Creamy Cucumber Salad is a light, delicious, refreshing summer salad featuring crisp cucumbers and red onions tossed in a flavorful, creamy dressing. It’s perfect for outdoor barbecues, picnics, and any warm-weather gathering. Quick to prepare, this salad is a must-have on your summer menu!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year—salad season! Diving into a bowl of this cucumber salad is like taking a trip down memory lane to those get-togethers at Nana’s house. With its cool, crisp cucumbers, sharp red onions, and irresistible creamy dressing, this dish represents the essence of summer. Every bite is a blend of freshness plus nostalgia.
Perfect for adding a refreshing touch to potlucks or parties, what’s wonderful about this creamy cucumber salad is its simplicity and flexibility—you can make this side dish in no time with ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The easy cucumber salad combines the crunchy textures of cucumbers and onions with a creamy, flavorful dressing. This mixture of textures and flavors creates a tasty dish perfect for any season.
- English Cucumbers: Persian cucumbers or regular cucumbers can also be used.
- Red Onion: Adds a sharp, slightly sweet flavor that complements the cucumbers. Sweet or white onions can be used for a milder flavor.
- Plain Yogurt: Acts as the creamy base of the dressing. Sour cream can be used for a richer flavor and thicker consistency.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The oil adds richness and helps to emulsify the dressing.
- Lemon Juice: The lemon brightens up the dressing and balances the yogurt’s creaminess. White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used in its place.
- Dijon Mustard: Contributes a slight tang and great flavor. You could also use honey mustard or whole-grain mustard for more texture.
- Garlic: Garlic powder can be used in a pinch, but adjust the amount as it’s more concentrated.
- Fresh Dill & Fresh Parsley: The herbs provide a fresh flavor that pairs well with the cucumbers.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Seasonings that enhance all the other flavors in the salad. Adjust to taste.
How To Make Creamy Cucumber Salad
This cucumber salad recipe starts with a delicious English cucumber and thinly sliced red onions. It’s very simple, but that dressing is going to bring it up a whole lot of notches.
- Prep the cucumbers and onions. Place the thinly sliced cucumbers and onions in a large bowl.
- Combine the dressing ingredients. In a jar that can be securely closed with a lid, combine the yogurt, oil, lemon juice, mustard, minced garlic, chopped fresh dill, and parsley. Add salt and pepper.
- Make the dressing. Seal the jar tightly with the lid, then shake it vigorously until all the ingredients are well blended and the dressing is creamy. Taste and adjust as needed by adding more salt or pepper if desired.
- Toss. Generously drizzle the dressing over the cucumbers and onions in the bowl, tossing everything together to ensure the vegetables are evenly coated in the creamy dressing.
- Chill. Place the salad in the refrigerator for about an hour before serving. This resting period allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
Should I Peel The Cucumbers?
Whether to peel the cucumbers is entirely your choice. The peel adds a color contrast to the dish, although some may find it hard to digest. If that’s the case, or if you simply prefer it, feel free to peel them. Removing the seeds is also an option.
How To Make It Ahead
This salad deserves to be a summer staple. And here’s a secret—it all tastes way better when it’s nicely chilled. To make this cucumber salad ahead, prepare it about 5 hours in advance to maintain the cucumbers’ crispness.
If you need to prepare it a day ahead, slice the cucumbers and onions and store them separately from the dressing in the fridge. Mix everything together about an hour before serving to ensure the best flavor and texture.
Storing Instructions
This creamy cucumber salad can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Before serving, drain off any excess liquid and stir it. If necessary, stir in a bit more yogurt.
More Cucumber Recipes
- Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad
- Chopped Egg, Cucumber, Tomato Salad
- Shopska Salad
- Jennifer Aniston’s Bulgur Salad
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 long English cucumbers, washed and sliced to 1/4-inch thickness
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup plain yogurt, you can also use sour cream
- 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small lemon, juiced
- ½ tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine the sliced cucumbers and onions in a salad bowl; set aside.
- Combine the yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, dill, parsley, salt, and pepper in a jar fit with a lid; close the jar and shake it until all the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
- Check for consistency and add more olive oil to thin it out, or add more yogurt to thicken it. Taste the dressing for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
- Drizzle the salad dressing over the cucumbers and onions; toss to coat.
- Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Serve it cold.
Notes
- You can make this salad 4 to 5 hours before serving.
- You can also prepare all the components and keep them separate, sealed in airtight containers in the fridge for 1 to 2 days. Mix it all together an hour before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
