Cucumber and Tajin Salad (Pepinos con Chile)
Ultra refreshing and full of flavor, this cucumber and
This Mexican cucumber snack comes together in just minutes with a homemade
I’ve recently been mildly obsessed with cucumbers, specifically English cucumbers. They have a nice crunch factor that’s perfectly balanced with the juiciness on the inside, which makes them a great healthy snack to enjoy on hot summer days.
And while I did use a few of them to make a nice cucumber pico de gallo, I was really looking for something a bit more low effort. And that’s when I tried this, and quite frankly, it has become my favorite snack.
In fact, I also tried replicating the recipe with other fruits, and made spicy mango and tajin, apples with Tajin and Chamoy and even a watermelon and Tajin salad.
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Why I Love this Recipe
I love this simple cucumber salad recipe for many reasons. Not only is it incredibly easy to make, but is actually a super versatile Mexican snack that you can team up with just about any of your favorite foods.
I love serving it as a side with my Elote casserole, and the combination is a total hit in my household.
Recipe Ingredients
Cucumbers: You’ll need a couple of ripe, fresh cucumbers. English and Persian cucumbers are the best choice, since they have a super crunchy texture, but you can also use regular garden cucumbers if you want to.
Tajin seasoning: You’ll also need a bit of your homemade or store-bought Tajin spice mix. This one’s often marketed as chile lime seasoning.
Lime juice: For some extra tanginess, you’ll need some fresh lime juice as well.
Pink salt: This one’s optional, but you can also sprinkle a bit of pink Himalayan salt in addition to the
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- If you don’t have fresh lime juice, you can use some lemon juice instead or just sprinkle some dehydrated lime into the
Tajin seasoning. - Bottled lime juice can also work in a pinch.
- If you’re not able to find
Tajin , and don’t want to make the seasoning from scratch, you can use a blend of mild chili peppers, a squeeze of lime juice and some salt to make do.
How to Make the Cucumber and Tajin Salad
Ready to try this Mexican cucumber recipe? Here’s the process you’ll need to follow to do it.
Step 1: Cut up a cucumber in half lengthwise, and then slice it further into sticks. You can also cut cucumber slices if you want to.
Step 2: Sprinkle the cucumbers with
If you loved this spicy and tangy snack, don't forget to check out my Tajin and Chamoy strawberries recipe too!
How to Store the Leftover Tajin Cucumber Salad
If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container and refrigerate them. They should stay fresh for up to a day, but remember that cucumbers tend to lose water once you cut them and sprinkle the seasonings, so you’ll need to drain off all of it before you serve them.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- To add some extra lemony flavor to this cucumber
Tajin salad, you can add some lime zest too! - While I would highly recommend keeping the peel on, you can also choose to peel the cucumbers if you want to.
- You can also cut the cucumber as per your personal preference. Sliced cucumbers are great if you want to keep things simple, but cucumber sticks, in my opinion, somehow look so much better.
- To add some more brightness and color to the salad, you can also drizzle some Mexican Chamoy sauce over it.
- Don’t forget to garnish with lime wedges right before you serve.
How to Serve the Cucumber and Tajin Salad
This tangy, spicy and easy Mexican cucumber dish can be put together in just minutes, and is a great snack recipe to make when you’re hit by a craving, or are looking for a teammate to your Mexican recipes. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired to serve this easy snack.
With a Mexican Main
This refreshing cucumber dish can work wonderfully as a side to any of your Mexican mains- from tacos and enchiladas and even burritos.
As a Snack or Appetizer
This spicy cucumber dish can actually be a great snack for hot summer days, or as an appetizer for a Mexican feast you’re whipping up.
Apart from serving this
Recipe FAQs
A simple mix of chili powder and salt can be great if you’re not using
If you tried this cucumber and
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Cucumber and Tajin Salad | Pepinos con Chile
Ingredients
- 2 cucumbers
- 1 teaspoon Tajin seasoning
- ½ teaspoon lime juice
- 1 pinch Pink Himalayan salt
Instructions
- Cut up a cucumber in half lengthwise, and then slice it further into sticks. You can also cut cucumber slices if you want to.
- Sprinkle the cucumbers with Tajin seasoning and add a squeeze of lime juice. Mix it all well.
Notes
- To add some extra lemony flavor to this cucumber
Tajin salad, you can add some lime zest too! - While I would highly recommend keeping the peel on, you can also choose to peel the cucumbers if you want to.
- You can also cut the cucumber as per your personal preference. Sliced cucumbers are great if you want to keep things simple, but cucumber sticks, in my opinion, somehow look so much better.
- To add some more brightness and color to the salad, you can also drizzle some Mexican Chamoy sauce over it.
- Don’t forget to garnish with lime wedges right before you serve.
