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Home » Salads » Cucumber Salad

Published: May 13, 2020 Last Modified: May 13, 2020 By Sara 22 Comments

Cucumber Salad

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Cucumber Salad Recipe | Cucumber Dill Salad | Cucumber Recipe #cucumbers #salad #glutenfree #sidedish #dinneratthezoo

This classic cucumber salad is a blend of thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion and fresh dill, all tossed together in a sweet and tangy dressing. An easy and refreshing salad that takes just minutes to put together.

I love a refreshing salad, especially on a hot day. Some of my favorites include cherry tomato salad, watermelon salad and this traditional cucumber salad.

Cucumber Salad Recipe | Cucumber Dill Salad | Cucumber Recipe #cucumbers #salad #glutenfree #sidedish #dinneratthezoo Cucumber Salad Recipe | Cucumber Dill Salad | Cucumber Recipe #cucumbers #salad #glutenfree #sidedish #dinneratthezoo

Cucumber salad in a serving bowl with sliced English cucumbers, red onion and fresh dill.

You can never go wrong with a cucumber salad, and this version happens to be my all time favorite. Cucumbers are such a versatile ingredient – they’re healthy, refreshing and work in so many different applications.

How do you make cucumber salad?

This recipe starts with thinly sliced cucumbers, which are sprinkled with sugar and salt. The salt helps to draw any excess moisture out of the cucumbers which will prevent your salad from getting watery. The cucumbers are mixed with red onion and fresh dill, then tossed in a red wine vinaigrette.

Thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion and dill in a bowl.

Tips for cucumber salad

  • I like to use English cucumbers for this salad, which are the long cucumbers wrapped in plastic. The skins and seeds of these cucumbers are soft so no peeling required! You can also use small Persian cucumbers or the classic waxy cucumbers. If you use waxy cucumbers, you may want to peel and/or remove the seeds from the cucumbers.
  • I use a mandoline to get super thin slices of cucumber and red onion.
  • Fresh dill is an important component of this recipe, the flavor is so much better than dried dill.

Dressing being poured over sliced cucumbers, red onion and fresh dill.

Can you make cucumber salad ahead of time?

You can make this salad up to one day before you plan to serve it. Just be aware that the cucumbers will release some liquid as they sit, so your dressing will be a little more watery the next day.

How do you keep cucumber salad from getting watery?

I recommend salting your cucumbers as this recipe calls for, which helps to draw the moisture out of the cucumbers up front so that your dressing won’t get diluted later. It’s best to serve your salad within a few hours to avoid excess moisture from the cucumbers sitting too long in the dressing.

A bowl of cucumber salad made with red onion, thinly sliced cucumbers and chopped dill.

Are cucumbers healthy?

Cucumbers are full of nutrients and are low calorie, low sodium and low in carbohydrates. This veggie contains Vitamin C, Vitamin K, magnesium, potassium and manganese. Cucumbers are primarily made out of water, which means that consuming cucumbers will help you stay hydrated.

A spoon serving up a portion of classic cucumber salad.

Flavor Variations

While I love this salad as-is, sometimes I add other ingredients to jazz things up a bit.

  • Tomatoes: Add 3/4 cup halved cherry tomatoes or diced Roma tomatoes.
  • Olives: Add 1/2 cup sliced Kalamata olives.
  • Feta: Add 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese.
  • Peppers: Add 3/4 cup diced red or green bell peppers.
  • Herb Lover’s: Add 2 tablespoons each of minced parsley and chives.

I make this salad almost every week, it’s so simple yet pairs well with a variety of foods. This salad is perfect for a potluck or as a side for grilled meats and fish. Even my kids love this refreshing side dish!

