This post may contain affiliate links for which I earn a commission. Read my disclosure page here.
Light and refreshing cucumber salad recipe – perfect for a warm summer day. It’s a great side for just about anything you put on the grill – chicken, steak, and fish.
This easy cucumber salad is light and refreshing for a warm summer day. It’s a perfect side for just about anything you put on the grill. I like to serve it alongside chicken, fish, or steak.
It’s a popular salad in Germany where I used to enjoy it while I lived there during my college days. They call it Gurkensalat – some variations are with a vinegar base and some are with a creamy base. Both are delicious but this is my favorite.
It’s very easy to make and it takes only about 10-15 minutes to put together. For more easy salad recipes, be sure to check out my favorite Caesar salad and Tomato salad recipes.
Why you will love this easy cucumber salad recipe
- Easy side dish: This quick & easy recipe is the perfect side salad for any meat, fish, or poultry dish.
- Healthy: This nutritious salad is not only wholesome but also full of flavor.
- Crowd-pleaser: Everyone will love this simple cucumber salad.
Ingredients
- English cucumbers. I prefer to use long English cucumbers for this salad, but you could also use any type of cucumber.
- White wine vinegar: You can substitute it with champagne or sherry vinegar, or even with apple cider vinegar.
- Sweeter (honey, maple syrup, or sugar). You only need just a little bit of sweetener to balance out the acidity of the vinegar. You can use any type of sweetener, or you can skip it if you want.
How To Make Cucumber Salad
- Mix cucumber and onions in a large bowl.
- Mix white wine vinegar, water, salt, pepper, and sweetener in a small jar. Pour over the cucumbers and onions, and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle some fresh chopped dill and toss the salad.
Cucumber Salad Dressing
If you are wondering what dressing goes with this salad, look no further. This simple dressing is light and delicious. It’s made with white wine vinegar, water, a tablespoon of sweetener, fresh chopped dill, salt, and black pepper.
Quick and Easy Salad
Even though this salad with cucumbers is very quick and easy, it doesn’t lack flavor. The simple dressing brings all the delicious and refreshing flavor of the marinated cucumbers. The cucumbers are crunchy and cool. Even though it tastes great with just vinegar and salt, adding onions & dill elevates this simple salad to something more interesting.
This German cucumber salad is also healthy because it doesn’t use any mayo or sour cream. And if you are looking for a keto salad, you could substitute the tablespoon of sugar with another sweetener or omit it. I used English cucumbers, but you could use regular pickling cucumbers. If I use the pickling cucumbers, I would use 4 to substitute the 2 long English cucumbers.
What to serve it with
This quick salad is great as a side dish served with almost anything. Try it with some of these easy dinner ideas.
- Honey Chipotle Chicken
- Maple Mustard Salmond
- Grilled Shrimp Skewers
- Baked Chicken Breast
- Honey Sriracha Salmon
- Chicken Francese
Storing & Making Ahead
Also, you can serve the cucumber onion salad right away or store it in the fridge before serving. In general, the salad can be refrigerated for about 2-3 days.
You can make the salad 3 – 4 hours in advance. Slice the cucumbers and the red onion and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Mix the dressing and store it in a separate jar in the fridge. Toss the salad with the dressing just before serving.
If you are planning to refrigerate it overnight, season the sliced cucumbers with salt and place them in a colander sitting in a bowl in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Allow the salt to draw out the excess moisture. Once the cucumbers have drained, discard the liquid and continue with the recipe.
TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN
Tips and Recipe Notes
- Use English cucumbers for this salad – they have thin skin and peeling is not required. You can also use Persian cucumbers which are smaller in diameter.
- Use fresh dill for the most delicious flavor.
- You can use a mandoline to slice the cucumber and red onion into even and thin slices. Of course, if you prefer you can use a knife.
- This recipe is best served immediately since the cucumber becomes watery over time. But you can prepare it 3-4 hours ahead of time and refrigerate it.
- If you are planning to refrigerate it overnight, season the sliced cucumbers with salt and place them in a colander sitting in a bowl in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Allow the salt to draw out the excess moisture. Once the cucumbers have drained, discard the liquid and continue with the recipe.
