Spiralized Greek Cucumber Salad with Lemon and Feta is delicious, the perfect light dish. In Greece, Greek salads do not have lettuce, instead they are made with fresh cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, olives, red onion, oregano, lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh feta – delicious! Rather than chopping my cucumbers, I spiralized them which is so much quicker and pretty too!
I had some fresh Feta leftover from my Lemon Feta Drumsticks, and I’ve been craving a good Greek Salad, but I wanted to make it without the lettuce and make cucumber the star of the show. This turned out better than I could have imagined! I used the Paderno Spiral Vegetable Slicer with the chipper blade to quickly whip this up into beautiful spirals and the results were a salad that’s crunchy and bright, and not weighed down by a heavy dressing. This took me less than 10 minutes start to finish – win!
Helpful Tips:
- If you don’t own a spiralizer you can just dice the cucumbers with knife and make it a chopped Greek salad instead.
- For the best flavor, I highly recommend using a decent quality Feta cheese, don’t use the fat-free stuff, it’s awful!
- If you are making this ahead for lunch for work, you can leave the lemon juice and olive oil out, and pack it on the side, then just add it when you’re ready to eat.
- For Mason Jar Salad, put the dressing on the bottom, then layer with diced cheese, onion, olives, peppers, tomatoes and top with the cucumbers. To serve, simply shake the jar and pour it onto a plate.
Spiralized Greek Cucumber Salad with Lemon and Feta
Ingredients
- 1/2 seedless English cucumber, about 7 ounces
- 1/4 of a green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/3 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 5 pitted kalamata olives
- 1 tbsp red onion, sliced
- 1/2 fresh lemon
- 1 oz fresh feta, sliced thick
- 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh oregano leaves, minced
Instructions
- Spiralize the cucumbers using the chipper blade on the Paderno spiralizer.
- Cut the strands into smaller pieces, about 5-6 inches long so it's easier to eat. If you don't have a spiralizer, you can just dice the cucumbers with a knife into small cubes.
- Place the cucumber in a large work bowl along with the bell pepper, tomatoes, olives and red onion.
- Squeeze half of the lemon over it, drizzle with half of the olive oil and toss with fresh oregano, salt and pepper.
- Place on a plate, top with a slice of feta and finish with remaining olive oil.
Gina, this is an incredibly clever way to use cucumber. It is large enough to share. I used Romano cheese ( leftover from your cheese pumpkin pasta) instead of feta. It is yummy with Everything But The Salt. I will be sure and share this recipe. This is a great way not to waste cucumbers. Thanks so much.
Looks delicious!
This salad is amazing! I have made it two times in the past two weeks. I just started looking at your site and I have made 2 other recipes a few times. Thank you for all the yummy recipes!
This looks amazing!! Any recommendations for a good brand of feta?
I always look for one in a brine.
This salad was so delicious! It will definitely be on my list of go tos.
I’ll be making this a lot this summer, love the mix of flavors. Only thing I changed was lime instead of lemon b/c that’s what I had.
For the people who are not feta fans, try getting a block of the good kind. It will change your life.
This was very meh. I love the other recipes on Skinnytaste, though.
Why is the sodium so high? I would eliminate the olives and salt.
Is feta have high sodium?
Is this 16 carbs for the whole salad
Delicious! Fresh, light but satisfying. Super flavorful! I can’t believe it took me so long to try it.
Made again last night along with chicken shawarma, outstanding, especially in the summer with garden fresh produce. A keeper!
Lovely summer salad. Very fresh and easy to put together. Will make often!
You had me at Feta!
I made this without a spiralizer. Just split the cucumber, scrape out middle with a spoon, and slice. Perfecto!
Could you tell us why so many carbs?
What a great salad! Even my husband who isn’t a huge fan of cucumbers enjoyed it! I will definitely make again!
16 grams of carbs from what????
I was thinking the same thing. This recipe is one serving. 1 oz of feta is 3 pts, 1/2 T of olive oil is 2 pts and the olives are 2 pts.
Did you ever get an answer to this question? I am surprised by the point total also.
I am not sure I understand why this dish is 7 WW freestyle points. Other than the feta and the oil, everything else is 0 points
When I plugged in the olive oil, feta, and 5 kalamata olives into the WW online app, I got 6 points. Don’t know where the additional point came from?
the olives….
