This tangy Moroccan cucumber salad with mint is a perfect side dish for roasted meats and fish or burgers. It also makes a great Moroccan salad recipe to pair with other salads.
Recipe Stats
Vegan | Moroccan Recipe | 10 Minutes Of Prep + 20 Minutes Of Waiting Time
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What Is Moroccan Cucumber Salad
As a meat lover, it’s funny to write that one of the best things about Moroccan food is the salads. Don’t get me wrong, Moroccans cook meat, including lamb, with the best of them. But their salads are easily some of the best in the world.
Sit down for lunch or dinner in Morocco and the first thing you’ll notice is the salads. That’s right, salad with an extra “s.” Growing up in the US, we are used to having a small side or garden salad with a meal. Being served upwards of 3 to 4 salads BEFORE the main dish is something to get used to.
But fear not, these salads are typically small and unbelievably delicious. It was super common to see cucumber salads as part of this salad selection. This is our ode to the Moroccan cucumber salad.
Check out some of our other Moroccan salad recipes:
Crisp Moroccan Carrot Salad With Oranges And Mint
Zesty Moroccan Potato Salad
Easy Moroccan Beet Salad
Mint In Moroccan Cooking
Mint is everywhere in Moroccan food. You simply can’t escape having it served to you. Mint tea isn’t just a beverage, it’s a ritual. It’s drunk all day every day. It’s served when you visit someone’s home, after a meal. Basically all the time.
But, mint also makes it into the cuisine as well. Moroccan cucumber salad with mint was one of my favorite dishes to eat in Morocco. It’s light, refreshing, and the perfect way to rehydrate from the heat of Morocco.
Ingredients For Moroccan Cucumber Salad With Fresh Mint
Obviously, the main ingredient for this cucumber salad is, well, cucumber. You can use regular cucumbers, hot house, or English, whatever you have a available. There are a few ways to prepare them. I generally cut them in half and then slice them thin with a knife or a mandolin. You do want them thin so that they soak in the dressing.
I also prefer to slice them rather than dice the cucumbers or cube them, again because they soak up the dressing well.
Dressing ingredients:
- white wine vinegar
- olive oil
- sugar
- black pepper
The cucumber salad is finished off with fresh, shredded or chopped mint.
How To Make Moroccan Cucumber Salad
Preparing The Cucumbers
Slice the cucumbers lengthwise and then into thin slices. Place the cucumbers in a small bowl and sprinkle them with salt. Let them sit for 20-30 minutes.
After, place the cucumber in a colander and allow the accumulated liquid to drain. Place the cucumbers on a paper towel to blot the excess liquid.
Assembling The Salad
Place the white wine vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper into a small mixing bowl. Blend the dressing with a fork or wire whisk until blended.
Taste the dressing and adjust if needed, normally by adding a bit more olive oil or vinegar. There should be an acidic tang to the dressing.
Add the cucumbers into the dressing and toss with fresh mint. If preparing ahead of time, chill the cumbers in the dressing but add the mint before serving so it doesn’t get soggy. Add an extra sprig of mint for garnish.
Moroccan Cucumber Salad With Mint
This tangy Moroccan cucumber salad with mint is a perfect side dish for roasted meats and fish.
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers, sliced thin
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Slice the cucumbers lengthwise and then into thin slices.
- Place the cucumber in a small bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 20-30 minutes.
- After, place the cucumber in a colander and allow the accumulated liquid to drain.
- Place the cucumbers on a paper towel to blot the excess liquid.
- Place the white wine vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper into a small mixing bowl. Blend with a fork or wire whisk until blended.
- Add the cucumbers into the dressing and toss with fresh mint.
- Add an extra sprig of mint for garnish.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 82Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 135mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g
This nutritional data is provided by a third-party source and should not be relied on if you are on a strict diet.
FAQs – Moroccan Cucumber Salad
There are over 100 varieties of cucumbers. Believe it or not, not every type of cucumber is ideal for making a cucumber salad. If you are going to make a salad, it’s best to use either Sweet Slice Burpless, Poinsett, Indio, or Burpee Hybrid cucumbers.
The Burpless English cucumber is considered by many to be the sweetest variety of cucumbers. This makes it ideal for raw salads as well as for pickling.
Many people label cucumbers as a “superfood”. Packed with essential vitamins and minerals, they are also highly versatile. Cucumbers can be sliced, diced, and pressed for juice. They also work well with a wide range of ingredients including nuts, herbs such as mint, meats, and cheese.