These Whole30 Cucumber Bites are healthy appetizers that are dairy free, gluten free, and paleo. It’s an easy recipe to take your entertaining to the next level, whether that be for a baby shower or the Super Bowl. Use these to get your veggies in!
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If you’ve ever done a January Whole30, you know that the Super Bowl comes just in time for your reintroduction. Which means you still need some Whole30 party food for the big game.
After doing several rounds of Whole30 myself, I know how annoying that can be. But I totally have you covered with these cucumber appetizers. They’re simple, delicious, and will make sure you’re not left out of the feeding frenzy.
If you need other Whole30 appetizer ideas, be sure and check out these sweet potato sliders and some Instant Pot deviled eggs. Both work great for a hungry, sports-watching crowd!
What’s so great about cucumber bites?
I’ll be honest, I’m not always a huge fan of cucumber. Most of the time I could take it or leave it. But with these, I’m taking it every time. Here’s why.
- They’ve got great mouth appeal. And by that, I mean they’re juicy, salty, crunchy, and slightly sweet all at the same time. Both the flavor and the texture are working together here.
- They look fancy, but they’re really just 4 ingredients. It’s literally just tomatoes, prosciutto, cucumber, and aged balsamic vinegar. Very straightforward.
- It’s easy to transport. And by that I mean either from one house to another or from the fridge to the table. It’s served cold (or at room temp) so there’s no need to worry about keeping it warm – or having to ask to use someone’s oven to reheat it upon arrival.
- Worried about double dipping? Not with this appetizer. This cucumber finger food is already in single serving sizes, so people can just grab a hold of a toothpick and go.
Now before we get to the recipe, we’re going to cover how to make cucumber ribbons, which are how you see the cucumbers in the picture below.
How to Make Cucumber Ribbons
You’ll want to start out by pulling the items you’ll need. Get the meat and veggies out, then the platter and toothpicks. Set everything within reach if you can. First up is making the cucumber ribbons.
Cut the cucumber ribbons by placing a cucumber on a cutting board and using a vegetable peeler to slice thin pieces off the cucumber, length-wise. Pick one end of the cucumber to start with then go all the way to the other end.
Keep making thin slices of cucumber until you start to see the seeds. You don’t want ribbons with seeds because they tend to get mushy.
Once you’re at that point, flip the cucumber over (so the flat part is facing down on the cutting board) and repeat the process on the other side. Do the same to the other two sides as well.
As you complete each ribbon, set it on a paper-lined plate to soak up any excess moisture out of the cucumber. Make sure to place them in a single layer and add multiple layers of paper towels depending on how many ribbons you have.
Next up you’ll make the rest of the cucumber appetizer.
How to Make Cucumber Bites
While the cucumber is on the paper towels, cut the cherry tomatoes in half and set them aside.
Now you’ll want to start assembling the bites, beginning with the prosciutto. Take one large piece of prosciutto and pull it apart into two long pieces. Take one of those pieces and start to roll it together (in a flat piece) into roughly a one-inch-sized piece.
Once all the way rolled up, set it aside.
Take one cucumber slice and fold it back and forth onto itself into roughly that same one-inch-sized piece. Despite what the picture below shows, you will likely need to do this with two hands so the cucumber folds don’t slip out. They’re slippery suckers!
Assemble the bites by taking the prosiutto, laying the cucumber ribbon on top of it, then place half a tomato on top of the cucumber. Take a toothpick and carefully pierce all three ingredients starting with the tomato. Be sure to put the toothpick all the way through the prosciutto – this will prevent the prosciutto from slipping off the toothpick.
Place the bite on the platter and keep repeating the assembly process until all of the bites are put together.
Once all the the bites are assembled on the platter, drizzle balsamic vinegar on top of them, making sure to get a little on each bite (about a quarter of a cup total, or more if needed).
A couple of quick recipe tips
- You can absolutely use a mandolin for this recipe, as long as you can get the slices thin enough. If you have one, go for it, but if you don’t a vegetable peeler works just fine.
- When picking out cherry tomatoes, your best bet is to get ones that aren’t overly ripe. You want the tomatoes to have a little firmness to them so they stick well on the toothpick.
- Speaking of tomatoes, when assembling each cucumber bite place the halved tomato with the cut side facing up. This makes it much easier to push the toothpick through as opposed to trying to pierce the skin.
- Use AGED balsamic vinegar for this recipe. You want a nice thick one that has a similar consistency to maple syrup (though won’t be as sweet). If you get a regular balsamic, it will be too thin and slightly bitter, which will not taste nearly as good on the cucumber bites. If all you can find is regular balsamic, try making a balsamic glaze reduction.
Curious about cucumbers?
Is it a vegetable or a fruit? And what else goes with cucumbers? Check out the answers below.
Is cucumber a fruit?
