Single Serve Cucumber Caprese Salad Recipe (Low Carb, THM S)

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When it’s hot out, there’s nothing better than a cool recipe. Bonus points when you can make it ahead of time and just pull it out of the fridge! This cucumber caprese salad recipe is a fresh twist on a classic recipe that will delight your taste buds this summer.

If you’re following the Trim Healthy Mama diet like I am, this makes an refreshing afternoon snack on a hot day. I also like using it as a side dish for an S lunch of leftovers (usually Meatloaf Monday stuff from my easy, reusable one week menu).

This recipe comes together quickly and easily, which is the name of my THM game.

With two little ones keeping me busy every day, this is my go-to nap time recipe. After the girls go down for nap, I pick some basil from the pot on my porch, throw the ingredients together in a bowl, stir, and then sit on the porch swing to enjoy. It’s a great way to appreciate a summer afternoon.

New to Trim Healthy Mama? No idea what THM is? You can check it out here, and read more on how THM helped me to easily lose 20 pounds in 4 months while nursing my baby!

Do THM Your Way

You may have noticed that this caprese salad recipe has cucumbers instead of tomatoes.

I’d love to tell you that it’s because, as integrative medicine physician assistant, I prefer to get the added health benefits of cooked tomatoes (they’re higher in lycopene that way).

Nope.

It’s simply because I don’t love raw tomatoes. But, I love all the other parts of a caprese salad recipe. So I swapped tomatoes for cucumbers!

Which brings up a good point about THM– do it your way!

After 5 years on plan, I have found this to be one of the best ways for me to stay on plan.

If you know that you don’t love an ingredient that is the star of a recipe, switch it for something that you like! You can modify recipes, and you just might create a new culinary masterpiece in the process.

Side note– The longer you’re on THM, the more likely that your taste buds will change. I know that I just said to swap out ingredients that aren’t your favorite, but every now and then, try something again that you didn’t like before to see if your taste buds have changed.

This is especially true for recipes with different sweeteners.

Caprese Salad Recipe That’s Great for Your Health!

This Caprese Salad Recipe is packed with nutrients that are great for your health!

Basil

Basil is a super food super star!! It’s also known as St. John’s Wort, which can be a potent remedy for depression (I personally took it for PPD with amazing results!).

Basil can reduce inflammation, is reported to have anti-aging properties, and can even work like a natural antibiotic.

Basil is also a natural adaptogen that can support the adrenals and help you to manage stress. You can read more about Adrenal Fatigue HERE and 5 easy ways to improve symptoms HERE.

Olive Oil

Did you know that olive oil can be as powerful as Advil (same thing as Motrin and Ibuprofen)?

Extra virgin olive oil contains oleocanthal, which like Advil, can suppress prostaglandin activity, which causes inflammation and pain.

There’s a neat recent study that compared EVOO use to Advil for menstrual pain relief, and the EVOO group reported greater relief than the medicated group! They were taking 25mL (5 teaspoons) a day for 2 weeks before their period started.

While this recipe does not contain that much EVOO, you may still notice some of the anti-inflammatory or pain relief benefits in this caprese salad recipe.

Olive oil is also full of anti-oxidants, can help to reduce the risk of heart disease, may aid in weight loss, and has antibacterial properties.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are so good for you! This amazing non-starchy veggie is the prefect summer food– it’s packed with electrolytes for hydration and can even soothe sunburns (when applied to your skin)!

Cucumbers may reduce your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes because it seems to reduce the risk of spiking your blood sugar levels. It may also play a role in processing blood sugar.

Cucumbers can improve bone health, may reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer, and may reduce the risk of heart disease.

This recipe does not have any special ingredients. But if you’re looking to save on special ingredients, I often use Amazon gift cards earned free from Swagbucks to purchase a few of the specialty items.

Recipe Note

This recipe does not make you follow a bunch of steps and create a balsamic reduction to drizzle over your julienne-cut vegetables.

You are my hero if you have the time and energy to do that! And please invite me over. 🙂

This is a rip, measure (honestly, I just eyeball it most of the time), stir, and enjoy sort of recipe.

It’s not the most chef-like way to do things, but it sure is easy and delicious!

Also, reducing balsamic vinegar also tends to increase the carb count above what’s allowed in a THM S setting. But, really, it’s about having an easy summer recipe.

More Easy THM Resources

For even more fun stuff, check out all my THM resources to keep you happily and easily on plan. There’s a giant list of speedy S meals, easy E meals, my secret weapon for staying on plan, and a reusable one week menu tailored to you!

1. Struggle to Stay On Plan?-  Check out this easy way that I stay on plan with Trim Healthy Mama every day! I struggled to stay on plan for almost 3 years, and this easy thing changed everything! 
2. Save on Healthy Meat– ButcherBox is my new favorite way to buy antibiotic free, grass fed beef, pork, and chicken! It’s cheaper than I can get it in the local stores, and it comes right to my door! Use the code AP10 to get $10 off your first box and FREE nitrate-free bacon!! 
3. Get Healthy Foods for Less- Thrive Market is like the online Costco for healthy groceries, and they even have healthy meat and seafood! We love saving money with wholesale prices on healthy groceries and products that get sent right to our home! Get an extra 25% OFF your first order when you sign up at Thrive Market HERE!

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