Cucumber Salad with Herbed Vinaigrette
- June 22, 2021
- Ashley Tyrner
Prep
10 mins
cook
0 mins
serves
8
Summertime is here which means healthy hydration levels are of the highest importance when it comes to keeping the body able to perform throughout the hot days. When the sun is out and we are drawn to step outside and soak in its rays, we are able to receive adequate amounts of vitamin D, which is essential to good health and skin. On the other hand, when staying out in the hot sun, we also run the risk of sweating more which can potentially result in becoming dehydrated. That’s why we have to take extra precautions to consume more water than at any other time of the year. Make sure to drink up folks, with water that is, and one tip I have for you is to eat your water. Yep, you heard that right.
Eat your water
We’ve all heard it at some point that we should be aiming to drink at least 8 cups of water a day. This amount may fluctuate depending on our age, size, and levels of physical activity. While some people may have no problem refilling their reusable water bottles by continuously chugging water throughout the day, for others, it may not be so easy to always meet your daily water targets. That’s when a method such as “eating your water” becomes a life saver! Drink your few glasses of water throughout the day, especially upon waking up from sleep when the body has just been released from the long, fasting period without food and liquids. And then midday and throughout the evening and late night, if you are tired of drinking cups of water, you can shift your focus to eating foods that are high in their water levels. This, my friends, is how you can eat your water to avoid becoming dehydrated, and in fact remain hydrated all day long.
Fruits and vegetables naturally have higher water contents than meats, grains, and legumes. Just think of the last time you took a bite of a juicy apple, and the sweet water droplets lightly dripped down your chin. That’s because apples are made up of about 86% water. Pretty impressive! Produce like apples, pears, cucumbers, tomatoes, you name it, are largely composed of natural water, making them a high-quality hydration source, especially during the hot summer months.
Recognizing dehydration
Early signs of dehydration include decreased blood pressure, lightheadedness, headaches, dry mouth/eyes, and constipation. Other signs include brain fogginess and fatigue, as well as dark-colored urine. Take note when you are experiencing these symptoms and replenish your body with water, as the human body itself is about 60% water. Not only that but your skin, brain, and organs are all mostly water as well, meaning that we have to be sure to give our bodies an ample amount each day. Those the most at risk for dehydration include those taking diuretics and those who have heart or kidney disease. Adults should aim for at least 2.5 liters of water a day.
Boosting hydration levels with cucumbers
Cucumbers are made up of around 96% water. Talk about a hydrating veggie! These water-filled, green vegetables are the epitome of an eat-your-water-veggie. You can eat them raw as a snack instead of chips alongside a dip like guacamole or you can chop them up and throw them into a salad as with today’s cucumber salad recipe. They are light, refreshing, and typically even the pickiest of eaters will agree to eating them. And speaking of water, they definitely do the job of boosting the taste of plain H2O! Prepare a few slices of peeled cucumber and toss them into your glass of water. It will make your water much more flavorful, and you can snack on them after (or toss them on top of your closed eyelids for a skin-cooling effect.)
Cucumbers are definitely a global fan-favorite. They even made the World Atlas’ list for the Most Popular Vegetables in the World, coming in at #3. These vegetables are enjoyed across cultures all over the world and are a light, low-calorie snack. Their nutritional benefits include containing several antioxidants which help to reverse the effects of damaging free radicals in the body. Cucumbers contain different vitamins and minerals the body needs to thrive including vitamins C & K, fiber, magnesium, and potassium. And due to their fiber and high-water levels, they support a healthy digestive system by promoting regularity.
We love featuring cucumbers in our FarmboxRx boxes during the warm summer season. Whether you prefer for your produce to be organic or conventional, when you are searching for where to buy fresh vegetables online, we’ve got you covered! Choose between the variety of boxes we offer, and we’ll have the groceries delivered to your home. We ship all across the continental U.S. and our deliveries are safe, contact-free, and weekly (or biweekly/monthly depending on your preference of shipment frequencies.) This way you can receive all of your hydrating fruits and vegetables needed in your household. We work with a network of farms to make sure that our fresh produce delivery service will help you stick to your health-related goals.
Now let’s jump right into this cucumber salad with an herbed vinaigrette recipe. Be sure to try the recipe out for yourself and give us a tag at @FarmboxRx and make sure to use the hashtags #FarmboxRx #FarmboxLiving so that we can see how the recipe turns out!
Ingredients
Salad
5 mini cucumbers
2 cup cherry tomatoes
5 small radishes
¼ cup red onion
Dressing
¼ cup olive oil
½ lemon, juiced
2 tbsp basil
1 tbsp dill
¼ tsp salt
pinch black pepper
Directions
- Slice cucumbers and radishes into thin disks, halve tomatoes, and finely chop red onion. Add to a large bowl.
- Prepare dressing. Chop basil and dill and add to a small bowl. Add olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and whisk to combine.
- Add to vegetables and stir until evenly coated. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving chilled.
Cucumber Salad with Herbed Vinaigrette
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 5 cucumbers mini
- 2 cup cherry tomatoes
- 5 radishes small
- 1/4 cup red onion
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 2 tbsp basil
- 1 tbsp dill
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Slice cucumbers and radishes into thin disks, halve tomatoes, and finely chop red onion. Add to a large bowl.
- Prepare dressing. Chop basil and dill and add to a small bowl. Add olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper and whisk to combine.
- Add to vegetables and stir until evenly coated. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving chilled.