Description
This vibrant and refreshing salad features fresh pineapple chunks, crisp cucumber slices, and a hint of red onion, all tossed with a simple lime-based dressing. Enhanced with fresh herbs and customizable flavor upgrades, this versatile side dish can complement a variety of cuisines or stand alone as a light, refreshing snack.
Ingredients
Core Ingredients
- Fresh pineapple, bite-size chunks
- Cucumber (Persian or English), sliced
- Red onion, very thinly sliced (optional)
- Fresh herbs: cilantro or mint
- Lime juice (or lemon juice)
- Salt
- Tiny pinch of sugar or honey (if pineapple isn’t very sweet)
Popular Flavor Upgrades (Choose One or Mix Carefully)
- Southeast Asian vibe: a few drops of fish sauce, chili oil or fresh Thai chili, extra lime juice
- Spicy-sweet: chili crisp or TajÃn, lime + honey, finish with flaky salt
- Savory-creamy: crumbled feta or queso fresco, olive oil + lime, black pepper
- Crunchy: roasted peanuts or cashews, sesame seeds, splash of rice vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: Chill the pineapple before cutting to ensure clean edges. Peel and cut pineapple into bite-size chunks. Slice the cucumber thinly, preferably using Persian or English cucumber for best texture. Thinly slice the red onion if using. Pick fresh cilantro or mint and chop roughly.
- Salt the cucumbers: Lightly salt the sliced cucumbers and let them sit briefly to keep them crisp by drawing out excess moisture.
- Mix the dressing: In a small bowl, combine lime juice (or lemon juice), salt, and a tiny pinch of sugar or honey to balance the acidity, especially if the pineapple lacks sweetness.
- Toss the salad: In a mixing bowl, combine pineapple chunks, cucumbers, and red onions. Pour the dressing over and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Add fresh herbs: Add chopped cilantro or mint just before serving to keep the herbs vibrant and fresh.
- Chill the salad: Place the salad in the refrigerator for 10–15 minutes to let flavors meld and serve cold.
- Apply flavor upgrades (optional): Customize your salad by choosing one or carefully mixing flavor enhancements such as Southeast Asian flavors (fish sauce, chili), spicy-sweet elements (chili crisp, TajÃn, honey), savory-creamy toppings (feta, olive oil), or crunchy additions (roasted nuts, sesame seeds, rice vinegar).
Notes
- Salt cucumbers after slicing to maintain crispness.
- Chill pineapple before cutting for cleaner, fresher chunks.
- Add herbs right before serving to preserve their color and flavor.
- This salad can be tailored for BBQ side dishes, Mexican-style, Thai-style, or made meal-prep friendly.