More Easy Salads
This cucumber dill salad is one of my favorite go-to salads, it’s tasty, simple, and uses only 5 main ingredients. Some other easy salads are:
Cucumber Salad
INGREDIENTS
- 2 long English cucumbers, sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 Tablespoon sugar , (or coconut sugar or sweetener of choice)
- 1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix cucumber and onions in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- Mix white wine vinegar, water, sugar in a small bowl. Pour over the cucumbers and onions, and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle some fresh chopped dill and toss salad.
TIPS & NOTES
- Use English cucumbers for this salad – they have thin skin and peeling is not required. You can also use Persian cucumbers which are smaller in diameter.
- Use fresh dill for the most delicious flavor.
- You can use a mandoline to slice the cucumber and red onion into even and thin slices. Of course, if you prefer you can use a knife.
- This recipe is best served immediately since the cucumber becomes watery over time. But you can prepare it 3-4 hours ahead of time and refrigerate it.
- If you are planning to refrigerate it overnight, season the sliced cucumbers with salt and place them in a colander sitting in a bowl in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Allow the salt to draw out the excess moisture. Once the cucumbers have drained, discard the liquid and continue with the recipe.
NUTRITION
Use the tag #DeliciousMeetsHealthy when posting a picture of your recipe, and make sure to follow @deliciousmeetshealthy on Instagram!
Yes I have made this recipe many times and everyone loves it.
This year I wanted to put a small flair to my favorite recipe so I changed white vinegar for Red Wine Vinegar. Cutting down on the amount needed to just 1/4 c. without any water to dilute it. Plus I added Dried Cranberries which when left overnight soaked up some cucumber juice and cut down on the pungent flavor of the Red Wine. We love it both ways every summer.
Really informative! I am always looking for new recipes. Want more delicious Paleo recipes
Hi. Is the serving size one cup or half a cup? I need to feed 100 people and I don’t want to make too much or too little.
Delicious. Perfect to serve with bagels and nova/lox for a branch. A cool summer salad. This recipe is right that the dill should marinate with the cucumbers–not be added later. Also the longer it marinates the better. I make this one day ahead. And I make this to have over several days. Thank you.
Salad was great, but it took me twice as long to make because of all the pop-up ads. Felt like I was getting one about every ten seconds, sheesh.
Delivered on flavors and easy breezy to make!
This recipe was exactly what I was looking for and is perfect for utilizing the gift of my neighbor’s cucumbers!! They are of the large variety so, I scoop out the seeds and slice them thin – so yummy!
I’m using cucumbers from my garden to make this salad. How many pounds of cucumbers do you think it is?
Great, fresh, and quick cucumber salad! So easy, delicious, and no oil or fat. Works great with healthy sugar substitutes. Salting cukes is a must! Thanks
Delicious and easy!
This is the ONLY recipe that recommends salting and discarding the liquid after settling. I remember from YEARS ago that this was the most healthy method. I made this tonight (with fresh dill) and loved it. You should get 10 stars for this recipe.
what can i substitute for the dill?
Parsley would work too, even though it won’t taste the same.
Neli, it looks perfect and tasty! Can’t wait to have this anytime of the day, love it!
Neli, what a great idea! I love cucumber salads. Your version really pleases me very well, with ingredients that I often use in cooking too.
I made cucumber salad twice times per week, it’s same with your recipe but after salad done, I add 1-2 tablespoons of chopped dry-roasted peanuts. It make the salad more tasty.
YUMMY..To me, this is a classic southern salad that brings back wonderful memories of summertime dinners that were full of fresh garden veggies. Thanks for yor recipe!!
This is definitely a classic in the North as well.
Try adding sour cream to your taste. My grandmother did it that way & I used to love it.
Thanks, Debi! Yes, another way to make a cucumber salad is with some sour cream or yogurt. 🙂
can I not salt the cumber, my cousin is on a no salt diet.
sure, you can skip the salt if your cousin is on a salt diet. But it won’t taste quite the same.
Good recipe. I think the salt notation is a little confusing. Probably should read tsp for teaspoon instead of tbsp. My first try was too salty but second was just fine.
Simple & tasty cucumber salad recipe. Within 15 mins prepared & serve it. Nice:)
Thanks, Rivaria! It is very delicious indeed and easy to make too!