Creamy Cucumber Pepper Salad Recipe (Vegan & Sugar Free)

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This Cucumber Pepper Salad recipe will be your new go-to for a quick, healthy, and flavourful salad. Mixing the cool crunch of cucumbers and the natural sweetness of peppers, it's a simple dish that comes together in minutes.

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Perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a refreshing side to richer main courses. Pair it with this Strawberry Lemonade Mocktail and these Shrimp Skewers to make a filling combo!

Colorful cucumber and bell pepper salad with herbs

I’m a huge salad lover, so when I stumbled upon this viral Cucumber Pepper salad on TikTok, I had to try it. It was an instant hit in our household and has become our new summer favourite.
We now make this cucumber pepper salad and this Street Corn Pasta Salad quite often during summer!
What I love the most is the simplicity of this recipe. It is loaded with fresh, flavourful ingredients like tahini, making this salad creamy, completely vegan, and irresistible!
This pepper cucumber salad is the perfect side dish for a summer spread. Serve it alongside burgers or sandwiches and a cold drink to make an effortless yet delicious brunch meal!

Jump to:

What is cucumber pepper salad?
Ingredients
Instructions to make this cucumber pepper salad with ginger dressing:
Substitutions
Variations of this Cucumber Pepper Salad
Equipment
What to serve with this cucumber salad?
How to store this cucumber pepper salad?
Top Tip
FAQ
Related
Pairing
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Creamy Cucumber Pepper Salad Recipe (Vegan & Sugar Free)

What is cucumber pepper salad?

Cucumber pepper salad is a recipe inspired by a viral TikTok recipe. It is a vibrant and colourful salad that features crunchy cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, and creamy tahini, among other ingredients.

This salad tastes so wonderfully fresh that it instantly takes you to a happy summer place. And, summer can't be better when your salad is made during parties or gatherings. It will be a fan favourite dish and a total winner among your vegan guests with rave reviews.

Ingredients

This salad comes together with simple ingredients that are likely already in your pantry or can be easily purchased at a grocery store.

Cucumber: Mini cucumbers, also known as Persian cucumbers, are one of the two star ingredients for this recipe. Actually, unlike English Cucumbers, these mini ones have thin skin and are very crisp and sweet, making them perfect for this salad that we are making.
Sweet Peppers: These sweet mini peppers, the other star ingredient, are fruity and mildly sweet without any spice or heat. They are like mini bell peppers that come in a variety of colors, giving this salad its vibrant color. Indeed, I like to add all the colors, but just mini red peppers with the green cucumbers would still look fabulous on your dinner table.
Cilantro: Fresh herbs always add a pop of color and freshness. Here, chopped Cilantro leaves add a herby aroma and an excellent flavour to this cucumber salad recipe.
Seasoning: Everything Bagel seasoning is a total game-changer. With the poppy seeds and sesame seeds, this seasoning adds an excellent dimension to this crunchy salad.
Tahini: This seed butter binds all the ingredients together, making the salad super creamy.
Sesame Oil: A hint of bitterness from this sesame oil blends well with the other ingredients.
Soy Sauce: The mildly sour taste of this sauce adds a perfect balance to this salad.
Maple Syrup: The best part of this salad is the subtle sweetness from maple syrup. There are no artificial sweeteners used in this salad, making this cucumber pepper salad a perfect wholesome salad.
Rice Vinegar: A bit of tartness from the vinegar adds depth to this salad.
Ginger: Fresh ginger, when grated, is a must-have spice for this salad. It is subtle yet comes together beautifully with the other ingredients. It adds a little bit of spice and a wonderful aroma to the ginger salad dressing.
Red Pepper Flakes: Since there is not much heat from the pepper or other seasoning, fresh red pepper flakes add a hint of spice.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions to make this cucumber pepper salad with ginger dressing:

Thinly sliced cucumbers and sweet mini peppers arranged on a cutting board

Step 1: Thinly slice the cucumber and slice the mini sweet peppers into rings.

Tahini, sesame oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a blender jar

Step 2: In a blender jar, add tahini, sesame oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, freshly grated ginger, and red pepper flakes for spice, if desired.

Blending creamy tahini soy ginger dressing in a blender

Step 3: Blend until smooth. If the dressing is too thick, add water to reach a runny consistency.

Bowl of sliced cucumbers, sweet peppers, and chopped cilantro

Step 4: In a large bowl, toss together the cucumber, mini sweet peppers, and cilantro.

Pouring creamy tahini ginger dressing over cucumber and pepper salad

Step 5: Drizzle the creamy tahini sesame ginger dressing over the veggies and toss to coat.

Finished salad sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning, ready to serve

Step 6: Finally, sprinkle everything bagel seasoning on top and serve immediately, or refrigerate for 10-15 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Substitutions

Here are some substitutions that I've made now and then:

Gluten-free - Ensure that the ingredients you use are gluten-free if you are allergic to gluten

Cilantro - Although Cilantro leaves are perfect for this sweet pepper salad, if you don't have cilantro, you can use chopped green onions or fresh dill.

Sesame Oil - If you don't like the bitterness of sesame oil, use peanut oil instead.

Variations of this Cucumber Pepper Salad

Onions - You can add thinly sliced red onions for another level of crunchiness.

Avocados - Also, add a few diced creamy avocados for an extra-rich bell pepper cucumber salad.

Cheese - I sometimes sprinkle some feta cheese or cottage cheese just before serving. If you like watermelon feta salad, you'll like this variation.

Chili Oil - Instead of red chilli pepper, you can add some chili oil. )

Equipment

I use a small blender to blend all the dressing ingredients. I don't recommend mixing these manually; the oil and vinegar tend to mix well in a blender. That way, you get a smooth, pourable dressing.

Healthy cucumber salad with mini bell peppers and ginger soy dressing

What to serve with this cucumber salad?

Here are some ways to enjoy this summer salad:

Crostini with Summer Berries and Ricotta

This crostini is a creamy side dish with summer berries that is perfect to have with the cucumber salad. It balances out the heat and makes for an interesting spread.

Mexican street corn guacamole

For a more flavour-enhancing meal, top the cucumber salad with this Mexican street corn guacamole! It adds a new dimension to the salad.

How to store this cucumber pepper salad?

This salad is best enjoyed fresh. The salt in the bagel seasoning will quickly draw out water from the cucumbers and peppers, so it's best to serve it right away to prevent it from becoming soggy.

For a head start, you can chop the vegetables and store them in an airtight container for up to two days. Toss with the seasoning when you're ready to eat.

Top Tip

The crunchy texture is what this cucumber pepper salad is all about. To ensure your salad stays crunchy, make this salad fresh every single time using fresh ingredients.

Sliced cucumber and mini sweet peppers tossed in soy ginger dressing

FAQ

Where did this recipe come from?

Rachael Kirkconnell created this salad on TikTok, and it went viral instantly.

Can you add fresh garlic to this recipe?

Fresh garlic is pungent and may not be suitable for this cucumber pepper salad.

Why are we not adding any lime juice?

Since this salad belongs to a ginger-based flavour profile rather than that of salads that use lime dressing, it is best to omit lime.

Can I use a mandoline slicer?

No, that would yield thin slices. We want slightly thick slices, so use a chopping board.

Can we use white vinegar?

White vinegar is more acidic and sharper, which is why rice vinegar with its mellow flavours is perfect for this salad.

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Pairing

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