Description
This fresh and vibrant cucumber salsa is a perfect light and zesty side dish or topping for your favorite Mexican dishes. Made with crisp English cucumber, roma tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno, and bright lime juice, this salsa bursts with refreshing flavors balanced by a hint of cumin and garlic. It’s quick and easy to prepare, requiring no cooking, and is ideal for serving chilled as a healthy appetizer or condiment.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 2 roma tomatoes (seeded and diced)
- 1 large English cucumber (peeled, seeded and finely diced)
- 1/3 cup red onion (minced)
- 1 jalapeno pepper (diced, seeds removed for less heat)
- 2 cloves garlic (grated or minced)
- ½ cup cilantro (chopped)
Seasonings and Dressings
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (for tomatoes)
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- Juice of 2 large limes (about 6 tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Other
- Cold water (for soaking red onion)
Instructions
- Drain tomatoes: Toss the diced roma tomatoes with ½ teaspoon kosher salt and place them in a colander to drain excess liquid while you prepare the other ingredients. This prevents the salsa from becoming too watery.
- Soak red onions: Mince 1/3 cup of red onion and soak it in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes. Drain well. This process mellows the sharpness and reduces the bite of the raw onion.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, add the finely diced English cucumber, drained tomatoes, soaked and drained red onion, chopped cilantro, diced jalapeno, grated garlic, ground cumin, fresh lime juice, and olive oil. Toss everything together until evenly mixed.
- Season to taste: Add kosher salt to taste and gently toss again to incorporate the seasoning uniformly.
- Chill before serving: For the best flavor, refrigerate the salsa for 15 to 30 minutes to allow the ingredients to meld and the flavors to develop before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier salsa, keep the jalapeno seeds.
- Use fresh lime juice for the best brightness.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container refrigerated and consume within 2 days for optimal freshness.
- This salsa pairs well with grilled meats, fish tacos, or as a refreshing snack with chips.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salsa
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