I have your two cookbooks and the new one on order. Could you add the cookbook and page for your recipes to the menu? if the recipe isn’t in one of your cookbooks just say it is a new one or something.
I’d love to make this for out-of-town guests. But, they are very meat-loving people. I would love to make this more substantial with topping this with a protein. Any good suggestions?
I bet it would be lovely with slices of cold grilled chicken, or maybe tuna!
Very good, but I made with zucchini! I think the fresh garlic really makes the dish!
I am not a fan of cucumber. Is there something you would suggest replacing the cucumber with? I Was thinking Zucchini? And I know I could just use lettuce as well if that is a better option.
I made it with zucchini. Just reread the recipe, thought itwasmadewith zucchini!?! I chopped small cucumber up in it! Love this recipe, it’s god for a couple of days too!
I am obsessed with this recipe and make it weekly for lunches! Some additives that I’ve found that complement it well are bell pepper, chickpeas and capers. Thank you for this awesome, simple, fresh and healthy salad!
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Maybe I had mushy cucumbers,or maybe my spiralizer is really picky, but it was a pain to spiralize the cucumbers. I did it when I could but did not make it through all of them. Also I was rising the English hothouse but the regular seeded, which could easily have been the problem.
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I absolutely love this recipe, it is on constant repeat for my lunch!!! :).
I made this tonight for dinner! Sooo yummy!!!
Nice easy recipe. Could easily change it around such as a red bell pepper or a clove of garlic. Thanks for the recipe… please keep them coming!!!
Love it, one of my favorite recipes!
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Made this last night, everyone loved it! Thanks!
I never thought to use my spiralizer for cucumber until I found this recipe! I love this recipe. Perfect dressing mix and wonderful flavor. So healthy, too!
I made this last night and it was fantastic. I thought I saw red bell pepper on the ingredients and added that, too!!! I didn’t have fresh oregano but sprinkled dried oregano and it still tasted great. Thanks for the recipe!
One of my favorites!
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I made this last night….seriously amazing!!!! A new staple in my house 🙂
Thanks Lisa!
Hi! I just want to double check you own the 3 blade basic. When I clicked your link that’s the choice that popped up. Thank you!
Do NOT skip the fresh oregano!! I was never so sad to be finished with a salad! Even with subbing green olives for the kalamatas, it was MAH-velous!
Thanks Jessica! We love this one too!
Just saw this on Instagram. I’m thismuchcloser to buying a spiralizer. 😀
Looks so yummy!
This looks really good, but I don’t like cucumbers, would zucchini work as a good substitute (would the flavors mix well)?
Sure!
What is a good substitue for fresh oregano?
You can use dried oregano, or if you are wanting to omit the oregano completely you can sub thyme, basil, or marjoram.
Thanks! Also, thank you for world flavor recipes that aren’t just Italian. You’ve helped me make Hispanic food healthier which has helped me stay on track for way longer than ever before!
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One of my warm weather favorites — so yummy and refreshing! I like to add chickpeas for extra protein/fiber. I’ve also served it over spinach when I’ve had extra in my fridge that I needed to use up. Thanks, Gina!
One of my new favorite recipes, so nice to have in the fridge for a fresh tasting healthy snack, or as a light lunch. I made it as described- ab out 100 times so far!
I love this one too Nanci!
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Can this be made ahead? Will the spirals get “limp”
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Added. Cold cooked shrimp to this. It was awesome!!
I made double (used a whole cuke, 1/2 onion, whole bell pepper) batch. Will all this keep/get better overnight in the fridge?
Love the healthy dishes that you share. Helps me stay healthy while trying to get that weight. Keep up tje good work!
Hi Gina! If using dried oregano, would you use less? Also, could you just use a regular cucumber or is an English cucumber best? Thanks and can’t wait to try this!!
Yes, use slightly less and any cucumber should be fine.
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Loved this! Paired it with grilled chicken this weekend and myself and my husband loved it. You could pair this with any protein and it's definitely good enough to serve company!
This looks delicious! I am a huge fan of that exact same spiralizer and use it for all my veggies!
Hi, I bought the feta crumbled cheese instead do you have a measurement for the crumbled cheese? Thank you!
