Cucumber Salad Classic Recipe

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This easy cucumber salad recipe is a summer classic. Perfect for making ahead and chilling for dinner, parties, barbeques, picnics, and more. I like to make a double batch since it is a family favorite.

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Cucumber Salad Recipe Ingredients

Cucumbers: Since cucumbers are easily sourced, this recipe can be made all year with fresh ingredients. I prefer using English cucumbers since the skins are sweet, delicate and have tiny seeds.

However, if you use garden or pickling cucumbers, you want to remove the bitter skin.

Dill: Since I have fresh dill in my herb garden, I will use it. However, in the winter, I use dried dill for garnish.

Vinegar: The vinegar can be any vinegar you prefer. However, it will change appearance and taste when substituting the vinegar.

Distilled vinegar is the classic choice, but apple cider or rice vinegar would be a good substitute for distilled vinegar.

Sugar: For the classic cucumber salad, I use white granulated sugar. If you would like to use a sugar substitute, you can use the product according to the manufacturer’s guide for recipe substitution. I have used coconut sugar since it has a lower glycemic index, but it changes the salad’s color.

Salt: White salt makes a classic cucumber salad, but Himalayan pink salt is also a good choice.

Onion: For the onion, I use white or red onions. The red onion looks amazing with the green skins on the cucumber slices, so for a party, I use red. For this recipe, you can use any onion, including white, yellow, Vidalia, scallions, or red.

Pepper: To balance the sweet and salty dressing, I garnish the salad with cracked pepper; however, If you do not like the look of the pepper, you can garnish it with white pepper or omit the pepper.

You will need:

1. Two cucumbers sliced thinly.
2. One onion sliced thinly
3. One cup of white distilled vinegar
4. 1/2 cup water
5. 1/2 cup sugar
6. One teaspoon salt
7. Fresh dill and cracked pepper for garnish

Tools:

Cutting board

Slicing knife or mandoline

Measuring cups and teaspoon

Saucepan

Wooden spoon

Glass mixing bowl

How to Make Cucumber Salad

This salad only takes minutes to make. However, it needs to chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Step 1 Sweat Cucumbers

Thinly slice cucumbers and place in a medium bowl.

Sprinkle salt over the cucumbers and toss.

Allow the cucumbers to sweat for 10 minutes. The sweating process draws out moisture and softens the cucumber slices.

Step 2 Cucumber Salad Dressing

While the cucumbers are sweating, you can make the dressing.

Place the water, vinegar, and sugar in a medium saucepan. Heat the dressing mixture over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Immediately remove from heat.

Step 3 Toss

Place thinly sliced onions over the cucumbers.

Then pour the hot dressing over the cucumbers and onions.

Toss to coat vegetables with the salad dressing.

Step 5 Chill

Cover the salad with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

Cucumber Salad Serving Ideas

This cucumber salad is delicious, garnished with fresh herbs, pepper, and feta cheese, as well as served over a bed of greens.

See you soon,

Kippi

Ps. This post was shared on Between Naps on The Porch.