Easy Cucumber bites are ideal when you need something quick and easy that’s also healthy, low in carbs, tasty, and elegant enough to bring to a gathering of friends. Whether you’re following a special diet, like a lower carbohydrate diet, or just have a personal goal to eat a little healthier, these fun cucumber appetizers fit the bill.

This post was originally published July 30th, 2015.

sliced cucumber and hummus appetizer on white plate

So, what exactly are Easy Cucumber Bites? They’re a low carb snack or appetizer made from slices of fresh, crisp cucumbers topped with your favorite hummus or other dip, fresh grape tomato and cilantro, and finished with a sprinkling of sesame seed.

You can enjoy these at home by yourself as an afternoon pick-me-up snack or have them ready for the kids when they get home from school. They make a delicious healthy appetizer when you’re entertaining, or you can make them ahead of time as a dish to bring when you need a low carb party food.

Why make these Easy Cucumber Bites?

Besides being one of the best cucumber appetizers out there, they fit perfectly into a healthy diet. They’re low in calories, carbohydrate, fat, saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium. Plus, you’re adding a vegetable to your diet in a fun and delicious way! Have a few of these cucumber bites and you’re one step closer to getting in your five-a-day of fruits and veggies and providing your body with the nutrients it needs to be healthy.

One of the things I like about them is that they’re so easy to make! And anytime we can simplify healthy eating and make it more convenient and fun, the more likely we’ll enjoy it. Plus, you only need five ingredients. So, here’s how to make these cucumber hummus bites in a few easy steps.

How do you make cucumber bites with hummus?

Gather your ingredients

Ingredients for cucumber and hummus appetizer against a white background

One cucumber – I usually find one about 9 inches long, but you can use whatever kind of cucumber you like. English cucumbers tend to have less seeds and are usually longer, so you’ll get more cucumber bites out of one of those. If you like the baby or mini cucumbers, you’ll need to use more of them for the same amount of toppings.
Hummus – I like to use Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. While you can always make your own, I’ve found it super easy to use store-bought for this recipe. Use whatever flavor you enjoy the most. This Roasted Red Pepper Hummus from Cedars is one of my favorites.
Grape tomatoes – You’ll need about 12 grape or cherry, tomatoes. Slice them however you like, in half length-wise or width-wise. If they’re a larger grape tomato, you may even be able to get 3 slices out of it for topping your cucumber bites.
Cilantro – We’re talking fresh cilantro here. It adds a bit of flavor and color to the cucumber bites. And if you don’t care for cilantro, not everyone does, you can easily use a different fresh herb. Parsley would be a fantastic substitute, or even basil. The choice is yours!
Sesame seed – While you can use sesame seed right out of the bag, I prefer to toast it on the stove top to enhance it’s flavor a little more. You don’t need much, only a sprinkling on each cucumber bite.

Prep your ingredients

This doesn’t take long. Wash and clean everything. Slice your cucumber into 24 similarly sized pieces and your grape tomatoes into 24 halves (or thirds if using a larger grape tomato). Cilantro can be chopped or leaves kept whole, whichever you prefer. And if you want to use toasted sesame seeds, simply heat them in a pan on the stovetop for a few short minutes until just barely golden and turning fragrant. Keep a close eye on them as they can easily burn.

cucumbers being sliced on a cutting board

Assemble the cucumber bites

Lay the cucumber slices out onto a serving tray and top with the hummus, cilantro, sliced grape tomato, and sesame seed. Then serve and enjoy!

FAQ’s and tips for making cucumber bites appetizers

Can I leave the skin on the cucumber, or do I have to peel them?

Honestly, this is a matter of preference. When I have fresh out of the garden cucumbers with a thin peel, I often leave the peeling on. Out of season cucumbers tend to have thicker skins, so I’ll often peel them because I don’t like a thick skin. But it’s entirely up to you. Sometimes it’s fun to peel in strips, so that you have a cucumber that has both peeled sections and sections with skin going all around the cucumber.

Can I use something other than hummus to put on top of the cucumber slices?

While hummus is my favorite to use, not everyone likes hummus. So, yes, feel free to use any dip that you enjoy. Those that are a little thicker will work best as they will be less likely to run over the sides and therefore not as messy.

Try different colors of tomatoes.

There are many different varieties of grape and cherry tomatoes available today that can make this cucumber appetizer even more fun. Try topping with a variety of colors or all one color. Grape tomatoes can be found in red, orange, yellow, and dark purple colors. Have fun with it!

Use a zippered bag with the tip cut off for the hummus.

This makes it easy to top the cucumber slices with the hummus. Simply fill a small zippered sandwich bag with the hummus and snip a small section off one of the corners. After that, simply pipe the hummus onto each slice of cucumber.

Easy Cucumber Bites are an ideal appetizer or snack in the summer months when fresh vegetables are in abundance in your garden, CSA, or local farmer’s market. But they work just as well other times of the year as the ingredients are readily available year round in most supermarkets. I hope you try these deliciously healthy cucumber hummus bites! They’re a quick and easy low carb snack or appetizer that’s both tasty and healthy. Enjoy!