Refreshing Pineapple Cucumber Salad (Print Version)

Sweet pineapple meets crisp cucumber with tangy lime. A refreshing 15-minute side for summer meals.

# What You Need:

→ Produce

01 - 2 cups fresh pineapple, diced
02 - 1 large cucumber, diced
03 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

05 - 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
06 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
07 - 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup (optional)
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

10 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
11 - 1 small fresh red chili, thinly sliced

# How-To:

01 - Place diced pineapple, cucumber, red onion slices, and chopped cilantro in a large salad bowl.
02 - Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey or agave if using, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
03 - Pour dressing over salad mixture and toss gently to evenly coat all ingredients.
04 - Adjust seasoning to taste, then sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and fresh chili slices if desired.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour to enhance flavor fusion.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of sweet pineapple and cool cucumber wakes up your palate like nothing else
  • It comes together in literally fifteen minutes but looks like you put real thought into it
  • You can make it ahead and it actually gets better after the flavors mingle
02 -
  • This salad tastes best served within an hour of making it. The pineapple starts to break down and everything gets a bit soft if it sits too long.
  • Cucumber releases water as it sits, so if you are making this ahead, wait to add the dressing until right before serving.
  • The red onion can be quite pungent. If you are sensitive to that sharp bite, soak the sliced onion in ice water for ten minutes before adding it to the salad.
03 -
  • Cut the pineapple and cucumber into uniform pieces for the most pleasant eating experience
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant, watching carefully so they do not burn
  • If your pineapple is not quite ripe enough, let it sit on the counter for a day before making this salad

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