5-Minute Zucchini Lemon & Mint Salad (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)

This raw zucchini salad with lemon, mint, and olive oil is a perfect paleo, Whole30, keto and vegan-friendly side dish. The best part is that it only takes about 5 minutes to make. Check out two variations with Parmesan & feta below!

Zucchini is one of those vegetables that is more often cooked with than eaten raw. Yet, pair some thinly sliced zucchini with fresh lemon juice, buttery olive oil, sea salt and green herbs like mint, basil or parsley and you have a beautiful, raw salad that tastes like spring or summer.

What I Love About This Zucchini Salad

• It’s super simple and showcases the vegetable! Perfect for using up when zucchini is in season.
• Quick and easy, only takes 5 minutes or so and very few ingredients. You can swap out the herbs and try adding cheese on top if you like. 
• It suits so many diets from Paleo and Whole30 to Keto and Vegan – great to prepare for any dinner party! 
• It goes with pretty much anything. Enjoy with freshly grilled fish, meat, or plant-based protein.

What You Need To Make Raw Zucchini Salad

You can use small or medium green zucchini (also known as summer squash). I usually calculate 1 medium zucchini per person as a side dish. If you’re doing it as a main dish – with say some protein on top – then you might want 2 zucchinis per serving, depending on their size. 

Good olive oil is really important here as it will provide a lot of flavour. I recommend investing in good cold-pressed olive oil to use in raw dishes like this one. You can go fruity or spicy. Fresh mint, salt and lemon and you’re ready to go.

Preparing The Zucchini

You have a few options here. You can use a vegetable spiralizer to cut the zucchini into noodles or spirals like in my pictures here. Using a regular carrot peeler will also give you thinly shaved zucchini strips. Alternatively, you can slice it into thin circles.

This raw zucchini salad is best made just before serving so that zucchini retains its crunch and freshness. You can pre-shave the zucchini ahead of time but don’t dress it too soon! 

TIP: For a warm dish, grill the zucchini slices first and then dress with lemon, mint and olive oil.

Zucchini Salad Variations

I think the salad is simple and lovely as is, but if you can tolerate dairy, it is fabulous with some shaved Parmesan or crumbled feta cheese or goat’s cheese on top.

More Zucchini Recipes To Try

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