Yes, cucumber is technically a fruit because it has seeds inside.
Where does cucumber grow?
Cucumber grows on plants. Similar to green beans, the plants come in two types – one that grows on vines, and the other type that grows on a bush.
Are cucumbers good for you?
Yes, cucumbers are healthy! They are low in calories but have several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, and potassium. If you’re interested in learning more, here is an article about the health benefits of cucumbers
What is good on top of cucumbers?
There are lots of different ways to top cucumbers! Here are some foods to consider:
- Dips are great on top of cucumber slices. Try some hummus, tzatziki, or this roasted garlic cashew dip (which is paleo and Whole30 compatible).
- You could slice some cheese and put it on top, or put a dab of this smoked salmon cheese ball. (Neither are paleo or Whole30, but the cheese ball could be made paleo with some Kite Hill cream cheese).
- Other charcuterie fare would be good too! Cured meats like salami, maybe some olives, or roasted veggies like bell peppers or eggplant would all be delicious.
Need more paleo appetizers for a crowd? Try one of these!
- Citrusy Simple Guacamole
- Whole30 Easy Fish Tacos
- Gluten Free Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs
- Kohlrabi, Kale, and Carrot Coleslaw
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Whole30 Cucumber Bites
Ingredients
- 12 cherry or grape tomatoes
- 12 slices prosciutto about 5 ounces
- 1 large cucumber
- Aged Balsamic vinegar to taste
Instructions
Items Needed:
- A large platter
- Toothpicks
- A cutting board
- A vegetable peeler
- A plate
- Paper towels
- A sharp knife
Directions:
- Take out a platter for the bites, and toothpicks. Set both aside but in easy reach.
- Cut the cucumber ribbons by placing a cucumber on a cutting board and using a vegetable peeler to slice thin pieces off the cucumber, length-wise. Start at one end and go all the way to the other end of the cucumber. Keep making thin slices of cucumber until you start to see the seeds. Then flip the cucumber over (so the flat part is facing down on the cutting board) and do the same on the other side. Do the same to the other two sides.
- As you’re slicing the ribbons, place them on a paper-towel lined plate in a single layer to absorb any excess moisture out of the cucumber. When you run out of space, add more layers of paper towels.
- While the cucumber is on the paper towels, slice cherry tomatoes on a cutting board with a sharp knife. Once done, set aside.
- Start assembling the bites, beginning with the prosciutto. Take one large piece of prosciutto and pull it apart into two long piece. Take one of those pieces and start to roll it together (in a flat piece) into roughly a one inch sized piece. Once all the way rolled up, set it aside.
- Take one slice of cucumber and fold it back and forth onto itself into roughly that same one inch sized piece. You will likely need to do this with two hands so the cucumber folds don’t slip out.
- Assemble the bites by taking the prosiutto, laying the cucumber ribbon on top of it, then place half a tomato on top of the cucumber. Take a toothpick and carefully pierce all three ingredients starting with the tomato. Be sure to put the toothpick all the way through the prosciutto – this will prevent the prosciutto from slipping off the toothpick.
- Place the bite on the platter and repeat the assembly process until all of the bites are put together.
- Once all the the bites are assembled on the platter, drizzle balsamic vinegar on top of them, making sure to get a little on each bite (about a quarter of a cup total, or more if needed). Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can absolutely use a mandolin for this recipe, as long as you can get the slices thin enough. If you have one, go for it, but if you don’t a vegetable peeler works just fine.
- When picking out cherry tomatoes, your best bet is to get ones that aren’t overly ripe. You want the tomatoes to have a little firmness to them so they stick well on the toothpick.
- Speaking of tomatoes, when assembling each cucumber bite place the halved tomato with the cut side facing up. This makes it much easier to push the toothpick through as opposed to trying to pierce the skin.
- Use AGED balsamic vinegar for this recipe. You want a nice thick one that has a similar consistency to maple syrup (though won’t be as sweet). If you get a regular balsamic, it will be too thin and slightly bitter, which will not taste nearly as good on the cucumber bites. If all you can find is regular balsamic, try making a balsamic glaze reduction.
Danielle Rynd Yedinak
Taryn – I was looking through Pinterest for some Whole30 recipes for entertaining and saw this. I was loving the recipe and then loved even more that my sorority sister is the chef! So proud of you! Beautifully done! I’ll be making it tonight!
Taryn Solie
Aw, yay! I’m so glad you love the recipe and have found the site! Happy to have you making my recipes 🙂
Quinn
Can these be refrigerated?
Taryn Solie
Hi Quinn! These can be refrigerated, however the food may dry out a bit. If you’re thinking of doing them ahead of time and keeping them in the fridge (with plastic wrap draped on top) for a couple hours before serving them that should be fine, but I wouldn’t recommend making them the night before or anything. I hope that’s helpful!