Cucumber Salad with Radishes
Updated May 23, 2024
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This cucumber radish salad takes minutes to make with refreshing, crunchy veggies tossed in a creamy, garlicky yogurt dressing. It’s satisfying and light, the perfect summer side dish for steaks and burgers.
For more delicious salads, make this La Scala chopped salad for a hearty meal, my chef salad for a classic favorite, or this grape salad for a touch of sweetness.
Creamy Cucumber and Radish Salad
I’ve been making variations of my creamy cucumber salad since my husband and I got married. Back then, he was always slicing radishes into my cabbage cucumber salad and cucumber onion salad. I’ve never met anyone who enjoys radishes as much as he does! BUT, I have to admit, the bright pop of red color and extra crunch were hard to resist.
Soon enough, cucumber radish salad became one of our favorite summer side dishes. This recipe is delicious and (most importantly) easy to make, with a generous dose of garlic yogurt dressing. Because everything is better with garlic.
The combination of cool cucumbers, peppery radishes, and creamy garlic dressing makes this radish cucumber salad a certified crowd-pleaser at our neighborhood barbecues. Plus, the salad is super easy to prepare and pairs well with everything from turkey burgers to fish, chicken breasts, and pork roasts. Let’s make it!
Cucumber Radish Salad Ingredients
The ingredients are simple, and you really don’t need many of them to make a crisp, cool cucumber salad. Find the complete list with exact recipe amounts in the printable recipe card below.
- English Cucumber – If you don’t have seedless English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers or regular cucumbers work just as well.
- Radishes – If radishes aren’t your thing, feel free to leave them out or substitute them with thinly sliced red onions.
- Green Onions – I love the mild and zesty flavor a green onion adds to cucumbers and radishes. Chives can be used as a substitute for a subtler taste. Fresh herbs, like basil and dill, also go nicely here.
- Plain Yogurt – Used as the creamy base of the dressing. Greek yogurt can be used for a thicker consistency.
- Lite Sour Cream – Adds creaminess and a slight tang. Regular sour cream or additional yogurt can be used instead.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Helps to blend the dressing. Olive oil or avocado oil is a good alternative.
- Garlic – Garlic powder can be used if fresh garlic is not available. Substitute ¼ teaspoon of powder per fresh clove.
Tips for the Best Cucumber Salad
- Uniform slices. For an even texture, use a mandoline or a sharp knife to slice the cucumbers and radishes into thin, same-sized pieces.
- Salt the cucumbers. If you have extra time, sprinkle a little salt over the cucumber slices and let them sit for about 10 minutes. This will draw out excess moisture, making the salad less watery. Rinse and pat them dry before mixing with the other ingredients.
- Chill before serving. Let the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before serving. This helps the flavors meld together and enhances the refreshing taste.
- Boost the dressing. If you find your dressing is lacking something, try adding an acid, like wine vinegar or lemon juice. It’s an easy way to brighten the flavors and give it more zing. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more to taste.
Salad Variations
- Add tomatoes. For a burst of juicy sweetness, take direction from my tomato cucumber salad (and this one that also has radishes) and add halved cherry tomatoes.
- Fresh herbs. Chopped fresh herbs like basil, dill, parsley, or cilantro are a great way to add more flavor.
- Switch up the dressing. If you want to change the dressing, try a light vinaigrette like my homemade Italian dressing or something creamy, like this ranch dressing.
- Include feta cheese. Crumbled feta adds a creamy and salty flavor to the salad. You could also grate Parmesan or crumble in some goat cheese.
What to Serve With Cucumber Radish Salad
This cucumber and radish salad is perfect as a refreshing side dish for any meal, especially during the warmer months.
- Serve with a protein: Pair it with grilled chicken thighs or grilled swordfish for a light and healthy dinner.
- Cookout favorites: It’s also a great addition to a picnic or barbecue, adding a crisp contrast to dishes like California burgers and Chinese boneless spare ribs.
- For a vegetarian option: Serve it alongside a hearty Mediterranean bowl or quinoa stuffed peppers. You can even enjoy it on its own as a quick and easy lunch.
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Cucumber Radish Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 to 2 long English cucumbers, washed and cut into thin rounds
- 10 radishes, washed and thinly sliced
- 1 bunch green onions, chopped
For the Dressing
- ¼ cup plain yogurt
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, or olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Assemble. In a salad bowl, combine the sliced cucumber, radishes, and chopped green onions; set aside.
- Make the dressing. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing; taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly. If the consistency is too thick for your liking, add a little more olive oil; if it's too thin, add more sour cream.
- Combine and chill the salad. Add the dressing to the salad, toss until combined, and place in the fridge for 20 minutes. Serve.
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 Radish Cucumber Salad
This cucumber radish salad takes minutes to prepare, and there’s just a bit of chilling time before it’s ready to serve. I love using my mandoline for recipes like this as it makes slicing so much quicker! Otherwise, use a sharp knife to slice the cucumbers and radishes.
- Prepare the salad. Slice the cucumber into thin rounds and the radishes into thin slices. Chop the green onions and combine all these ingredients in a large salad bowl.
- Make the dressing. Whisk together the plain yogurt, sour cream, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and fresh ground black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
- Combine and chill: Pour the creamy yogurt dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss everything until well combined. Refrigerate the salad for about 20 minutes to let the flavors meld. Once chilled, give the cucumber salad a final toss and serve.
Success Tip: Chilling the Salad
You can serve this cucumber radish salad right away, but I always tell folks to chill it in the fridge for at least 20-30 minutes if they can. Chilling lets it cool right down and gives the garlic dressing a chance to mellow out and absorb into the veggies.
Proper Storage
- Refrigerate. This creamy cucumber radish salad lasts in the fridge for 3-4 days. Keep it covered in an airtight container. Note that the veggies become soggier with time, so enjoy those leftovers sooner rather than later.
- Make-ahead. You can also store the sliced cucumbers, radishes, and chopped green onions separately from the dressing. Combine and toss the salad ingredients with the dressing just before serving.
Love this salad. So sorry about your digit. I’ve done it myself, stings like mad. Luckily you had this gorgeous salad to soften the blow of your injury.
Sounds like just my kind of salad, I love the crunch of radishes!
So into big summer salads! Can’t wait to try yours.
Ohhh dang – I hope you’re healing up! Mandolines always make me nervous for that same reason!
But this salad looks worth the pain. B-E-A-utiful!
That garlic yogurt dressing sounds like pure heaven!
This is definitely my type of salad! Love the combination of crunchy slices with garlic yogurt. Reminds me of our cacik. Pinned!
Oh, those wily mandolins (I feel your pain!).
Gorgeous salad!! One can never go wrong with radishes.
I’ve been getting a lot of CSA radishes lately and now I know what to make with them! Love this.
Mandoline cuts are the worst! This salad looks awesome and garlic is always the answer.
Garlic yogurt dressing? Be still my heart! I can see that stuff going on lots of things this summer. It sounds as amazing as your salad looks!