Cucumber Mint Cooler Recipe
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Cucumber mint cooler is a refreshing summer beverage made with a fantastic combination of cucumber and mint leaves. Make a big pitcher and sip it all day.
Quick Look: Cucumber Mint Cooler
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: Approx. 100 per serving
Dietary Info: Vegan, gluten-free
Method: No-cook
Skill Level: Easy
Tools Needed: Blender, fine-mesh strainer, vegetable peeler, citrus juicer, tall serving glasses.
Shelf Life: Blended base keeps refrigerated for up to 2 days; dilute and add ice only just before serving.
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Table of Contents
Cucumbers and mint are a match made in heaven. With summer here, I decided to update the blog with some quick, refreshing beverage recipes using cooling ingredients, and this combo popped into my head.
What Is Cucumber Mint Cooler?
Cucumber mint cooler is a chilled, non-alcoholic Indian-style summer drink made by blending fresh cucumber and mint leaves with lime juice, sugar, and black salt (kala namak). It’s served over ice and finished with chilled water or soda for a light, refreshing fizz. Think of it as a savory-sweet cousin of lemonade, built for hot weather.
It is an excellent beverage to make for house parties, summer BBQs, or potlucks.
Why You’ll Love This Family Favorite Recipe!
- Ready in 10 minutes. No cooking, no waiting for anything to chill overnight
- Just 4 main ingredients. Cucumber, mint, lime, and black salt
- Naturally hydrating. Cucumber is mostly water, so this drink does double duty as a thirst-quencher
- Easy to scale. Make one glass or a full pitcher for a party
- Boozy-friendly. Add a splash of vodka or gin for adults
Ingredients
- Cucumber – Use any variety; English or Persian cucumbers work well because they have fewer seeds. Peel if the skin is waxy or bitter. Taste the cucumber before using it. Sometimes, they are bitter and can ruin the taste of your cooler.
- Mint Leaves – Pack the cooling flavor. Dried mint won’t give the same punch, so skip it here. You can replace mint with basil or rosemary for a change in flavor.
- Lime Juice – Freshly squeezed, not bottled. It adds the tang that balances the sweetness.
- Sugar – Sugar adds sweetness to this drink. You can replace sugar with honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar. Sugar-free options like stevia or monk fruit also work fine.
- Black Salt – This is the ingredient that gives the drink its distinctly Indian taste. Regular salt works too, but black salt adds a mild sulfurous tang that’s hard to replace.
- Cold water – I have used plain water for this drink, but you can use club soda or sparkling water. Coconut water is also a great alternative.
- Ice Cubes – Non-negotiable. This drink is meant to be cold.
You can also make this drink savory by replacing sugar with salt.
Add other fruits like oranges, kiwis, and strawberries, along with cucumber, to make a new version.
How To Make Cucumber Mint Cooler
Preparation
Cut 3-4 very thin slices of a medium English cucumber for garnishing. I used a vegetable peeler to peel the cucumber along its length, producing long, thin slices. You can also use a sharp knife to cut the slices.
Soak the slices in ice-cold water for 10-15 minutes. They will stiffen and look good as garnish.
Peel the remaining cucumber and cut it into small pieces. You will need 1 cup of peeled and cubed cucumbers. If the cucumber is small, chop another small one to make 1 cup of cubed cucumber.
Juice 2 limes to get 3 tablespoon of lime juice.
Make The Drink
Add 1 cup of cubed cucumber to a blender with 3 tablespoons of sugar, 6-8 mint leaves, and 1 cup of water.
Blend until smooth.
Pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Use a spoon or spatula to press the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the pulp.
Stir in 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 teaspoon of black salt, and 2 cups of water.
Add one or two thin slices of cucumber and 3-4 ice cubes to each glass. Pour the drink into the glasses. Garnish the cucumber cooler with a few lime rings and mint leaves. Serve immediately.
Cucumber Cooler FAQs
It depends on you! I like to peel it to get a smooth cucumber mixture, but if you do not mind the dark green peel in your drinks, you can blend it without peeling.
While chopping the cucumber, I always remove any large seeds (if any) and then chop them to make the juice. It gives the cooler a smooth texture.
I always prefer to use freshly squeezed lime juice in my drinks. The taste of freshly squeezed lime juice is unmatched.
Storage Suggestions
Store the blended base in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Give it a good shake or stir before serving, since the pulp settles. Add ice and dilute with water or soda only right before serving; a pre-diluted cooler goes flat and watery fast.
Other Indian Summer Drink Recipes We Recommend
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Cucumber Mint Cooler Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-2 medium English cucumbers
- 3 tablespoons sugar (or honey, agave, or maple syrup)
- 6-8 mint leaves
- 3 tablespoons lime juice (freshly squeezed is preferred)
- 1 teaspoon black salt
- 3 cups chilled water (divided)
- lime rings and mint leaves for garnishing
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Cut 3-4 very thin slices of a medium English cucumber for garnishing. I used a vegetable peeler and peeled along the length of the cucumber to get thin, long slices. You can also use a sharp knife to cut the slices.
- Peel the remaining cucumber and chop it into small pieces. We need 1 cup of peeled and cubed cucumbers. If the cucumber is small, chop another small one to make 1 cup of cubed cucumber.
- Add the cucumber to a blender along with sugar, mint leaves, and 1 cup of water.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Use a spoon or a spatula to press the pulp to extract the maximum liquid. Discard the pulp.
- Stir in lime juice, black salt, and the remaining 2 cups of water.
- Add one or two thin slices of cucumber and 3-4 ice cubes to each glass. Pour the drink into the glasses. Garnish the cucumber cooler with a few lime rings and mint leaves. Serve immediately.
Your picture are very beautifully done and recipes look easy to make as well. I am bookmarking your site
I’ve never seen/heard of “black salt”; can I leave it out? Can it be substituted? I’m eager to try this!
Feel free to replace it with regular salt. Black salt is available in Indian grocery stores and has a distinct taste. But normal salt will work as well 🙂
perfect cooler…love the combination of mint and cucumber