This Cucumber Salad with Hearts of Palm leans heavily on the vinegar for a fresh and tangy bite. Mysteriously more delicious and satisfying than the sum of its part, it is a salad that you need to try yourself to understand why.
It is hard to stock up on lettuce and greens right now. But friends, cucumbers are wildly abundant no matter where you shop and they last long in your fridge. And in case you’re wondering, cucumbers are not only delicious, but quite healthy too. They are rich in B and K vitamins, contain folic acid, and are a good source of Vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc.
Lately, whenever I venture out to buy anything, I always grab a few more cucumbers and we have some version of a cucumber salad almost every night. An all-time favourite is this cucumber salad with hearts of palm which has been getting us through these dismal times. Hearts of palm, mild and delicate in flavour, pair beautifully with the crunchy cucumbers.
What are hearts of palm
Who knew that when my kids were little, opening a can of heart of palm, slicing a cucumber, and drizzling not much more than vinegar and olive oil all over it, would make me famous among their circle of friends. I do not exaggerate. These now grown friends who occasionally waltz back into our lives seem to always remember and reminisce about this very simple salad.
In all honestly, this salad is much, much better when it includes sliced avocados. Sadly, it is hard to stock up on avocados right now but if you are lucky to have one on hand, please go ahead and add it. To me, sliced red onions or shallots, which become quickly pickled in the vinegar juice, make this salad irresistible. Feel free to leave them out if serving it to little kids.
Variations
The refreshing flavour of cucumbers and hearts of palm lends itself to all sorts of garnishes. Have some fun with this salad. If you have fresh herbs like dill or cilantro, add those in. Cherry tomatoes or even chopped iceberg lettuce would be fantastic and add even more bulk to the salad. If you prefer it a little creamy, add a few dollops of your favourite mayo.
Of course cool cucumber salads are ideal in the summertime served alongside anything you grill. But we love them just as much in the winter when you need a refreshing pick-me-up, or when the winter greens are just not cutting it. This salad would be lovely served with this chicken shawarma, these albondigas, with rice and beans, or alongside any roasted fish or meat. Enjoy!
Cucumber Salad with Hearts of Palm
Ingredients
- 1 large English cucumber, peeld and sliced
- 1 14-oz can hearts of palm, drained and sliced 1/2 inch thick
- 1 small shallot, thinly sliced or 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the cucumbers, hearts of palm and shallots in a medium-sized, shallow bowl. Drizzle the vinegar and olive oil over the vegetables. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste. Toss gently, taste and add more vinegar or olive oil to taste. Keep in mind It should be heavier on the vinegar than the oil.
Notes
Nicole
Simple and delicious! Would add a little lemon and parsley for flare next time! Was great for lunch with the leftover mixed grains I had.
Sandra Valvassori
So happy to hear you enjoyed the salad! Adding lemon and parsley sounds fantastic – thank you for writing and sharing!
Inge Tempel
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon everyday. It’s always helpful to read articles from other writers and practice a little something from other sites.
Sandra Valvassori
Thank you!