Delicious, refreshing, and easy, these Chickpea Salad Cucumber Boats are the perfect meal for a hot summer day! They’re gluten free and vegetarian, and can easily be made vegan.
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It’s HOT out there, friends. Well, not so much today as it was over the weekend (Friday had a heat index of 111, can you believe it?!). But still, we are certainly in the “dog days of summer” right about now.
I’ve personally never had an issue using my stove in the summer, but I know that a lot of people prefer raw and “no cook” recipes during this time of year. And I don’t blame them!
If that’s how you feel, then these Chickpea Salad Cucumber Boats are a great recipe to add to your routine! They’re crunchy, refreshing, light, and just a quality summertime meal.
Oh, and they come together in 15 minutes, without the use of any type of stove/oven/microwave. AMAZING.
Are cucumbers nutritious?
You probably already know how refreshing cucumbers can be, but they provide a lot more than just a hydrating crunch!
An 8-inch cucumber with its peel provides over 40% of the Daily Value for vitamin K, a nutrient that’s vital for blood clotting and bone health (1, 2).
Cucumbers also contain antioxidants, are rich in fiber, have a high water content, and are low in calories (3).
How do you wash cucumber skins?
Since this recipe calls for using cucumbers as boats, it’s best to keep the skin on your cucumbers. This will make them easier to pick up and eat.
Some people worry about eating the skins of cucumbers, since they may have a wax coating if they were purchased from a grocery store and not directly from a farmer.
To wash a cucumber that does not have a wax coating, rinse it under cold water for 30-60 seconds and use a veggie brush to remove any dirt.
If the cucumber has a wax coating, soak it in a bowl with equal parts water and vinegar for a couple of minutes and then rinse under running water. You can also spray it with a homemade veggie wash, or use a little bit of baking soda and a veggie scrub brush if the wax is hard to get off.
How to Make Cucumber Boats
To prepare the cucumbers for this recipe, wash them according to the instructions above and then slice in half lengthwise. If a cucumber is very large, you may want to slice it in half horizontally as well.
Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds from the center of each cucumber half. Discard or compost.
Prepare the chickpea salad by combining chickpeas (drained and rinsed), red onion, fresh dill, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper, and minced garlic in a small bowl.
Spread each cucumber boat with a tablespoon of plain Greek yogurt (or Tzatziki) and then fill with a scoop of the chickpea salad. To make these vegan, use hummus instead of yogurt.
These would also be fun for a party as an appetizer. You can even use mini cucumbers to make boats that are more bite-size.
Other Fillings for Cucumber Boats
In addition to this recipe, there are tons of other easy and healthy cucumber boat ideas.
You can fill cucumber boats with Double Pepper Mango Salsa, Mango Corn Salsa with Black Beans, Jicama Cherry Salsa, Slow Cooker Black Beans with Scallions, Rotisserie Chicken Salad, Buffalo Chickpea Salad, or BBQ Lentils with Shredded Carrots.
Other filling ideas include tuna salad, turkey taco meat, Caprese salad (cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil), and Greek salad.
I’d love to hear how you like this recipe! Rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments, and follow the Veg World on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.
📖 Recipe
Chickpea Salad Cucumber Boats
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers
- 1 cup chickpeas - drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup red onion - diced
- 2 tablespoon fresh dill - chopped
- 1 clove garlic - minced or pressed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice - freshly squeezed
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt - sub hummus to make vegan
Instructions
- Wash the cucumbers by rinsing under cold water and scrubbing with a veggie brush. If the cucumbers have a waxy coating, spray or soak in a vinegar/water veggie wash and then rinse with water.
- Slice each cucumber in half and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Discard or compost the seeds. If the cucumber is very large, you may want to slice it into smaller pieces.
- Prepare the chickpea salad by combining the chickpeas, red onion, dill, and garlic in a small bowl. In another small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Pour over the chickpea salad and mix until coated.
- Prepare the cucumber boats by spreading a small amount of plain Greek yogurt on each one before topping with a scoop of the chickpea salad. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Cheers to a healthy week! – Lizzie
susan | the wimpy vegetarian
What a GREAT idea. I do zucchini boats, and don’t know why I never thought about cucumber boats. Thanks!!
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Thanks, Susan!! I hope you enjoy!