Recipe: Cucumber and Radish Salad (2024)

This fresh, zesty salad is full of produce I love, from refreshing cucumber to the peppery bite of radishes and arugula. It's the perfect side for all your summertime barbecues!

However, what really sets this salad apart is the nuts, seeds, and toasty macadamia nut dressing. While the misguided nutrition experts of the '80s preached a fat-free diet as the way to shed pounds, they had it dead wrong. In fact, now we know that your body requires healthy fats in your diet in order to burn your own fat reserves! The fastest way to ensure you maintain that winter weight is to eat low-fat…

The key word here is “healthy” fats – not all fats are created equal, and once-trendy vegetable and canola oils carry high levels of omega-6 fatty acids. While your body needs some omega-6s, too many can result in chronic inflammation, elevated harmful cholesterol, and an increased risk of coronary disease.

Instead of eating oils heavy in omega-6s, your menu choices should focus on omega-3 fatty acids. They're naturally anti-inflammatory, meaning they can help with everything from brain health to lowering your risk of a heart attack. (To find out more and get the hard science, check out this article: What Are Omega-3s and Why Do You Need Them?)

And guess what has plenty of superfood omega 3s? The nuts, seeds, and dressing on this fantastic salad! One more reason to take advantage of your local farmer's market and put together this stunning side. Or add a cup of steamed quinoa and top it with grilled chicken breast to turn it into a main dish that's the star of the show.

Want even more yummy options for your next backyard BBQ? Try adding succulent BBQ Glazed Chickenand juicy Tex-Mex Burgers with Avocado Salsato this vibrant Cucumber Radish Salad. Then finish off your feast with fruity Blueberry Sorbet.

Recipe: Cucumber and Radish Salad (1)

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Recipe: Cucumber and Radish Salad (2)

July 24, 2016

This salad is light and refreshing with a satisfying crunch. It can easily be made ahead – just store the dressing separately.

Virgin Diet compliant: Cycles 1, 2, and 3
Sugar Impact Diet compliant: Cycles 1, 2, and 3

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Yields: Makes 2 main dish servings or 4 sides

Ingredients

4 mini or Persian cucumbers, unpeeled, ends trimmed, cut into ¼-inch-thick slices

4 radishes, sliced

2 cups baby arugula

1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion

2 tbsp coarsely chopped raw walnuts

2 tbsp coarsely chopped raw pecans

1/2 tsp sesame seeds

1/2 tsp chia seeds

2 tbsp Toasted Macadamia Nut Dressing (recipe below)

chopped fresh dill to serve (optional)

Directions

1Combine the cucumbers, radishes, arugula, onion, walnuts, pecans, sesame seeds, and chia seeds in a bowl.

2Add the dressing and toss well to coat.

3Divide between two plates and serve, sprinkled with fresh dill if desired.

This recipe is part of the Backyard BBQ menu, with BBQ Glazed Chicken, Tex-Mex Burgers with Avocado Salsa, Cucumber & Radish Salad, and Blueberry Sorbet. Check out theBackyard BBQ Menu and Guidefor links to all the recipes, plus more handy tips and activities for the best backyard BBQ ever!

Originally published in The Virgin Diet Cookbook, Grand Central Life & Style, 2014.

For more healthy, tasty recipes go tojjvirgin.com/recipes.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size4

Calories272

Sodium169 mg

Protein6 grams

Total Fat24 grams

Saturated Fat2 grams

Total Carbohydrates11 grams

Dietary Fiber5 grams

Recipe: Cucumber and Radish Salad (3)

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Recipe: Cucumber and Radish Salad (4)

July 24, 2016

Macadamia nuts have a buttery taste and are a rich source of heart-healthy energy. Keep this dressing in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Virgin Diet compliant: Cycles 1, 2, and 3
Sugar Impact Diet compliant: Cycles 1, 2, and 3

  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 5 mins
  • Yields: 1/2 cup

Ingredients

1/3 cup macadamia nut oil

1/4 cup raw macadamia nuts

2 tbsp white wine vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/8 tsp monk fruit extract

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a small skillet over medium heat.

2Add the macadamia nuts and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted, 4 to 5 minutes.

3Transfer to a bowl and let cool.

4Coarsely chop the nuts.

5Combine the remaining oil, the vinegar, mustard, monk fruit extract, salt, and pepper in another bowl.

6Stir in the cooled nuts and any oil that accumulated at the bottom of the bowl.

This recipe is part of the Backyard BBQ menu, with BBQ Glazed Chicken, Tex-Mex Burgers with Avocado Salsa, Cucumber & Radish Salad, and Blueberry Sorbet. Check out theBackyard BBQ Menu and Guidefor links to all the recipes, plus more handy tips and activities for the best backyard BBQ ever!

Originally published in The Virgin Diet Cookbook, Grand Central Life & Style, 2014.

