsa with a more mild heat, try substituting minced poblano pepper for the jalapeño.
If you want to turn up the heat, consider a serrano pepper or habanero for a real kick. You can also add hot sauce for extra flavor.
If you don’t care for cilantro, swap it for flat-leaf parsley.

Can cucumbers be used in salsa?

Yes cucumbers can be used in salsa. The best to use for salsa is an English or hothouse cucumber. They are long, seedless cucumbers that are usually sold in plastic sleeves. The skin is thin and the seeds are undeveloped, therefore they can simply be sliced and diced when used in recipes such as salsa.

Is salsa keto friendly?

Yes salsas are keto-friendly, gluten-free and a great choice to make healthy dishes even more flavorful and exciting.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories	16
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 81mg	4%
Total Carbohydrate 4g	1%
Dietary Fiber 1g	3%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 9mg	46%
Calcium 13mg	1%
Iron 0mg	1%
Potassium 117mg	2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.