Cucumber Salad
Cucumber Salad is fresh, easy, and delicious! Each bite of this summer side dish is bursting with the flavor of cucumbers, onions, and a yummy vinegar dressing.
This refreshing dish is perfect during the summer because it’s simple and goes with almost every meal. Cucumbers are plentiful at the Farmer’s Market, so you’ll easily find fresh ones for the cucumber slices.
The beauty of a cucumber salad is how quickly it can be whipped up. Having company over? No problem. You can easily make this delicious summer side dish in minutes. This is a great way to feed a crowd of people without breaking a sweat.
I’ve seen many varieties of cucumber salad online. Some are creamy, some recipes have a tangy vinegar dressing and are packed with other fresh veggies like tomatoes. Mine is the best cucumber salad recipe because it is simple and flavorful. It has three veggies: cucumbers, green onions, and regular onions. This simple salad is more on the vinegary side. The sliced cucumbers and tangy dressing go perfectly together.
Why You’ll Love Cucumber Salad
- Fresh, flavorful ingredients. To get the best flavor, you should always use the freshest ingredients.
- This is the perfect side dish. It’s the perfect salad to serve at BBQs, cookouts, or as a healthy snack.
- Ready in 10 minutes. This is an easy recipe because you mix everything and let it sit in the refrigerator to chill.
- Amazing homemade dressing. This classic recipe has a zesty dressing that you can also use in other salads.
- Fantastic way to use garden vegetables. Use crunchy cucumber and yellow onions that you grow in your backyard.
Ingredients
The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.
Both the salad and the dressing are made with simple ingredients. Here’s what I used to make the easy cucumber onion salad.
For the salad
- English Cucumbers – They are long and slender, have fewer seeds, and have a slightly sweet taste.
- Green Onion – The sliced green onions add color and fresh sweetness to the salad.
- Sweet Onion – Thinly sliced onions add a fresh bite that enhances the flavors in the cucumbers.
For the dressing
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – The olive oil makes the dressing slick and sticks to the cucumbers and onion.
- Sugar – White granulated sugar sweetens the dressing and minimizes the sour flavors.
- Catalina Dressing – Adding this dressing saves you so much time.
- White Vinegar – A light-colored vinegar, like white wine vinegar, adds tanginess without changing the color of the dressing.
- Salt and Pepper – The two spices enhance the other flavors.
How to Make Cucumber Salad
This salad is incredibly easy and quick to make. In just three steps, you will have a delicious side meal with a few dishes to do afterward.
- Step One: Add cucumbers, green onion, and onion in a large bowl. Stir.
- Step Two: In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, sugar, Catalina dressing, white vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour over veggies and stir to combine.
- Step Three: Refrigerate before serving.
Equipment Needed
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What to Serve with Cucumber Salad
I love a juicy summer steak with a side of salad. You could also serve it with grilled chicken, pork chops, or hamburgers.
Try these yummy recipes as the main course:
- Maple Dijon Grilled Chicken
- Grilled Flank Steak
- Grilled Sesame Shrimp Veggies
- Grilled Butter Chicken Pasta Salad
- Grilled Fresh Sweet Corn
Variations and Substitutions
- Top with fresh herbs. Add some fresh dill or fresh basil.
- Make a creamy salad dressing. Use sour cream or plain Greek yogurt instead of Catalina dressing.
- Instead of white vinegar, use rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
- Make cucumber tomato salad. Add some cherry tomatoes with the fresh cucumbers.
Storage Instructions
Any leftovers of this simple cucumber salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Cucumber Salad Tips and Tricks
- Use a sharp knife when you slice the cucumber. It will make it easier and prevent slips.
- Mix the dressing well. Make sure the sugar dissolves completely.
- Store the thin slices of cucumbers in lemon juice to keep them fresh.
- Taste the dressing before adding it to the cucumbers. That way, you can make any changes before the dressing is on the salad.
Can I Use Fresh Dill?
Yes, you can use fresh dill in this salad. If you do, I suggest eating it as soon as possible so that the flavors are still zesty and bold.
To Peel or Not to Peel the Cucumbers
Whether you peel the cucumbers is a personal preference. I didn’t peel my cucumbers because I wanted to save myself an extra step, and I like the extra pop of color the skin adds. If you aren’t a fan of the peel, by all means, peel away! This recipe is so versatile.
If your cucumbers have thinner skin, you don’t need to peel them. Plus, the peels have extra dietary fiber, which is beneficial for gut health. But if you don’t like how the peels taste, peel them before adding them to the creamy cucumber salad.
How to Cut the Cucumbers for Cucumber Salad
I prefer to slice mine on the thin side, but not paper thin. I want there to be some bite to it. You could change it up and cut the cucumber into cubes. I honestly don’t think it matters much – it’s personal preference.
What Type of Cucumber to Use in Cucumber Salad?
My suggestion is to use any cucumbers that you have. I used English cucumbers in this recipe because I wrote this post early into the season, and garden cucumbers were unavailable. English cucumbers are available year-round in my area.
Persian cucumbers have a thin skin and fewer seeds. You could also use regular cucumbers from the garden.
What Else Can You Add to the Salad?
Top the crisp cucumbers with sesame seeds, feta cheese, or fresh basil.
Is this Recipe Dairy-free?
Yes, this recipe is dairy-free and gluten-free. Catalina dressing is a vinegar-based dressing without any creamy ingredients.
Summer Salads
- Hot Chicken Salad
- Watermelon and Feta Salad
- Dutch Potato Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Mustard Chicken Salad
- Best Broccoli Salad
- Corn Salad
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Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 English cucumbers sliced
- 1 green onion sliced
- 1 sweet onion sliced
Dressing
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup Catalina dressing
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add cucumbers, green onion and onion. Stir.
- In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, sugar, Catalina dressing, white vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour over veggies and stir to combine.
- Refrigerate before serving.
Video
Equipment
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Brings back memories, my mom use to make this. I’m going to have make it now. Love the idea of the Catalina dressing. I have a NEW BLOG PARTY and would love for you to join us. You have so many wonderful recipes. The Classy Flamingos at poinsettiadr.com
I love cucumbers raw , pickled, in salads or however prepared. This is one salad I had not tried but will be trying soon thanks for sharing
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This looks delicious. I’m pinning this so I remember to make this as a side for summer. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday. Hope to see you at the party next week
I love Cucumber Salad, a perfect dish for summer meals! Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Cucumbers are so refreshing, it always makes me feel like I’m eating water. Can’t wait to try this salad Stacie, I bet it will go down a treat at our next braai
I do love cucumbers and this salad is so simple. I try to keep cucumbers on hand all summer. That is one of the few items that I grow, but even before my cucumbers come on I have them on hand. Thank you for sharing at Dare to Share link party.
I love cucumbers and always gladly accept garden handout when people have more cucs app hank they know what to do with. Pinning for cucumber season!
Added some feta to this and it tasted delicious. 😀
I am huge fan of cucumber,anyway it comes I am game. and this salad is everything ,it looks and sounds beautiful plus easy to make. I am always looking out for healthy ways to eat and healthy diets to embark on, to keep my weight in check , I am definitely adding this meal to my list .so yummy!!