Courgette Salad

Have you tried a raw summer courgette salad?

This salad couldn't be easier and refreshing for summertime eating.

The ingredients in this salad are a real hit for the senses. There's the crunchiness of raw courgette ribbons with the zing of freshly squeezed lemon and the lift of fresh mint.

Simply seasoned and mixed with extra virgin olive oil, it really couldn't be easier.

No cooking and can be made in advance too, making this a great side dish for entertaining.

And, if your courgettes are homegrown, this will cost just pennies to make too.

Enjoy!

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why you will love this recipe
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🍽 Equipment
• 🔪 Instructions
• 🥗 Side Dishes
• 🥙 Substitutions
• 📖 Variations
• 🍣Storage
• 🍱 Prepare in Advance
• 📋 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

I love a crunchy salad in the summer, and rather than just reach for cucumber, I also like to use raw courgettes or zucchini as they are also called.

If you haven't used raw courgettes in a salad before, then you definitely need to try it, especially if you like to make dishes in advance for friends and family get togethers.

To start with, the courgettes don't have quite the same high water content, which means that they don't lose their crunch as quickly as cucumbers. They stand up to being sliced in different ways, and when they are thinly sliced in ribbons, they are tender to eat too.

Small and medium sized ones also don't need to be peeled, as their skins are still soft, so they are quick and easy to prepare.

❤️ Why you will love this recipe

• No cooking
• All you need is a vegetable peeler
• Simple fresh ingredients
• Great for home grown produce
• Can be made in advance and travels well
• 10 minutes to make
• 88 calories a serving

🥘 Ingredients

• Courgettes - also known as zucchini. The younger small or medium sized courgettes are better for a courgette ribbon salad as the skins are thinner and the flesh is sweeter. Large courgettes won't taste as good and also it will be difficult to get even ribbons.
• Mint - some fresh spearmint from the garden if you have it or from the supermarket.
• Lemon - zest and juice from an unwaxed lemon.
• Oil - extra virgin olive oil for the rich flavour and, as there is no heating of the oil, it will keep its flavour.
• Salt - use flaked sea salt if you have it as it has a soft flavour that is delicious as a dressing.
• Pepper - freshly ground black pepper.

The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post.

🍽 Equipment

• vegetable peeler or mandolin - to make courgette ribbons
• lemon zester or use the fine side of a box grater

🔪 Instructions

Wash the courgettes and trim off the ends.

Use a vegetable peeler to peel long lengths of courgette ribbons. Discard the strips that are just peel.

💭 Top Tip

• Make sure that your vegetable peeler is at least as wide as the courgettes to get even slices.

Zest the lemon and squeeze the juice into a bowl.

Add the olive oil and seasoning and whisk together.

💭 Top Tip

• If you don't have a juicer just cut the lemon in half then squeeze out the juice with one hand into a bowl. Use the other hand to catch the pips as you squeeze.

Lay the ribbons of courgette onto a serving plate, draping them backwards and forwards to arrange them.

Chop the mint.

Drizzle the lemon dressing over the top and scatter the mint over the courgette ribbon salad.

Serve and enjoy!

🥗 Side Dishes

This raw courgette salad goes with anything in the summer, particularly seafood dishes, but try out these ideas too.

• Pan Seared Sea Bass
• Baked Monkfish Tails
• Baked Salmon
• Cod Cheeks with Chorizo
• Vietnamese Grilled Chicken
• Lincolnshire Sausage Skewers

🥙 Substitutions

• Fresh mint - use a teaspon of mint sauce in place of chopped fresh mint.

📖 Variations

• Herbs - use chopped fresh oregano, rosemary, parsley, dill.

🍣Storage

• Refrigerator - store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer - not suitable for freezing.

🍱 Prepare in Advance

• Make the raw courgette salad and leave in the fridge until you are ready to serve, ideally on the same day.

🤔FAQs

More courgette and salad recipes

• Courgette and Sweetcorn Fritters
• Pear and Rocket Salad
• Broad Bean Salad
• Tomato and Onion Salad
• Fennel and pear Salad with Blue Cheese
• Raw Mushroom Salad
• Edamame, Broccoli and Asparagus Salad
• Tarragon Potato Salad

📋 Recipe

More side dishes

Food Safety

• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
• Wash hands after touching raw meat.
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
• Always have good ventilation when using gas.

Do you have a question or did you make the recipe?

Please leave a rating as it helps other readers to discover the dish. Your name and email are required to avoid spam comments; they are never used for any purpose or shared with third parties

However, due to spam comments, I do have to moderate each one, so don't worry if you cannot see your comment immediately. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can.