Cucumber Cooler is a refreshing summer beverage that is made with a fantastic combination of cucumber and mint leaves. Make a big pitcher and keep sipping it all day (vegan, gluten-free).
Here are some more summer drinks that will give you instant relief from the scorching heat – Blueberry Mojito, Virgin Mojito, Apple Iced Tea, Watermelon Juice, Mango Mojito, and Strawberry Lemonade.
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About This Recipe
Cucumber Cooler is a refreshing summer drink that has the goodness of cucumbers and fresh mint leaves. Sugar is added to the cooler to make it sweet and lime juice and black salt add a little twist of tangy and salty taste to it.
This drink comes together in under 10 minutes which means no spending time in the kitchen in the scorching heat.
Cucumber Cooler is a great beverage to serve for house parties, summer BBQs, or potlucks. Double or triple the recipe and make it in a big pitcher for the crowd. Add a splash of rum, tequila, gin, or vodka to make an adult version, fun right!
Ingredients
Cucumber – The key ingredient of this drink is cucumber. I try to use English cucumber as it has very few seeds and is very flavorful. But you can use any variety that is easily available to you.
Taste the cucumber before using it. Sometimes they are bitter and can ruin the taste of your cooler.
You can also add other fruits like orange, kiwi, or strawberry along with cucumber to make a new version.
Mint Leaves – Mint leaves add a refreshing taste to this drink. You can replace mint with basil or rosemary for a change in taste.
Lime Juice – Lime juice adds the much-needed tanginess to this drink and tastes great with the combination of mint and cucumber.
Sugar – Sugar adds sweetness to this drink. You can replace sugar with honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar for a healthy alternative. Sugar-free alternatives like stevia or monk fruit also work fine.
You can also make this drink savory by replacing sugar with salt.
Black Salt – Balance out the flavors with some black salt.
Water – I have used plain water to make this drink but you can definitely use club soda or sparkling water. Coconut water is also a great alternative.
How To Make Cucumber Cooler
Preparation
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.
Tip – Keep the slices soaked in ice-cold water for 10-15 minutes. They will stiffen and look good as a garnish.
Peel the remaining cucumber and chop it into small pieces. We need 1 cup of peeled and cubed cucumbers. If the cucumber is small, then chop another small cucumber to make 1 cup of chopped cucumber.
Juice 2 limes to get 3 tbs of lime juice.
Make The Drink
Add 1 cup chopped cucumber to a blender along with 3 tablespoon 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 a spatula to press the pulp and get the maximum liquid out of it. Discard the pulp.
Stir in 3 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 teaspoon black salt, and the remaining 2 cups of water with the cucumber juice.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
It totally 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 them without peeling too.
While chopping the cucumber, I always remove any large seeds (if there are any) and then chop them to make the juice. It gives a smooth texture to the cooler.
Yes, you can easily double or triple this recipe if you are planning to make it for a large crowd.
I always prefer to use freshly squeezed lime juice in my drinks. The taste of freshly squeezed lime juice is unmatched.
Storage Suggestion
You can refrigerate this drink for up to a day in a glass jug.
If you are making cucumber cooler for a party, make the cucumber mint leaves mixture beforehand and store it in the fridge. Add lime juice, black salt, water, and ice cubes just before serving.
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Recipe Card
Cucumber Cooler Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-2 medium English cucumber
- 3 tablespoons sugar (use honey, agave, or maple syrup for healthy alternatives.)
- 6-8 mint leaves
- 3 tablespoons lime juice (fresh is preferred)
- 1 teaspoon black salt
- ice cubes (as required)
- 3 cups chilled water (divided)
- lime rings and mint leaves for garnishing
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 into small pieces.
- Add the chopped 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 and get the maximum liquid out of it. Discard the pulp.
- Stir in 3 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice, 1 teaspoon black salt, and the remaining 2 cups of water with the cucumber juice.
- 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.
Divya Shivaraman
perfect cooler…love the combination of mint and cucumber
Charlotte Herbert
I’ve never seen/heard of “black salt”; can I leave it out? Can it be substituted? I’m eager to try this!
Neha
Feel free to replace it with regular salt. Black salt is available in India and has a distinct taste. But normal salt will work as well 🙂
Shobelyn
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