For more healthy, tasty recipes go tojjvirgin.com/recipes.

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00:00

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size1 tablespoon

Calories230

Sodium320 mg

Protein1 gram

Total Fat25 grams

Saturated Fat3 grams

Total Carbohydrates2 grams

Dietary Fiber1 gram

Thanks so much for reading this post! And please visit my Facebook Lifestyle Community here, where you'll meet supportive, like-minded folks for your health and wellness journey.

Recipe: Cucumber and Radish Salad (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to eat radishes and cucumbers together? ›

But do you know that cucumber and radish should not be eaten together because cucumber contains ascorbate, which acts to absorb vitamin C? For this reason, cucumber and radish should not be eaten together.

How do you keep cucumber salad from getting soggy? ›

The solution: The standard recommendation for ridding watery vegetable such as cucumbers of unwanted moisture is to salt them. The salt draws out the liquid from the vegetable because of the natural tendency of salt water solutions to equalize when mixed together.

Do you peel radishes? ›

Radishes do not have to be peeled; just wash and cut off the tops and root ends. You can use them sliced, diced, shredded, or whole.

Do you peel cucumbers for salad? ›

Should you peel your cucumbers for cucumber salad? Again, it depends on the variety and maturity of the cucumber. English or Persian cucumbers have thin skins which you do not need to peel. Regular market cucumbers may have thicker peels that can be tough and bitter, so it's best to peel those.

What should not be mixed with radish? ›

  1. Dec 6, 2023, 08:52 PM IST. 5 Foods You Must Never Pair With Radish. ...
  2. Radish and Milk. ...
  3. Radish and Cucumber. ...
  4. Radish and Oranges. ...
  5. Radish and Bitter Gourd. ...
  6. Radish and Tea.
Dec 6, 2023

What should not be mixed with cucumber? ›

People often eat both cucumber and radish mixed in salad. However, both can react with each other. Cucumber contains ascorbate, which acts to absorb vitamin C. In such a situation, when you eat radish with it, it creates obstruction in this process, which can lead to a variety of health concerns.

Why is my cucumber salad bitter? ›

A cucumber's bitterness is caused by cucurbitacin, a bitter chemical that protects the plant from predators. Usually, cucurbitacin stays in the stem and leaves, but it can work its way into the fruit. A cucumber's bitterness is caused by cucurbitacin, a bitter chemical that protects the plant from predators.

How do you keep cucumbers crisp in cucumber salad? ›

Sprinkle them with a couple of pinches of salt, toss to coat, and let them rest for about 30 minutes. Pat them dry with a paper towel and proceed with the recipe. You can go a little lighter on the salt than the recipe calls for since you'll have already seasoned the cucumbers a bit in this process.

Why is my cucumber salad so runny? ›

When it comes to making the best cucumber salads, I find that unless you take the time to properly salt and drain the cukes, the end product is watery, limp, and less than tasty. This easy extra step makes extra crunchy slices, takes almost no effort at all, but gives a big payout in the crunch department.

How many radishes per day should I eat? ›

Since the leaves appear to help lower blood pressure, eating too many of them might make your blood pressure too low if it is currently normal. While it's unclear what constitutes "too many," it's safest to stick to one serving of radishes per day, which the USDA considers a half-cup.

Why do you soak radishes? ›

Peel The compound responsible for the spiciness is on the outer skin of the radish and you can remove it with a vegetable peeler. You can also soak them in ice water for an hour to tone down the heat.

Why are my radishes black inside? ›

Diseases caused by Fungi: Black root rot, Aphanomyces raphani. Radish roots infected with this fungus disease show sunken dark streaks and blotches. As the disease progresses, the blotches may develop into a dry rot which tends to distort the shape of the growing root.

Which cucumber is best for salad? ›

Persian Cucumbers

They have a mild flavor and thin skins, so they're great sliced or chopped for salads and snacking, or even tossed in the blender to make a Spicy Cucumber Margarita.

How long should I wait to drink water after eating cucumber? ›

However, due to very smooth bowel movements, there is an increased risk of loose stools and diarrhoea if you drink more water on top of the cucumber. So go ahead and eat a lot of the nutrient-rich vegetables; just try to wait at least 20 minutes between eating cucumbers and downing a glass of water.

How do you stop gas after eating radishes? ›

You should always make sure to consume radish with black salt to avoid gas-related issues in the stomach.

Are there foods that should not be eaten together? ›

Common rules of food combining

Avoid combining starches and proteins. Avoid combining starches with acidic foods. Avoid combining different types of protein. Consume dairy products only on an empty stomach, especially milk.

Are radishes better for you cooked or raw? ›

It is thought that these antioxidant substances may slow or stop the growth of several different types of cancer, possibly by prompting the body to make higher levels of detoxifying enzymes. Since we generally eat radishes raw, we benefit from this nutritional benefit as these compounds are depleted by cooking.

References

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