High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Basil-Pesto Cucumber Salad
Crisp, cool cucumbers meet a vibrant homemade pesto in a salad that feels both refreshing and surprisingly satisfying. The real win here is that every single ingredient is whole and recognizable — fresh basil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil — so there's none of the sneaky sweeteners that tend to hide in bottled dressings and store-bought sauces. Salting the cucumbers first and letting them drain is a small step that makes a big difference, pulling out excess moisture so the pesto clings beautifully rather than pooling at the bottom of the bowl. The turmeric adds a subtle warmth and a gorgeous golden hue that makes the bright green pesto pop even more. Blending the herbs with lemon juice instead of any kind of syrup or sweetener keeps the flavor clean, tangy, and genuinely fresh-tasting. It comes together quickly and looks stunning on a platter, especially finished with a drizzle of olive oil and a handful of torn basil leaves. This is the kind of simple, ingredient-forward dish that proves you don't need anything processed to make something truly crave-worthy.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 2 large english cucumbers
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
For the pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
For serving
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Slice the cucumbers into thin rounds or use a vegetable peeler to cut them into long ribbons, about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer to a colander set over the sink, toss with 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, and let stand for 10 minutes until the cucumbers have released some liquid. Pat dry with paper towels.
- 2
Combine the basil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, 1/4 tsp fine sea salt, and turmeric in a food processor or blender. Pulse 5–6 times until the herbs are roughly chopped.
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