PCOS Friendly Mediterranean Cucumber and Olive Salad
Bright, herby, and deeply satisfying, this cucumber and olive salad is the kind of dish that feels like a reset button for your body and your plate. Managing PCOS often means being intentional about inflammation, and every ingredient here pulls its weight — extra-virgin olive oil and Kalamata olives bring heart-healthy fats, while fresh lemon juice and garlic add bold flavor without any added sugar or refined carbs. The star of the dressing is a small but mighty pinch of ground turmeric, an anti-inflammatory spice that pairs beautifully with the briny olives and crisp cucumber. Salting the cucumbers and letting them drain first is a smart step that keeps the salad from getting watery, so the dressing actually clings to every bite. Fresh parsley, mint, and optional oregano layer in a garden-fresh brightness that makes this taste far more complex than the short ingredient list suggests. It comes together in minutes and works as a light lunch, a side alongside grilled protein, or something to meal-prep and keep in the fridge for the week ahead.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 english cucumbers (about 1 ½ lb total), halved lengthwise and sliced into ¼-inch half-moons
- ¾ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, roughly torn
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves, roughly chopped (optional)
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 small clove garlic, finely minced
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
Instructions
- 1
Place the sliced cucumber in a colander set over the sink, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and toss to coat. Let stand for 10 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels.
- 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, turmeric, and 1/2 tsp salt until the dressing is uniform and slightly emulsified.
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