Refreshing Cucumber Summer Salad!

Refreshing Cucumber Summer Salad (Keto & Vegan-Friendly)

This vibrant and crisp salad is the essence of summer, offering a light, refreshing side dish that’s incredibly easy to make. It’s naturally low in carbs and bursting with flavor, making it perfect for healthy meal planning.

Yields: 4-6 servings Prep time: 15 minutes Chill time: At least 30 minutes (recommended)

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced or diced (about 1 large English cucumber or 2-3 smaller Kirby cucumbers)
• 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup finely sliced red onion
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup avocado oil (or extra virgin olive oil)
• 1/2 tablespoon Swerve Granulated Sweetener (or other erythritol-based granulated sweetener)

Equipment:

• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk (for dressing)

Instructions:

1. Prepare Vegetables: Peel the cucumber (if desired) and thinly slice it into rounds or half-moons, or dice it. Halve the cherry or grape tomatoes. Thinly slice the red onion.
2. Make the Dressing: In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the white vinegar, avocado oil, Swerve Granulated Sweetener, salt, and black pepper until well combined and the sweetener has dissolved.
3. Combine & Toss: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced red onion. Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetables.
4. Add Dill: Sprinkle the fresh chopped dill over the salad. Gently toss all ingredients together until the vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.
5. Chill & Serve: For best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to chill nicely.
6. Enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Recipe Analysis & Dietary Classification

This salad is a fantastic, versatile, and very healthy option for your weekly meals.

• Low-Carb: Yes, this recipe is low-carb. Cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion are all relatively low in carbohydrates. By using Swerve as a sweetener, you avoid added sugars found in many traditional vinaigrettes.
• Keto: Yes, this recipe is keto-friendly. All ingredients used are appropriate for a ketogenic diet:
  • Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Red Onion: These are great keto vegetable choices. While tomatoes have some carbs, the amount per serving in this salad is well within keto limits.
  • Dill, Salt, Pepper: Standard keto-friendly seasonings.
  • White Vinegar: Keto-friendly.
  • Avocado Oil: An excellent source of healthy fats for keto.
  • Swerve Granulated Sweetener: A perfect zero-net-carb sweetener for keto.
• High Protein: No, this recipe is not high protein. It’s primarily composed of vegetables and healthy fats from the oil, with minimal protein content. It’s best served as a side dish to a protein-rich main course.
• Vegan/Vegetarian: Yes, this recipe is vegan and vegetarian, as it contains no animal products.