Gabyโs Cucumber Salad
Gaby's cucumber salad recipe is the best cucumber salad I've ever had! It's made with crisp cucumber and creamy avocado tossed in a simple balsamic vinegar dressing.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on September 3, 2024
Letโs clear up a few things about this cucumber salad. First of all, itโs Gabyโs Momโs recipe, but weโre calling it Gabyโs for short.
Second, itโs the most delicious cucumber salad Iโve ever met. Somehow, crisp cucumber, creamy avocado and a super basic balsamic dressing create a stellar cucumber salad.
This recipe comes fromย Gaby Dalkinโs new cookbook,ย Whatโs Gaby Cooking: Everyday California Recipes. Perhaps you know Gabyโs blog, which has the same name. Iโm always admiring Gabyโs simple, colorful, fresh-from-the-farmersโ-market recipes.
The Best Cucumber Salad Recipe
Hereโs what Gaby says about this salad: โMy mom made this salad just about every night when I was growing up. It was so yummy that Iโd eat half the bowl before we even sat down for dinner, even though Iโd get yelled at for not saving any for my dad and sisterโฆ Now itโs my go-to side salad, and my husband eats half of it before we sit down for dinner.โ
Hereโs what I have to say about this salad: Iโve demolished this cucumber salad all on my own in one sitting. I want to plant Persian cucumbers in my garden so I can eat cucumber salad all summer long. Iโd grow an avocado tree if I couldโwell, Iโd grow an avocado tree for many reasons. Anyway, itโs that good.
Watch How to Make Gabyโs Cucumber Salad
Cucumber Salad Tips
- I found Persian cucumbers at Trader Joeโs. Theyโre smaller in diameter, extra-crisp, and less seedy and watery than regular old cucumbers. If you canโt find them, opt for English cucumbers, which are similar in texture.
- Donโt overdo the garlic in this recipe, or it will overwhelm the other flavors (speaking from experience here). Two small-to-medium cloves or one large clove will be just right.
- No need to bust out your thick, expensive balsamic vinegar for this recipe. Regular balsamic will do great.
- This recipe is best served immediately, since the avocado browns over time. However, if you toss it well, you can refrigerate leftovers for a few hours.
- Gaby suggested tossing in arugula and cherry tomatoes, if you want this salad to go further. I added a chopped radish mostly for color, honestly, but itโs also nice and springy.
I got so excited about this salad that I made a couple more of her simple side dishes from her book the other night, her charred sugar snap peas and Omiโs haricots verts salad. They were both so easy and so tasty.
Iโm dying to make her Cobb salads for all seasons, poblano scallion queso and green rice burrito bowl. The book isnโt vegetarian, but I found lots of recipes to make in there.
If youโre looking for fresh recipes to make on the grill this summer and appealing fresh comfort food, I think youโll really enjoy Whatโs Gaby Cooking.
Gabyโs Cucumber Salad
Gabyโs cucumber salad recipe is the best cucumber salad Iโve ever had! Itโs made with crisp cucumber and creamy avocado tossed in a simple balsamic vinegar dressing. Recipe yields 4 servings.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 small-to-medium cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 ripe avocado, pitted and sliced or diced
- 4 Persian cucumbers or 2 medium English cucumbers (12 ounces), thinly sliced
- Optional additions: 1 to 2 cups arugula, ยฝ cup halved cherry tomatoes, and/or 1 to 2 chopped radishes
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic until blended. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the avocado and cucumbers to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Serve immediately.
Notes
Recipe adapted just a tiny bit from Whatโs Gaby Cooking by Gaby Dalkin.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionistโs advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
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BEST salad E V E R! cannot explain how much I loved this salad. which is weird bc the ingredients seem ordinary. Eating this daily for foreseeable future lol cheers from down under, great recipe
Hooray! Iโm glad you loved it, Spencer.
Remarkably yummy yet so simple. I think the combo of the crunchy cucumbers and creamy avocado lead my hubby to declare it was the best salad ever.
Thank you for your review, Heather!
Hi Kate,
Iโve been eyeing this recipe for days and want to bring it to a potluck. Can I make this the night before?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Page, this recipe is best served immediately, since the avocado browns over time.
I couldnโt agree more. I thought it would taste like other cucumber salads Iโve made. Nope! This is the BEST Iโve tried. It must be the perfect amounts and combinations of ingredients. I will make this all summer long. Thank you!!!
Make this today and beyond belief this was the best cucumber salad that Iโve ever made. Thank you for this recipe.
Youโre welcome, Charlene! Thank you for your review.
Loved it. Easy.Light.
Great to hear, Patti!
I understand salt and pepper should be to taste, but can you please tell me how much pepper and salt and what kind of salt that you use that makes it so delicious? I would then adjust, but I want to start with the โsure thing!โThanks.
Hi Mary, to taste means what you prefer. I would start will a small amount, then adjust from there.
Such a disappointing answer, as if you didnโt even read Maryโs post. Mary indicated clearly in her question that she knows what to taste means. Why not give her the amount you use, or at least what amount you consider a โsmall amountโ to start with? And she asked what kind.
The avocado and cucumber combination nevers fails to please :)
I substituted half sesame / half neutral oil to the olive oil, and used fresh garlic as itโs in season here (and less strong than the regular dry one). It was very good indeed and every generation loved it.
Thank you for sharing how you made this, Marion!
Just made it and itโs delicious.
Where can I find the recipe for โ Omiโs haricots verts saladโ?
Is this the recipe you are looking for? Best Ever Green Beans
A new favorite! Tastes delish! Perfect for company too, ez to make and its harvest time! Served with walleye and baby red potatoes. Crowd pleaser!
reat to hear, Deb!
This cucumber salad recipe looks absolutely refreshing and perfect for summer! I love how easy it is to make, and the combination of avocado with cucumbers sounds delicious. thank you for sharing!
Happy to hear you enjoyed it, Aneel!
This Gabyโs Cucumber Salad looks so refreshing and lightโperfect for hot summer days! I love how simple yet flavorful the ingredients are, especially with the tangy dressing. The addition of fresh dill and red onions really elevates the salad, and I can imagine how crisp and satisfying it must be with every bite. Iโm definitely going to make this for my next BBQโthanks for sharing such a delicious and easy recipe!
Amazing! My kids helped me cut the cucumber and avocados. They tried it, but the taste wasnโt their preference. I ate all of it! I couldnโt stop eating it. Perfect balance as a snack before a meal, or while cooking.
Left out the garlic, and switched the ratio of olive oil and basalmic and WOWโฆ
I would have eaten the whole thing if I could stand to eat that many veggies at once too!
I made this for my Swedish family and they loved it. So easy (took about 10 minutes to put together) and so tasty!
I am not sure if I did something wrong but this was not as flavorful as I had hoped. I followed the recipe exactly-it was not a crowd pleaser in my house, unfortunately.
I added the optional arugula to make it go a bit further, and it was great!
Itโs wonderful to accidentally open your website. Thereโs so much good recipe that I should try so thrilled and excited to try them all . Oops ! Specially the pineapple salsa and Halloumi tacos .