It says 1 ounce in the recipe 🙂
This does not work as well with regular cucumbers, so definitely buy the seedless english cucumbers if you can. I tried it with regular cucumbers and it was a soggy mess…still tasted fine, but not a pretty! 🙂
Where can I get the spiral cutter? Would the "Veggetti" work?
Hi! Just made this and it was delish! Posted this on my instagram "chasing hungry" because it's so good and easy! Looking forward to more of your recipes!
This is lunch today, so yummy!!
You may need to have a "spiralized" category on the right hand side of your page. 🙂
To quote my husband: "I would eat that salad on ice cream." Which would be really gross, but it's one of his highest compliments. Even the teenager loved it. Thanks for helping me get back on track.
oh my gosh! you're amazing thank you so much! i had never heard of the spiralizer and had to buy it because your salad was so pretty 🙂 now i'm completely addicted to it and making zucchini pasta too!!! love it, thanks again so much!
As anyone used the "As Seen On TV" vegetti? What brand of spiralizer does anyone use? Thanks!
I was wondering if that would work also.
So delicious! Like others said, squeezing the cucumbers in paper towels removed most of the moisture. I used a regular cucumber (not english), and with that step it worked out perfectly. Thanks, Gina!
Just tried this for lunch today and really enjoyed it. It went over very well with my husband, who is not generally enthusiastic about new recipes. I did add some port which was sautéed with Greek seasoning. Until I was looking at the comments tonight I didn't realize that I should use one of the spaghetti blades. I used the wide noodle blade, and it came out very nice. This recipe is definitely a keeper.
If I wanted to make a large batch of this to take to a potluck, would you recommend crumbling the feta & mixing it with the other ingredients or sprinkling it on top just before serving?
Yes, for sure.
Skinnytaste Gina, which do you recommend to Anonymous?
Since tomatoes and cucumbers are coming in the garden I tried this yesterday and WOW! It was like a party in my mouth! I've never tried a recipe on your site that I didn't like and as a Registered Dietitian, I'm always looking for recipes. I've shared your site with so many people and will keep coming back for more! Thanks!
Made it today and it was delicious even before I let it sit in frig awhile!
I've made this twice now and it is great! My first spiralizer recipe too 🙂
I made this last night for lunch today (included the 1/2 lemon separately in my lunch box) and all I had to do was soak up the water with a paper towel and squeeze the lemon over it. The "noodles" were less firm but still delicious 🙂
This was AMAZING! I have tried to make Greek salads in the past but left out an important component – lemon! I was always using red wine vinegar. This was so much better. I made 2 of these to go with a spicy pork tenderloin and it was the perfect cool down to the spice. Can't wait to make again! Only think that was different – first awesome Jersey tomatoes of the season instead of grape tomatoes.
Looks really good but I worried about the high sodium. My husband has high blood pressure !
Greek food is quite salty, unfortunately. Most of the sodium in this is from the feta and olives so there isn't any way to reduce the sodium without completely changing the recipe. You could just make a different type of salad with a cucumber noodle base!
What about rinsing the olives under water then draining them before adding .
No vinegar? It seems like it would need some red wine vinegar, but if not, I'll try it without! 🙂
This was really delicious and the perfect way to break in my spiral slicer (which I was inspired to buy because of this recipe!).
I made this, using the Paderno, and it took all of like 7 minutes to do. This salad is fantastic!
I made this salad last week. It was wonderful. My boyfriend loved it. I'll be making it again.
This is now what I'm craving for lunch. Yum!!
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I would be all over this salad. Even better my husband would be in heaven. Win win.
This is delicious! Have made for third time- I do not have spiral cutter and just chopping the cuke- this is sensational and summer perfect! Thanks for sharing-
As a big eater, I can't love them more.
For some odd reason, I hadn't thought to use my spiralizer for cucumbers, what a great way to use it! I've been using it to make zucchini salads with some pesto and parmesan with cherry tomatoes (to die for) but hadn't used it for anything else yet. This will be great, I eat cucumbers in just about everything that's a salad. Your recipe sounds so delicious, can't wait to try it!
omg this is soo good. I made it tonight and its as good as it looks. thanks for a great recipe that's easy!!
The only thing I'd change would be to toast the feta cheese a little with my kitchen propane torch just to crisp the edges….
