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    You are here: Home / Salads / Cuernavaca Style Cucumber Salad

    Cuernavaca Style Cucumber Salad

    Douglas Cullen, This blog generates income via ads and affiliate links which earn us a small commission.

    Ensalada de Pepino Estilo Cuernavaca

    This rustic Mexican cucumber salad, called ensalada de pepino in Spanish, is popular in the city of Cuernavaca, Morelos about 45 minutes south of Mexico City. Serve it as a side dish for carne asada or grilled fish.

    In Cuernavaca, it is always paired with another dish although it’s great on its own too. It’s perfect on a warm summer afternoon.

    Cuernavaca Style Cucumber Salad
    Cuernavaca Style Cucumber Salad

    This salad only has four ingredients, five if you count the salt: cucumber, white onion, Mexican oregano, and lime juice. You might think a four-ingredient salad sounds dull but it’s not.

    It’s bright, fresh, and has a surprisingly bold flavor. The secret is Mexican oregano which has a sharper flavor than Mediterranean oregano.

    The sharp flavor of the oregano is balanced nicely by the mild flavor of the cucumber. It only takes a few minutes to make.

    Cucumber Salad Ingredients
    Cucumber Salad Ingredients

    A Quick Salad

    This is a great salad to prepare if you are short on time. It only takes 10 minutes to make and you probably have all of the ingredients on hand.

    Cuernavaca Style (Mexican) Cucumber Salad
    Print Pin
    3.89 from 18 votes

    Cuernavaca Style Cucumber Salad Recipe

    Mexican cucumber salad – A rustic, fresh-tasting, easy to make 4 ingredient Mexican Salad. Very refreshing with a distinct flavor. Popular in Cuernavaca, Morelos.
    Course Salad
    Cuisine Mexican
    Keyword cucumber, Mexican, oregano, salad
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 73kcal
    Author Douglas Cullen

    Ingredients

    • 3 cucumbers
    • 1 large white onion
    • 2 tsp. Mexican oregano
    • 4 Mexican limes
    • ½ tsp. salt + to taste

    Instructions

    • Scrub the cucumbers and peel.
    • Cut the onion into ¼" rings then cut the rings in half to make long strips.
    • Slice the cucumber into ¼" rounds.
    • Put the cucumber and onion into a large mixing bowl.
    • Sprinkle with the 2 teaspoons of Mexican oregano.
    • Squeeze the juice of the 2 limes onto the vegetables.
    • Sprinkle with salt to taste.
    • Gently toss the salad to evenly distribute the oregano, salt, and lime juice.
    • Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
    • Serve chilled.

    Notes

    Preparation Notes
    • Serve chilled.
    • This is not a dainty salad. Be sure to cut cucumbers and onion are cut into substantial slices, about ¼″ thick.
    • It’s is best served the same day that you make it but it will keep for a day in the refrigerator.
    • Use Mexican oregano if possible. It has a stronger, sharper taste compared to the taste of Mediterranean oregano. Look for it in the Mexican section of the grocery store. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find.
    Substitutions
    • You can substitute 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar for the lime juice if you prefer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 300mg | Sugar: 12g

     More Mexican Salads

    • Cactus Salad
    • Spicy Tuna Salad
    • Chayote Zucchini Squash Salad
    • Pineapple Salad
    • Beet Salad
    • Avocado Salad

     

    More Salads

    • Salpicon in Mixing Bowl
      Salpicón
    • Mexican Avocado Salad in Ceramic Serving Bowl
      Avocado Salad
    • Beet Salad Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
      Beet Salad with Feta Cheese and Citrus Balsamic Viniagrette
    • Mexican Fruit Salad with Tajin
      Spicy Mexican Fruit Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. plasterers bristol says

      June 16, 2015 at 5:55 pm

      This sounds lovely. Going to give this a go. thanks for sharing this recipe.

      Simon

      Reply
      • Douglas Cullen says

        June 17, 2015 at 1:57 pm

        Simon,

        Let us know what you think about the recipe after you have tried it.

        Reply
    2. SL says

      May 26, 2018 at 12:49 pm

      The ingredients call for 4 limes, but the directions say squeeze the juice from the 2 limes. So, how many limes are needed? 2 or 4?

      Reply
    3. Diana says

      July 21, 2019 at 10:53 pm

      5 stars
      Really good. Second time I made it. I think you can’t go wrong with this if you have lovely cukes in season.

      Reply
    4. Jen says

      February 11, 2022 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! Beautiful flavors, this is definitely a keeper.

      My local supermarket doesn’t have much by way of variety, so I used conventional lime and fresh oregano. So good and so simple!

      Reply
      • Douglas Cullen says

        February 14, 2022 at 9:59 am

        Glad you liked the recipe! For having so few ingredients the flavor is surprising. Cheers!

        Reply

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    Hola, I am Douglas. Let me share my love of Mexican Cuisine with you that developed over 20+ years of living in Mexico.

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