Remember that time on The Kardashians when Kendall Jenner had difficulty chopping up a cucumber? (Seeing is believing.) It was great PR for the humble vegetable, which has always been known for its hydrating properties and works brilliantly in a salad. And if getting Kendall’s seal of approval wasn’t enough, now the cucumis sativus (to give it its scientific name) is getting yet more airtime, courtesy of a guy called Logan on TikTok.
Logan, who racks up millions of views on his cucumber salad videos, hasn’t only garnered a loyal TikTok following, “viral cucumber salad” is also trending on Google. Proclaiming, rather fabulously, that “cucumbers are a lifestyle,” Logan creates easy one-pot cucumber recipes—including a kimchi blend and his “iconic” salmon, cream cheese and cucumber—that look (and taste) much more appealing than they sound.
Spotting a fan in my friend and fellow journalist, Lucy Partington, who shared her own takes on his recipes on Instagram, I asked her what she thought of the trend. “I know cucumber salads are already really popular in Asian cuisine but I love the charming way in which Logan explains how to make them,” she says. “They are really easy, healthy and make a nice change from regular salads. Cucumber is cheap and cheerful and you don’t need to invest loads of money in ingredients to try one of these recipes, I had the majority in my cupboard. Plus it’s also quite novel to make and eat something in a jar. You literally shake it to make it.”
The health benefits of cucumber
The cucumber salad may be having a moment, but the vegetable more generally is packed with health benefits. “It’s the ‘eat your water’ beauty food that will nourish your gut,” agrees naturopathic nutritionist Jessica Shand. “It doesn’t often get the recognition it deserves, possibly because of its subtle taste and the fact it’s a bit of an old-school salad staple. But it’s a really wonderful cleansing beauty food to add to your meals in the summer.”
From a nutritional perspective, the cucumber is 95% water, so it’s super hydrating and great for all facets of your health, including your skin. “I like to think of cucumbers as a great way to eat your water, but with all the added benefits of containing soluble fiber to nourish the digestive tract, which helps flush the system of toxins, preventing constipation and creating a less acidic environment in the gut microbiome too,” she says.
Rich in nutrients like vitamins K, B, and C and minerals like copper, phosphorous, potassium, and magnesium, you benefit from around 2g of fiber for every 300 g of cucumber you consume.
Don’t slice off the skin, because it’s one of the richest sources of silica, a mineral that activates enzymes involved in the production of collagen to keep skin supple and healthy. “And to top it off, cucumbers are also loaded with phytochemicals, such as lignans, flavonoids, and triterpenes, which help keep inflammation in the body at bay,” Shand adds.
How to eat cucumber
One of the easiest vegetables to add to your plate, cucumber works with most other foods. Of course, Logan’s page has a wealth of cucumber ideas (some work better than others), but Shand has also found a recent favorite in one of her newest hormone-balancing recipes. “My sesame soy salmon includes a fresh cucumber salad that totally elevates the dish,” she says. “The crunchy, fresh cucumber works so perfectly as a contrast alongside the salty Asian flavors from the omega 3-rich salmon, adding fiber, hydration, and powerful plant nutrients.”
The lesson? Dismiss the cucumber at your peril. “It’s such a versatile plant that your body will thank you for.”