Just started making it and I can already tell I am going to love it. I did leave out the salt due the the olives and feta having plenty already. I had everything on hand except fresh oregano so I combined the oil, lemon juice, and dry oregano and let it sit for a bit before combining everything. Thanks for your great recipes, it's help a lot in my quest for fresher, healthier eating.
My pleasure!
Will this keep in the fridge for a day or two?
I would it it the same day personally.
I've made this for lunch the last two days and absolutely love it! It's so nice to be able to throw something together in just a few minutes and the flavor in this salad is amazing! Nice that it just takes a tiny amount of olive oil and lemon juice for the "dressing", it's a great light, refreshing meal for summer days! Thanks!
So happy you liked it!!!!
Made this last night as a side dish with my grilled chicken, and it was brilliant! I didn't have any olives in, and I added a bit of crushed red pepper flakes, but followed the recipe exactly otherwise. It's definitely on the summer meal rotation now!
I made this for dinner tonight and it was FABULOUS!! I don't have the spiral slicer (yet) so I stuck a cucumber on the spiral apple cutter…..it was "interesting" looking. Not pretty, but so delicious. I substituted pepperoncini for the green pepper for a little extra zing.
I'm fairly new to the site, but absolutely love the options you've offered for eating healthy but delicious. Thank you so much! I pre-ordered the new book and can't wait to cook/bake my way through it in the fall.
My pleasure!
It is a special way of eating cucumber, it looks like delicious.
This is absolutely delectable! So light and refreshing. Love the fresh oregano in it! Thanks for another delicious recipe!
I will definitely try this. I love using my new Spiralizer.
I love the idea of spiralizing cucumber! Brilliant!!
That salad looks yummy – I love the spiral cucumber, very cute.
What a great idea for using the spiralizer! I love Greek salads, so I'm sure I'll be making this. I will do a few modifications based on what we want for nutrition and ingredients we like/don't like. It's interesting to me that the spiralizer worked well with the cucumber, because I tried it a few days ago with a Mexican squash (the one that looks sort of like a zucchini) and instead of a center core I just got mush. Your salad might be nice with wide 'noodles', too. Looking forward to trying this.
I love that tool! I never thought of using it for a Greek salad. Nice tip!
– Shan at www.strippedchic.com
Love the spiraled cucumbers! Makes the salad so unique 🙂
This looks delicious! One of my favorite salads is from a Greek restaurant and is very similar except theirs is chopped and they add these tiny perfectly boiled potatoes in theirs. I never had put potatoes in a salad but they are so wonderful in that salad! Might be a nice addition if you aren't too worried about points!
OMG I REALLLLLLY need a spiralizer, like NOW! LOL! I love Greek salad, I am half Greek after all. This version looks absolutelt amazing!!
Hello there!
I recently made a mix of cucumber and zucchini salad on the spiralizer (I have the exact same brand you do), and whereas the zucchini turned out perfect, the cucumber was super watery
do you have any tips to avoid that? Or maybe I got a particularly watery being this time.. 😉
I like to take the cucumber and lay it out on some layered paper towels, and sprinkled lightly with kosher salt. Just leave them there for about 15-30 minutes and it should remove a lot of the water.
Thanks… I guess I should spiralize it, cut it into appropriate lengths and do that next time.
Use the English cucumbers
My mom always told me to salt and pepper cucumber in cucumber salads and let them sit for a while, then drain off the water and proceed with dressing the salad. They do have a lot of water in them!
Also, you should make it and eat it right away for perfect crunch. If it sits it will get watery.
I'm getting 5 as well. 2pt for 1oz fet, 2pt for 1/2T olive oil, and 1pt for 5 olives.
to the PP, WW PP does not do 1/2 points anymore.
Still looks like a delicious and flavorful salad.
In Greece they do not use lettuce in their salads.
I made a classic Greek salad as well not long ago, and it was delicious! The fresh flavours, the zing, and finally the creaminess from the feta, yummy ^ ^
The spiraliser looks so cool, wish I had one, but I think I'll just stick with using a peeler for now 🙂 Not enough space in the kitchen sadly. Thanks for another great recipe Gina! I hope the weather matches the food on your side of the world 🙂 x
I love Greek salad as it totally reminds me of summer! This recipe looks great Gina! 🙂
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YUMMY
This salad looks so beautiful and yummy! I would totally add grilled mushrooms to this as well! I would love to have that spiraling machine for zucchini too!
