Creamy Cucumber Salad
Updated Apr 10, 2024
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This creamy cucumber salad is a light and refreshing summer side dish that’s perfect for barbecues, picnics, and any summer gatherings! It’s quick to prepare with crisp cucumbers and red onions tossed in a flavorful homemade dressing.
Creamy Cucumber Salad With Onions
This is the creamy version of my cucumber and onion salad, right in time for cookout season! Diving into a bowl of this creamy cucumber salad brings me back to summer gatherings at Nana’s house. This was always her first choice of side dish next to grilled Macedonian kabobs.
Nowadays, I make this cucumber salad for every barbecue, party, and potluck. It’s simple and easy to make with only two ingredients (that I almost always have in the fridge!): Cool, crisp cucumbers and red onions. Tossed in an irresistible creamy dressing, this is a salad recipe you’ll make over and over again.
Cucumber Salad Ingredients
This cucumber salad recipe is all about creamy contrast. You’ll find the full ingredients and amounts in the recipe, but let’s go over the key ones here.
- English Cucumbers – Seedless English cucumbers are best for salad recipes. Persian cucumbers or regular cucumbers can also be used.
- Red Onion – Sweet or white onions can be used if you prefer a milder flavor. I also make a cucumber salad with radishes if you’d prefer them rather than raw onion!
- Plain Yogurt – Acts as the creamy base of the dressing. Sour cream or mayonnaise can be used for a richer flavor and a thicker consistency.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Oil adds richness and helps to emulsify the dressing. Another oil will work, but I prefer the flavor of a good-quality olive oil.
- Lemon Juice – White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar are good substitutes.
- Dijon Mustard – You can also use honey mustard or whole-grain mustard.
- Garlic – If needed, substitute each fresh garlic clove with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Fresh Herbs – Chopped dill and parsley pair well with cucumbers. If you’re using dried herbs, you’ll need about ⅓ of the amount as they’re more concentrated.
Should I Peel The Cucumbers?
Whether to peel the cucumbers is entirely your choice. The peel adds more color, 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.
Make This Salad Ahead
One of the best things about this creamy cucumber salad is that it tastes even better when it’s nicely chilled.
- Make the cucumber salad 1-2 hours ahead. I actually encourage readers to prepare this salad a few hours ahead of serving. It lets the flavors mingle and gives the veggies time to marinate.
- Want to make this the day before? Slice the cucumbers and onions and store them separately from the dressing in the fridge. Stir everything together an hour or two before serving.
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Creamy Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 2 long English cucumbers, washed and sliced to 1/4-inch thickness
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
For the Creamy Dressing
- 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
- Assemble. Combine the sliced cucumbers and onions in a salad bowl; set aside.
- Mix the dressing. 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.
- Adjust to taste. 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.
- Toss and chill. 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 up 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 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.
How to Make Creamy Cucumber Salad
This cucumber salad recipe starts with a fresh English cucumber and thinly sliced red onions. Simple, right? 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. Drizzle the dressing over the cucumbers and onions, then toss to coat everything evenly.
- Chill. Place the salad in the refrigerator for about an hour before serving. This resting period allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
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 to revive the creaminess.
4/10/25 Very good! Used sour cream in place of yogurt. Cut up tomatoes and added them, just our preference. Also added 2 tbsp of mayonnaise. Made it the night before. Highly recommend.
I’m very glad you enjoyed it!! Love your tweaks—sour cream, mayo, and fresh tomatoes sound like a delicious combo! Making it the night before is such a great idea too. Thank YOU! 😊
This salad sounds incredible! Definitely making it this summer!
This looks incredible. My daughter is obsessed with cucumber salads.
Nothing says summer is here quite like a cucumber salad! We are growing cucumbers in our garden and when we harvest, I am going to be all over this recipe!
LOVE this creamy cucumber salad!