Quick and Creamy Avocado Salad with Crisp Cucumbers
Creamy slices pair with crisp cucumbers and a simple lime dressing in this refreshing avocado salad that takes just minutes to prepare.

Using 2 big ripe avocados and 3 cucumbers provides the perfect ratio for this Quick and Creamy Avocado Salad with Crisp Cucumbers. Blending these components by hand inside a large bowl gently smears the soft green fruit, producing a rich, natural sauce that completely coats the fresh produce.
Choosing cucumbers and avocados
You need two fully ripe avocados for this recipe. Hard avocados will not break down to coat the other ingredients. The salad requires more cucumber than avocado. This balances the soft fruit and gives the dish plenty of crunch.
Standard cucumbers measure about 7 inches (17 cm) long. You need three of these standard cucumbers for the right ratio. If you use English or telegraph cucumbers, they measure about 12 inches long, so you will need fewer of them. Slice the red onion very finely so it does not overpower the other vegetables.
Herbs and heat
Fresh dill and coriander leaves bring brightness to the bowl. You can adapt the herbs and spices based on what you have in your kitchen.
- Lemon juice works fine as a direct replacement for the lime juice.
- Parsley is a good swap if you want to replace the coriander. You can also just use extra dill instead.
- A small pinch of red pepper flakes provides a mild level of heat. You can leave the pepper flakes out completely if you prefer a mild salad.
Mixing the dressing in the bowl
You do not need to whisk the dressing in a separate container. Pour the extra virgin olive oil and lime juice straight over the vegetables. Add your salt and black pepper directly to the large bowl. This keeps your cleanup simple.
Tossing by hand
You should mix the salad ingredients with your hands. Use your fingers to separate the avocado and cucumber slices gently.
As you toss everything together, the soft avocado smears slightly against the crisp vegetables. This coats the cucumbers and creates a creamy dressing right in the bowl. Stop tossing once the cucumbers have a light coating.
What to serve with the salad
You can serve this alongside a main meal as a simple side dish. The leftovers also work well in a few different meals.
- Mash the extra salad onto toast for a quick breakfast.
- Roll the avocado and cucumber mixture into a flatbread wrap.
- Dice the vegetables finely before you start to turn the mixture into a chunky salsa for tacos or tortilla chips.
Keeping leftovers
The salad is best eaten fresh right after you mix it. You can store leftovers in the fridge until the next day. The lime juice coats the avocado slices and helps the fruit stay green when you keep it overnight.
Quick and Creamy Avocado Salad with Crisp Cucumbers
Salad
- 0.25 red onion, finely sliced
- 2 big ripe avocados, cut into quarters then 0.4" (1 cm) slices
- 3 cucumbers, ~7" (17 cm) long, sliced into 1/6" (4 mm) rounds
- 2 tbsp dill, finely chopped, optional but recommended
- 2 tbsp coriander or cilantro leaves, roughly chopped, optional but recommended
Dressing
- 0.25 tsp chilli flakes or red pepper flakes
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 0.75 tsp cooking or kosher salt
- 3 tbsp lime juice, or lemon juice, or more, adjust to taste!
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Method
Substitutions
You can replace the coriander with fresh parsley or simply use extra dill.
Omit the red pepper flakes entirely if you prefer a salad with no heat.
Storage
This dish is best eaten fresh but the citrus juice will keep the avocado green if stored overnight.
Serving
Mash any leftover salad onto toast or roll it into a flatbread wrap for an easy meal.
Dice the vegetables finely to use the mixture as a fresh salsa for tacos or tortilla chips.
Common mistakes
Do not reduce the amount of cucumber because a higher ratio of crisp vegetables is needed to balance the rich avocado.
Techniques
Make sure your avocados are fully ripe so they smear slightly when tossed to create a creamy coating.
Add the dressing ingredients directly to the main bowl instead of mixing them separately beforehand.
Wash your produce thoroughly before slicing if you plan to leave the skins on for extra color and texture.
Always slice onions as thinly as possible for raw salads to prevent them from overpowering the dish.
- Store
- This dish is best eaten fresh but the citrus juice will keep the avocado green if stored overnight.
How long can I keep this cucumber and avocado salad in the refrigerator?
While the salad is best eaten fresh immediately after tossing, you can keep leftovers in the refrigerator for the following day. The avocado will stay green when stored overnight.
Why do the instructions say to toss the salad by hand?
Using your hands allows you to gently separate the avocado and cucumber slices without crushing them completely. It also helps smear the soft fruit just enough to create a creamy dressing directly in the mixing bowl.
How do I measure English cucumbers for this recipe?
Standard cucumbers are about 7 inches (17 cm) long, while English or telegraph cucumbers measure closer to 12 inches. Because they are significantly longer, you will need to use fewer of them to maintain the required ratio of crisp vegetables to rich avocado.
What can I substitute for the coriander or cilantro?
You can replace the coriander with fresh parsley if you prefer those flavors. Alternatively, you can simply add extra chopped dill to the bowl.
What are some ways to use the leftover salad?
Leftovers make a great meal when mashed onto toast or rolled into a flatbread wrap. You can also finely dice the vegetables to serve the mixture as a chunky salsa with tacos or tortilla chips.
Can I freeze avocado and cucumber salads?
Freezing is not recommended for raw salads with high water content. The produce will become soggy and lose its crisp texture once thawed.
How can I quickly ripen hard avocados?
You can speed up the ripening process by placing hard fruit in a brown paper bag with a banana or apple at room temperature. Fully ripe fruit is generally essential for salads that rely on a creamy or mashed texture.
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