If you are looking for a cucumber substitute to make your salads, soups, and sandwiches more interesting, there are several options in the grocery store. There are a lot of cucumber-haters too, and some people also have digestive issues when they eat this thin-skinned vegetable.
Whatever your reason may be, you can select any substitute from the list below and enjoy your salads or pickles!
Top Cucumber Substitute
The best cucumber substitute is celery. Other alternatives are zucchini, jicama, iceberg lettuce, Persian cucumbers, fennel, green beans, borage leaves, and squash. [1]
Celery
Cucumbers have a distinctly cool, refreshing flavor and give a crunch to sandwiches, salads, dips, and are usually part of a vegetable platter. The light green stalks of celery also provide the same crunch to your dish.
Zucchini
Zucchini has the same crunch and water content as a cucumber. Aside from the skin, it provides a similar texture like cucumber to the salads. You may be surprised to know that you can substitute cucumber with zucchini in pickles like sweet mix and bread and butter.
Finely chopped cucumbers Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Jicama
In order to substitute cucumbers in your sandwiches, jicama is your healthy option. Peel and slice it before adding it to your dish and enjoy the crunchy delight.
Iceberg Lettuce
Finely shredded lettuce can be used in place of cucumber in salads as it has the same cool and crunchy flavor. It is the best substitute for cucumbers in tzatziki and fattoush, a Middle Eastern salad.
Radishes
If you are someone who loathes eating cucumber, radishes are surely made for you! Adding cubed radishes to your salad can give it a crispy and pungent flavor.
Persian Cucumbers
Persian cucumber is your go-to-cucumber while preparing the Middle Eastern salad! This variety substitutes the cucumbers effortlessly and adds the desired crunch to your dish.
A bowl of salad as a side dish is always a good idea. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Cucumber Essential Oil
Cucumber essential oil is extracted from cucumber seeds and is the best substitute if you are in love with the fresh scent of cucumbers. This oil also provides an easy way of staying away from chopping cucumbers or pureeing them in potpourris.
Fennel
For soups and stews that call for cucumber, you can use fennel for a refreshing flavor. Its bulb is firm and crunchy and brings a fresh taste to your stews and salads.
Other Substitutes
There are other alternatives which can be used to replace cucumber. Some of them include:
- Green beans
- Borage leaves
- Crookneck squash
- Green peppers
Sandwiches & salads are calling you now, aren’t they?
