Tropical Cucumber Salad

From EatingWell: May/June 2007 — Subscribe Now!

Combine cucumber, avocado and mango with a salty-sweet dressing for a taste of the tropics.

4 servings, about 1 cup each

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

3-5 teaspoons fish sauce, (see Shopping Tip)
1 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 teaspoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 medium English cucumber, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1 avocado, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1 mango, cut into 3/4-inch dice (see Kitchen Tip)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

Whisk fish sauce to taste, lime zest, lime juice, oil, brown sugar, vinegar and crushed red pepper in a large bowl until combined. Add cucumber, avocado, mango and cilantro; gently toss to coat. Serve garnished with lime zest, if desired.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 hour.

Shopping Tip: Fish sauce is a pungent Southeast Asian condiment; find it in large supermarkets and Asian markets.
Kitchen Tip: To peel and cut a mango:
1. Slice both ends off the mango, revealing the long, slender seed inside. Set the fruit upright on a work surface and remove the skin with a sharp knife.
2. With the seed perpendicular to you, slice the fruit from both sides of the seed, yielding two large pieces.
3. Turn the seed parallel to you and slice the two smaller pieces of fruit from each side.
4. Cut the fruit into the desired shape.

Nutrition

Per serving: 169 calories; 11 g fat (1 g sat, 7 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 18 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 5 g fiber; 178 mg sodium; 342 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (45% daily value), Vitamin A (15% dv).

1 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 fruit, 2 fat