This quick and easy, refreshing healthy cucumber salad is a simple side dish that's especially good when paired with other spicy foods to tame the heat. Tossed in a tangy red wine & dijon vinaigrette, this shredded cucumber salad is a great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables.
Use a vegetable peeler to peel the skins from the cucumber. Cut the cucumbers in half, horizontally.
Use the large holes on a box grater to grate the flesh of the cucumber, stopping once you come to the seeds in the center of the vegetable. Rotate the cucumber, shredding the flesh and leaving a round cylinder of seeds. Discard the seeds.
DRAIN THE CUCUMBER:
Place a medium mesh strainer over a medium bowl and add the shredded cucumer to the strainer. Set aside for 20 minutes.
MAKE THE VINAIGRETTE:
In a small bowl add the garlic, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar and olive oil.
Use a whisk to vigorously blend the vinaigrette until it emulsifies. Set aside.
Once the grated cucumber has drained most of its liquid off, transfer the shredded veg to a bowl and pour the vinaigrette over it. Toss to combine and serve.
Notes
If you plan to use the cucumber water for a cocktail, just let it rest. If you're not cocktailing... you can get more cucumber liquid out of the cucumber by adding 1/2 teaspoon of salt sprinkled over the top of the grated cucumber.