More cucumber recipes

  • Thai Cucumbers
  • Creamy Cucumber Salad
  • Asian Salad
  • Cucumber Feta Salad
  • Tomato Cucumber Salad

Cucumber Salad Video

Cucumber salad in a serving bowl with sliced English cucumbers, red onion and fresh dill.
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4.8 from 20 votes

Cucumber Salad

This classic cucumber salad is a blend of thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion and fresh dill, all tossed together in a sweet and tangy dressing. An easy and refreshing salad that takes just minutes to put together.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 11 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 93kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1 pound English cucumbers very thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/3 cup red onion very thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup fresh dill chopped
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  • Toss the cucumber slices with the salt and sugar in a medium sized bowl. Let the cucumbers sit for 5-7 minutes.
  • Add the red onion and dill to the bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, pepper and olive oil.
  • Pour the dressing over the cucumber mixture and toss to coat evenly.
  • Let the salad sit for 10 minutes, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 678mg | Potassium: 215mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 7.5mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 0.6mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!

This post was originally published on April 14, 2019 and was updated with new content on May 13, 2020.

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Filed Under: Gluten Free, Salads

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    Comments

    1. Toni says

      May 22, 2020 at 8:42 am

      5 stars
      Yes! I seriously love how easy this is!! So refreshing, too!

      Reply
    2. Catalina says

      May 21, 2020 at 11:10 pm

      5 stars
      I can’t resist to this this cucumber salad. It’s perfect as a side dish for tonight!

      Reply
    3. Erin says

      May 21, 2020 at 4:55 pm

      5 stars
      This cucumber salad looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!

      Reply
    4. Amanda says

      May 21, 2020 at 3:44 pm

      I can not get enough of this cucumber salad!

      Reply
    5. Beth Pierce says

      May 21, 2020 at 2:31 pm

      5 stars
      One of mine and hubby’s favorite! We love this salad. It has great color and is so easy!

      Reply
    6. Jen says

      May 21, 2020 at 1:21 pm

      5 stars
      Using a mandolin definitely makes this dish a snap to make! I love how light this is and will quickly become a summertime favorite of ours.

      Reply
    7. Christine says

      May 16, 2020 at 6:00 pm

      5 stars
      So refreshing! The perfect summer salad. Pairs well with seared tuna for a light dinner

      Reply
    8. Deb says

      January 29, 2020 at 5:07 pm

      I made this with your suggestion of cherry tomatoes and we really enjoyed it!

      Reply
    9. Patti says

      September 12, 2019 at 5:49 pm

      This has become one of my favorite salads.
      So full of flavor and quick to prepare.

      Reply
    10. Kim says

      April 22, 2019 at 9:47 am

      5 stars
      I have a couple of variations! I’m excited to try yours!

      Reply
    11. Ashley F says

      April 22, 2019 at 9:14 am

      5 stars
      This is so fresh and light for summer! The family loves it!

      Reply
    12. Kellie Hemmerly says

      April 22, 2019 at 9:12 am

      5 stars
      A must have at every party, this salad is absolutely perfect!

      Reply
    13. lauren kelly says

      April 22, 2019 at 8:48 am

      5 stars
      I love this salad so much! I used stevia to make it sugar free!

      Reply
    14. Courtney O'Dell says

      April 22, 2019 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      This cucumber salad was light, refreshing, and so delicious!

      Reply
    15. Jacquelyn Hastert says

      April 17, 2019 at 2:59 pm

      5 stars
      This has always been a favorite summer salad of mine. I love this time of year for fresh cucumbers and onions.

      Reply
    16. Melanie Bauer says

      April 17, 2019 at 3:19 am

      5 stars
      Looks absolutely awesome! Love those combinations of flavors, gotta give this a try!

      Reply
    17. Anna says

      April 16, 2019 at 2:19 pm

      5 stars
      This salad is perfect for Spring! We love it!

      Reply
    18. Taylor says

      April 16, 2019 at 7:01 am

      5 stars
      This is one of my favorite Summer salads! So light and refreshing!

      Reply
    19. Jen says

      April 15, 2019 at 9:39 am

      5 stars
      I think this might just become my new summer go-to side dish. So delicious and so easy to make. Winner!

      Reply
    20. Demeter says

      April 15, 2019 at 9:38 am

      5 stars
      I love that bit of red onion in there. Such a lovely salad!

      Reply
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