This quick Cucumber Salsa is fresh and punchy - thanks to a healthy dose of Tajin seasoning. Each bite of this Tajin-spiked Cucumber Salsa is punctuated with flavors that are tangy, salty, and punctuated with hints of spice.
The cucumbers are multiplying like crazy, and my crisper drawer is reaching capacity. This easy Cucumber Salsa has become my go-to when I need a quick cucumber snack - and to free up some fridge space.
This quick cucumber salsa calls for the use of Tajin (or you can use Trader Joe’s Chili Lime seasoning) to bring the flavor - one that is boldly tangy, pleasantly salty, and punctuated with hints of heat. It's a super fresh salsa that's fast, easy, and bold. And it's great for snacking on with tortilla chips.
For more ideas on how to use up all those cucumbers, check out these super fresh recipes featuring cukes: Cucumber Pico de Gallo, Cucumber Cream Cheese Bites, and Jalapeno Cucumber Sandwiches.
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What is Tajin seasoning?
“Tajin is a unique blend of 100% natural chili peppers, lime & sea salt that makes everything bueno, even More Bueno.” Tajín is tangy and salty and hints at spicy but doesn't get carried away - I’d say it’s pleasantly earthy from the dehydrated chili peppers. It's bright and citrusy with subtle earthy chile notes. Tajin is also fantastic on fruit! Try it on this Mexican Fruit Salad with Tajin.
Where can I buy Tajin seasoning?
Even though I live in a large city, I’ve only come across Tajin at specialty grocery stores. Fresh Thyme is a chain supermarket near me that carries it. If you’d rather not run to 17 stores in the hopes of finding it, you can order Tajin online. You can also use Trader Joe’s Chili Lime seasoning here instead.
How to Make Cucumber Salsa - Ingredients
You only need 4 ingredients for this quick cucumber salsa recipe, though I like to add a few splashes of Tabasco hot sauce to elevate the heat. This salsa is incredibly fresh and crisp, delightfully tangy, and slightly spicy.
- Cucumber
- Red onion
- Tajin seasoning
- Lime juice
- Tabasco sauce (optional)
How to Make Cucumber Salsa - Directions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Stir until combined, then let sit for 15-20 minutes.
Strain excess liquid off.*
Eat! I think this quick cucumber salsa tastes great freshly made.
For peak enjoyment, eat within 24 hours.
Quick tip: Save the excess strained liquid and add it to a Bloody Mary! I sometimes just add it to a glass of cucumber water to give it a tangy, salty edge.
Notes on Ingredients & Ingredient Substitutions
Here are a few notes on the ingredients called for in this Cucumber Salsa recipe and some suggested substitutions you can make to the recipe.
- Cucumbers - I used fresh garden cukes here, seeds included. You can of course remove the seeds or opt for seedless English cucumbers.
- Red onion - Red onion is the most palatable raw in my opinion, and the lime juice helps tame it. Feel free to use another kind of onion or shallots if you’d prefer. Or leave it out if you don’t care for onion.
- Tajin - Tajin seasoning is what really what makes this salsa special. If you can’t find it, try Trader Joe’s Chili Lime seasoning.
- Fresh-squeezed lime juice - You can cheat and use that lime from concentrate stuff, I won’t tell. You can also use lemon juice here if you’d prefer or if it’s what you have on hand.
- Tabasco sauce (optional) - Use any type of hot sauce you would like. My go-to is Tabasco but Cholula is also awesome in this cucumber salsa.
Variations & Suggested Additions
I kept this Cucumber Salsa recipe very basic - so you can make it your own! Try these suggested additions:
- Jalapeno or serrano peppers, finely diced
- Bell pepper, finely diced
- Cilantro or parsley, finely chopped
- Garlic, finely diced
- Corn kernels
- Tomatoes, diced (like Roma, Beefsteak, or even cherry tomatoes)
Storage
Store Tajin Cucumber Salsa in a lidded container in the refrigerator. For maximum crispness and enjoyment, eat within 24-48 hours. Strain off any excess liquid before serving.
Top Tip
For peak enjoyment, eat within 24 hours. After that, the cucumbers start losing their crispness and get increasingly soggy and sad.
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Looking for other recipes? Try these:
Easy Cucumber Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 cups cucumber chopped into a fine dice
- ½ cup red onion finely diced
- 1 tablespoon Tajin seasoning
- ¾ tablespoon lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1-2 dashes Tabasco hot sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
- Stir until combined, then let sit for 15-20 minutes. .
- Strain excess liquid off.*
- Eat! I think this quick cucumber salsa tastes great freshly made.
- For peak enjoyment, eat within 24 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
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