Trend watch: cucumber salads

You've probably noticed everyone on your social media feed slicing a cucumber with a mandolin and making cucumber salads. That's because, according to content creator Logan Moffitt, "Sometimes you just need to eat an entire cucumber." Moffit's easy and laid-back cooking videos have garnered tons of followers in the past few weeks due to his never-ending recipes using a whole cucumber.

@logagmBest way to eat an entire cucumber♬ original sound - Logan

The salads are simple and barely contain measurements. Followers watch as Logan pours oils, vinegars, spices and seasonings straight from the bottle or jar into an empty container filled to the brim with cucumber slices and shakes it up until every slice is coated. The trend emphasises simplicity, focusing on fresh, crisp cucumbers as the star of the dishes. Followers who have replicated his many salads often praise them for their light, clean flavours and health benefits.

Social media users have been sharing a wide range of cucumber salad recipes. Some are very basic, just cucumbers with a bit of vinegar, salt and pepper. Others are more elaborate, incorporating ingredients such as feta cheese, red onions, herbs (dill or mint) and various dressings, or using them as a base for more substantial dishes by adding proteins such as grilled chicken or tofu.

After the endless feasting that people in the northern hemisphere enjoyed during the warmer months, perhaps this trend reflects a broader interest in healthy eating and easy-to-make dishes. If you want to hop onto the trend, here's how we do it at TASTE:

Cucumber salad 3 ways

Food stylist assistant and TASTE contributor,  Emma Nkunzana put her spin on the trend with 3 easy and delicious ways to polish a whole cucumber.

@wwtaste Emma is back and while we previously had her testing recipes from the TikTok archives, she’s turned her attention to something a little more current – cucumber salad. If you loved the first iteration of the cucumber salad trend, you’ll love these three super-simple updates. Perfect for summer, when all you want is something cooling and quick. Search for “cucumber salad 3 ways” on taste.co.za or find the recipes below.   For the Asian salad: 1 cucumber, sliced 1 T salt 3 T rice vinegar 1 T soya sauce 2 T sesame oil 1 t sugar 1 garlic clove, minced 1cm knob of ginger, minced 2 t Woolworths chilli crisp 2 spring onions, sliced, to garnish 5 g coriander, chopped, to garnish   1 Place the cucumber in a colander or sieve and sprinkle with the salt. Allow it to drain for 15 minutes. Shake off any excess salt. 2 To make the dressing, combine the rice vinegar, soya sauce, sesame oil, sugar, garlic and chili crunch in a jar. Shake well. 3 Add the drained cucumber to the dressing and toss to coat evenly. Garnish with the spring onions and coriander.   Cucumber salad with French vinaigrette 1 cucumber, sliced 1 T salt 2 tsp Wholegrain Mustard 1 T olive oil 1 T white balsamic vinegar A pinch of salt 1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced 5 g dill, finely chopped freshly ground black pepper, to garnish 1 Place the cucumber in a colander or sieve and sprinkle with the salt. Allow to drain for 15 minutes. Shake off any excess salt. 2 To make the dressing, combine all the remaining ingredients in a jar (except garnishes) and shake well. Add the drained cucumber and shake again. Garnish with fennel, dill and lots of black pepper.   Caesar-inspired (Lemon Mayo) cucumber salad 1 cucumber, sliced 1 Tbsp Lemon Mayo (or yoghurt) 1 Tbsp Verjuice 1 Tbsp Olive Oil The juice of 1 lemon Optional, 1 anchovy finely sliced To garnish, parsley, red onion and ground black pepper 1 Place the cucumber in a colander or sieve and sprinkle it with salt. Allow to drain for 15 minutes. Shake off any excess salt. 2 To make the dressing, combine all the remaining ingredients in a jar and shake well. Add the drained cucumber and shake again. Garnish with pepper. #recipesoftiktok #cucumbersalad #foodtiktok ♬ Fashionable and sweet sounding R & B(822411) - sounds track lab

cucumber salad 3 ways here

Cucumber salad with amasi raita

This refreshing salad is great on its own or as part of a spicy feast. Raita is typically made with thick, plain yoghurt, but this recipe keeps it local with amasi. Instead of adding the cucumber to the raita, this recipe makes it the star of the dish with the creamy element acting as a dressing.

cucumber salad with raita here

Cucumber salad with chilli oil

Cucumber salad with chilli oil is a flavour sensation. The crisp, cool cucumbers pair perfectly with the rich, spicy kick of chilli oil, creating a balance of refreshment and boldness. You can adjust the chilli oil to suit your spice preference, making it as mild or fiery as you like. This salad is a fantastic way to elevate a simple dish with minimal effort, adding a punch of flavour that will impress your taste buds.

chilli oil cucumber salad here

Cucumber salad

This cucumber salad combines crisp cucumber slices with brined celery and punchy ginger with a tangy dressing made using white wine vinegar, olive oil and a touch of Dijon mustard. The salad is enhanced by a hint of sugar and freshly chopped dill, creating a delightful balance of sweet and sour. Easy to prepare, it’s a vibrant, flavourful addition to your table that complements a wide range of dishes, making it a versatile favourite.

cucumber salad here

Soya-pickled cucumber

If you're looking to elevate your cucumber salad game with a bit of Asian-inspired flair, this is the one to make! It delivers a delightfully tangy, umami twist on a classic side dish. Cucumber slices are marinated in a mixture of soya sauce, rice vinegar and sugar to create a savoury and slightly sweet pickle with a punch of flavour.

soya-pickled cucumber here

Green salad with cucumber-seed dressing

This green salad with cucumber seed dressing is a refreshing and flavourful addition to any meal. It combines crisp greens, cucumber and avocado with a creamy, tangy dressing made from cucumber seeds, yoghurt and a touch of lemon. The unique dressing adds a nutty twist to the fresh vegetables.

cucumber seed dressing salad here