This Smashed Cucumber Salad with Marinated Feta is refreshing, crunchy, and full of flavor. The cucumbers soak up a tangy vinegar dressing, then get tossed with a lemon-garlic feta marinade, sunflower seeds, pickled red onion, and fresh dill. It’s ready in 30 minutes and great alongside grilled salmon or chicken.

This Smashed Cucumber Salad is loaded with flavor. If you’re looking for something totally satisfying and refreshing as the weather gets warmer, this is it.

Have you tried smashed cucumbers? They’re so good.

Smashing cucumbers not only changes their texture, making them slightly softer on the inside, but also allows them to really absorb any flavor added to them.

These cucumbers are full of salt and vinegar flavors, resulting in the most refreshing combination.

Adding marinated feta takes it to the next level. The feta is marinated in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. So many delicious flavors!

The salad is complete with sunflower seeds and pickled onions. They add color, crunch, aromatics, and a bit of tanginess to the salad.

I don’t know about you, but I love a salad that’s non traditional. It’s such a fun way to change things up and try something new.

After all, food is meant to be enjoyed – and that includes veggies too. If standard salads aren’t doing it for you, try something like this!

There are no food rules, and your salad doesn’t have to have traditional components in order to be called a salad.

Try this one as a fun veggie side dish or as a main course with some added protein. It would be delicious paired with some grilled salmon or shrimp.

Why You’ll Love This Smashed Cucumber Salad

If you’re looking for a refreshing and nutritious summer salad, this is it.

And if you love cucumbers, you will absolutely love them smashed.

Smashing cucumbers is such a fun way to eat them. It helps to really absorb the flavors of everything they’re paired with. And when paired with salty feta? Amazing.

This simple salad is easy to make and full of flavor. It makes an amazing side dish or appetizer to serve it to guests.

You can also make it a main with a simple protein added on the side. No matter how you choose to eat it, you truly can’t go wrong.

How to Make Smashed Cucumber Salad with Marinated Feta

Prep the ingredients

Prepare your ingredients to make this Smashed Cucumber Salad with Marinated Feta. Get 7-8 cucumbers, a block of feta cheese, one lemon, olive oil, garlic, white vinegar, sunflower seeds, pickled red onion, salt, pepper and fresh dill.

Cut the cucumbers

Cut cucumbers in half lengthwise, and then again horizontally.

Smash the cucumbers

Cut the cucumbers again horizontally. Using the back of your knife, place the cucumber seed-side down and smash down.

Toss and drain

Place cucumbers in a colander over a large bowl. Toss with salt and let stand for about 15-20 minutes, until some of the water has drained.

Marinate the feta

While cucumbers are sitting, prepare the feta. Crumble the feta using your hands and add to a large bowl. Add the juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. Let the feta stand for about 10 minutes.

Drain the feta and reserve the oil.

Add cucumbers to bowl

Add the smashed cucumbers to a large bowl. Add the white vinegar and the oil mixture from the feta. Toss to combine.

Add feta

Gently add the feta cheese.

Assemble the salad

Add the sunflower seeds and pickled onion.

Garnish

Garnish Smashed Cucumber Salad with lots of fresh dill.

Serve

Serve with protein of your choice or as a side dish.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Cucumbers: Mini cucumbers are key here. If you can’t find mini cucumbers, use English cucumbers that have a similar thin skin. Make sure to cut them small.
Feta: I highly recommend buying a block of feta vs. feta that’s already crumbled. It’ll be much more moist (I know, sorry) and absorb the flavors better. I also recommend adding the oil mixture to the cucumbers separately from the feta so that the feta can be folded in a little more gently and the cucumbers can better absorb the oil mixture. But, if you feel like skipping a step, feel free to add the feta and the marinade in at the same time.
Lemon: A little lemon brightens the feta mixture.
Olive oil: Olive oil helps to loosen the feta while mashing it and also creates a delicious dressing.
Garlic: This recipe calls for one clove of garlic, but as always, feel free to add more!
White vinegar: You’ll mix the feta marinade with white vinegar to create a simple, flavorful dressing.
Sunflower seeds: I love sunflower seeds on top for a little crunch. You can also use peanuts instead.
Pickled red onion: See below on how to make quick pickled onions or you can buy them pre-made.
Dill: Add a little fresh dill on top to garnish.

Smashed Cucumber Salad with Marinated Feta Notes

Name: Smashed Cucumber Salad with Marinated Feta
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Persian cucumbers (about 7-8 cucumbers); 4 ounces feta cheese; 1 lemon (juiced); 1/4 cup olive oil; 1 clove garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon white vinegar; 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds; Pickled red onion*; Salt; Pepper; Fresh dill

To make quick pickled onions: Thinly slice a red onion. Place the sliced onion into a jar. In a large saucepan, add 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. Bring to a low boil. Pour the mixture into the jar with the onions and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
Make ahead: This Smashed Cucumber Salad recipe is best served right after making. If you’re preparing this ahead of time, prepare the smashed cucumbers and the marinated feta. Before serving or eating, combine everything together with the sunflower seeds and pickled onions.
Serving suggestions: This Smashed Cucumber Salad is refreshing and flavorful. To make it part of a meal, serve it with a simple protein, like a grilled salmon or chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Smashing cucumbers creates uneven edges and small cracks that help them soak up more of the dressing. It also gives the salad a satisfying mix of crunchy and tender textures. You can use the flat side of a large knife or a rolling pin to gently smash the cucumbers.

Cucumbers naturally release moisture after they’re cut, especially when salt is added. To prevent a watery salad, you’ll lightly salt the smashed cucumbers and let them sit in a colander for 10-15 minutes.

Yes! For the best texture, prepare the cucumbers and marinated feta separately and store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Combine everything shortly before serving so the cucumbers stay crisp. If you’re preparing the entire salad ahead of time, expect the cucumbers to soften slightly as they absorb the dressing.

Course: Lunch, Salad