What a great way to eat cucumber! I love this and greek salad is actually my favourite!
I recently made a Greek salad with grilled cucumbers and it was the best! Such simple fresh flavors.
I've been so into the Greek salads and flavors lately. I'll save this one for later!
I made this tonight for dinner it was delicious. I highly recommend it and I will be making it again and again.
Hi Jessica:)
It looks yummy:) I would like to get rid of feta too – maybe I'd add some seasoned tofu instead. I just put all ingreditnes from basic recipe to this analyzer . For whole serving I get only 200 kcal – but it looks like I added all ingredients correctly. I don't know what's the reason that there is less calories. 6 g protein, 13 g Carbohydrates & 15 g fat.
After I removed feta calories dropped to only 126, fat to 9 g, protein to 2 g and carbs to 12 g. I hope that helps:)
Gina, curious how you get 6 points plus? I calculate 5 pts plus according to my weight watchers food list — 5 olives is 1/2 point, the oil is 1-1/2 pts, one oz feta is 3 pts — that equals 5 points plus. And I prefer italian ricotta salata over feta because its not as salty, and one oz of the ricotta salata is only 2 points plus bringing my salad to 4 pts plus total.
actually the feta is 3 pts plus for 1 1/3 oz!
My tracker shows 2pts for 1oz feta and WW doesn't do 1/2pts anymore.
I used the WW recipe builder and got 6, maybe from the tomatoes?
Great healthy salad! It is super easy to make. Thank you for sharing!
I cannot wait to try this! So summer proof, yummy and fresh. Seems like an absolute PERF lunch option for tomorrow. Because hah: I so happen to have everything to prep this recipe. 🙂 Love love love it!
xo, Kirsten
This looks amazing! I put the spiralizer on my wedding registry. Fingers crossed I get it before the wedding next month!
Alyssa
cupcakesandsequins.blogspot.com
Mmm, that looks delish! Love the idea of using cucumber noodles, sounds very light and refreshing. 🙂
This looks delicious! Could you tell me how the calorie content would differ if I did not add any feta? (not a huge fan)
You know I just had something similar to this the other day at the Greek restaurant in town. It was called a village salad and it was sliced cucumbers, green peppers, tomatoes, red onions, whole pepperoncinis, and kalamata olives with a large piece of feta cheese in the middle. Everything was drizzled lightly with olive oil and sprinkled with oregano. Delish! So simple, yet filling and tasty.
I like how your cucumber is spiraled though and kind of makes it more fork friendly than the one I had. And you can never go wrong with feta cheese. When it is a key item in a recipe, I tend to splurge on a good quality cheese too. 🙂
I can't wait to try your version since it uses another love of mine…lemon!
Hope you try it!
JUST got my Spiralizer on Saturday….. so this is what is for dinner tonight… it even looks beautiful!!!!
Right!? Enjoy!
This recipe looks really good!! Just so you know, a friend of mine who is true Greek told me once that a 'real' Greek salad does not have any lettuce in it at all and that all the restaurants/stores that serve Greek salad with lettuce are doing it wrong. Your recipe is a true Greek salad!!
Well look at that! I like it so much better without the lettuce!
I used to work at a Greek restaurant and while the Greek salad on the menu did include some lettuce, I was always told the real Greek salad did not. They also referred to it as a village salad. You are right on the money with this one, Gina!
I lived in Santorini, Greece for 6 months. Real Greek salads don't have lettuce… just has the good stuff. I hate that I can't find that here in the States! Thanks again for the recipes, Gina!
We lived across from a greek diner, owned by real greeks, Penny and Gus, they made a lettuce-less salad. I think they called it a cucumber salad.
That's funny! The only time I've ever had lettuce in my greek salad was in Greece!
Lettuce is seasonal so you will only eat it when it is around – usually in the Spring. Summer is too hot for lettuce to grow but perfect for cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers. Hence, Greek salad is usually a summer salad. I’ve eaten in a lot of Greek homes where both types are served 🙂
Sound fantastic? Which is the "chipper" blade? I can't tell if you used the blade with the really small holes or the one with the slightly larger holes.
The one with the slightly larger holes.