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"Fresh cucumber salad with sliced cucumbers, red onion, and herbs, lightly dressed and served in a glass bowl."

Cucumber salad

Chef Nancy
Make a refreshing cucumber salad in minutes! Crisp, healthy, and versatile—ideal for summer BBQs or a quick side dish.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Main Dish, Salad
Cuisine American, Mediterranean
Servings 6
Calories 80 kcal

Ingredients
  

Cucumber Salad Recipe Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

  • Cucumbers – Choose English cucumbers for their thin skin and crisp texture or Persian cucumbers for a naturally sweet crunch.
  • You need red onion in your salad to achieve a mild sharp taste which balances its refreshing qualities.
  • The salad receives its herbaceous essence from the fresh additions of dill parsley or mint.

For the Dressing:

  • Vinegar integrates three suitable options: apple cider vinegar combines tanginess with white or rice vinegar to create the perfect blend of taste.
  • Additional richness emerges from using extra virgin olive oil as a tiny addition.
  • Lemon juice – Brings a fresh citrusy balance.
  • The acidity gets softened by the addition of either honey or sugar to the dressing mixture.
  • Minute garlic pieces create a faint yet savory taste for the dressing.
  • Black pepper along with salt serve as essential seasonings that unite all tastes in the salad.

Optional Add-Ins:

  • A creamy texture develops when you mix Greek yogurt into the bowl.
  • Cherry tomatoes – Bring vibrant color and a burst of juicy flavor.
  • Feta cheese gives a dish salty distinction when you generously sprinkle crumbled feta.
  • Your success in creating a refreshing light cucumber salad depends on the fresh quality of your ingredients. Moving forward to preparation we will begin making the dish.

Instructions
 

How to Make Cucumber Salad

  • The preparation of this crisp cucumber salad requires only three steps which include cutting vegetables after you mix together all the ingredients. You can generate this flavorful dish using the three quick procedures described below.

Prepare the Cucumbers

  • English and Persian cucumbers should be properly washed before receiving dry treatment.
  • For even slicing a mandoline slicer proves to be the best tool.
  • Standard cucumbers should be peeled first then seedless for maintaining the proper texture of the salad.

Slice the Onion

  • For a delightful mixture of mellowness and sweetness in the dish use a razor-like red onion cut.
  • Sinking onion slices into cold water for 5-10 minutes aids in softening their sharp flavor after draining them.

Make the Dressing

  • Mix 1 tablespoon of white sugar and 1 teaspoon of garlic into a small liquid station.
  • ¼ cup vinegar (apple cider, white, or rice)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey or sugar
  • 1 minced garlic clove
  • The mixture needs salt and pepper according to individual preference.
  • The objective is to achieve balanced flavors through testing and readjustment of the dressing.

Toss Everything Together

  • Place sliced cucumbers and red onion with fresh herbs of dill or parsley or mint in a large mixing bowl.
  • Pour the homemade zesty dressing over the salad and lightly mix it until all ingredients are coated.
  • The combination of ingredients needs 10 minutes to develop their flavors together.

Serve and Enjoy!

  • The salad reaches its best texture when served instantly or when chilled for a thirty-minute rest period.
  • Additional depth comes from topping the salad with feta cheese crumbles along with extra herbs of your choice.
  • And that’s it! Three quick steps lead you to prepare a refreshing cucumber salad which suits all social events. We will now examine essential tips and exciting variations which will improve its quality.
Keyword Cucumber Salad,, Easy Salad, Fresh Salad,, Healthy Side