Cucumber Salad Recipe
This page may contain affiliate links. Learn More.
One of my kid’s favorite lunch sides is my world-famous cucumber salad recipe. I’m amazed that kids like cucumbers and vinegar but they beg for it by the bowl full. It’s another great cucumber recipe for you to try.
There are a lot of different cucumber salad recipes you can make. Some people like them vinegary, some people like them creamy. Some people use sugar, some people don’t. It’s all in how you like them. I love cucumbers so much and like them in any kind of way. So I make different varieties of cucumber salad.
Cucumbers are highly nutritious, they are hydrating and reduce inflammation, they are low in calories and promote weight loss, they are immune-boosting, and have antioxidants as well. Cucumbers lower your blood sugar, regulate bowel movements, and improve skin and even bone health. And best of all, cucumbers improve heart health.
The skins of the cucumber are full of nutrients, so if you have tender cucumbers that aren’t waxed, leave the skin on. It’s yummy anyway. If you have those big, store-bought, waxed cucumbers, go ahead and peel them because the skins are tough and any pesticides that were on the cucumber are trapped under the wax that’s really hard to remove.
Old fashioned cucumbers and onions in vinegar
The old-fashioned way of making cucumber salad is to slice up the cucumbers and thinly slice some onions. Toss them in white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, some sugar, and some salt and pepper. I love it this way. So good.
You can add whatever veggies you like to your cucumber salad. It’s a great way to use excess cucumbers from the garden.
Cucumber Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 large cucumbers
- 1 small onion
- 1/4 c balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp dill
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2 T olive oil
Instructions
- Slice the cucumbers thinly and place in a bowl
- Slice the onion thinly and add to the cucumbers
- Sprinkle dill, salt, and pepper on top
- Add oil and vinegar
- Stir well and let sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to 24 hours
Spicy cucumber salad
If you want to spice up your cucumber salad, no matter what style you make, creamy or vinegary, there are several ways you can add some heat. Using a pinch or two of red pepper flakes is a great way to make spicy cucumber salad.
You could also slice up some hot peppers like yummy jalapenos and mix them in. You could use hot pepper sauce like Tabasco or sriracha.
Old fashioned creamy cucumber salad
Many people like creamy cucumber salad. Personally, I like vinegar and am not a fan of creamy salads. But one way to make them that is popular is using plain greek yogurt. Just add a cup of greek yogurt to the same amount of vegetables in my recipe instead of the vinegar. Then squeeze a lemon or two into the mix.
You can make the same creamy cucumber yogurt salad with sour cream instead of greek yogurt. If you like creamy salads, you’re going to love it.
Cucumber salad with mayo
You can also make creamy salads with mayo or miracle whip instead of yogurt or sour cream. This would give the texture that is more similar to potato salad or tuna salad, except the cucumbers do give off water, so it would be much thinner. I would start with 1/2 cup of mayo and go up from there if it’s not creamy enough.
Keto cucumber salad
As long as you don’t add sugar to your cucumber salad, it would naturally be Keto if you make the vinegar version. Check out this keto cucumber salad with a mix of mayo and sour cream.
Japanese cucumber salad
Asian cuisine is bursting with flavor. So I came up with this Japanese version of the cucumber salad that is so amazing. Swap out the balsamic vinegar for rice wine vinegar, and add a few tablespoons of soy sauce. Instead of olive oil, use just 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of sesame oil.
You can also add a tablespoon or two of brown sugar if you want it sweet. Add sesame seeds on top. It’s so tangy and so good. There’s another layer of umami that the soy sauce adds. You’re going to love it.
Korean cucumber salad
To make it more of a Korean flair, you can do the rice wine vinegar and soy sauce, but swap out the onions for green onions and add some red pepper flakes for the kick!
You could crush a clove of garlic into it and definitely add sesame seeds on top as well. Korean cucumber salad would have a tablespoon or two of sugar as well.
As you make cucumber salad, you’re going to want to try several of these varieties. I make it different all the time and love it every single time. I hope you do too!
