How to Make Classic Creamy Cucumber Salad
A classic creamy cucumber salad is the perfect side dish to many events like summer BBQs, parties and family get-togethers. Even when prepared days ahead of time the veggies stay crisp and delicious. As the cucumber salad sits, the flavors develop and get even better!
The Creamy Cucumber Sauce
This cucumber sauce is creamy with a little bit of tang. The creaminess comes from mayonnaise and greek yogurt mixture while the tang is from white wine vinegar. The seasonings of salt, pepper and dill also provide a bright flavor.
Once the creamy cucumber salad marinades for an hour or two, the finely diced onion will also meld with the sauce to make a well rounded flavor.
The Type of Cucumber for Cucumber Salad
This recipe just calls to use two medium cucumbers. This recipe isn’t fussy with which kind of cucumber you use. Whether you use a classic green, an english or something from your garden, your creamy cucumber salad will taste great! Use what you like or have available.
When cutting your cucumber, just keep in mind the size that you’re cutting the pieces. In general, it is easier to eat thinner pieces that are smaller in diameter. If your particular cucumbers are larger than an inch and a half in diameter, you may want to cut the cucumber lengthwise and then slice. This will help with making the salad easier to eat.
To Peel or Not To Peel…
While some cucumber salad recipes call to peel your cucumbers before slicing, it may not be necessary! The main purpose for peeling your cucumbers is to decrease the amount of thick chewy pieces of the cucumber skin.
While peeling a really thick skinned cucumber may be necessary to have a more enjoyable cucumber salad, most cucumbers likely don’t have that thick of a skin that requires peeling.
For a really thick skinned cucumber, just peel large strips down the cucumber length-wise. This will allow you to keep that beautiful green color in your creamy salad and have an enjoyable eating experience!
Another tip is to slice your cucumbers as thinly as possible. For those extra thick skinned cucumbers, this may mean enlisting the help of a food processor or a mandolin.
Looking for more summertime recipe inspiration? Try this Stovetop Popcorn or this Classic Coleslaw Recipe!
The Onion in Cucumber Salad
This recipe calls for a yellow onion. That’s primarily because it’s the type of onion that I keep on hand. The other reason is because of the flavor that it imparts into this classic salad. Having the onion diced as finely as possible makes the delicious onion flavor spread easily and infuse with the sauce. However, you may use white or red onion if you prefer to use either of those.
No matter what kind of onion you choose to use, be sure to cut the onion into a very small dice. The smaller pieces will allow for an equal distribution of onion.
What to Serve with Creamy Cucumber Salad
This creamy cucumber salad pairs very well with a variety of meats. The classic way to serve a creamy cucumber salad is with some kind of barbecue. It’s also delicious with grilled burgers, sausages and chicken.
Cucumber Salad For Meal Prep
Aside from being perfect to bring to a party, this creamy cucumber salad is also great to add into any meal prep routine. Since this recipe uses just a few main ingredients, it’s quite inexpensive to make.
Unlike a “regular” lettuce style salad, this salad also gets better as it sits! If you make this salad on the weekend, you can have a delicious and easy dinner or lunch side dish to add to your meals all week long.
The Storing and The Shelflife of Homemade Creamy Cucumber Salad
For best results, keep your salad in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy it. Only take out what you need and return the rest (if any) into the fridge until your next meal or snack.
Although the flavor of this cucumber salad gets better with time, I recommend enjoying this salad within 7 days of preparing. This ensures the best flavors and textures when eating.
Ingredients and Tools
2 medium cucumbers (roughly 2-3 cups when sliced) – Peel if desired
¼ cup Finely Chopped Yellow Onion
For the dressing:
¼ Cup Mayonnaise (Learn how to make your own mayonnaise by Clicking Here!)
¼ cup Greek Yogurt
2 Tsp Dried Dill
1 Tablespoon White Wine Vinegar
½ Tsp Salt – (for extra minerals, I like to use Redmond Real Salt)
⅛ Tsp Pepper
Medium mixing bowl
Mixing spoon
Large Tea Towel
Directions
Begin by slicing your cucumbers into ⅛-¼ inch rounds.
When both cucumbers are sliced, place all of the rounds on a clean and dry tea towel. Be sure they’re arranged roughly in a single layer.
While the tea towel absorbs some of the moisture from the cucumbers, finely dice the onions.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the onion with the mayonnaise, greek yogurt, onion and other seasonings. Mix until well combined.
Add all sliced cucumbers to your mixing bowl and stir well until all of the slices are evenly covered with the sauce mixture.
Cover the bowl with beeswax wrap, plastic wrap or other lid and place in the fridge. This cucumber salad can be eaten immediately but the flavors will be enhanced if it sits in the fridge for at least an hour. For best results, you can make this cucumber salad the night before you want to eat it so the flavors have more time to develop.
Classic Creamy Cucumber Salad FAQ:
Can I use Red or White Onion Instead?
This recipe calls for a yellow onion. That’s primarily because it’s the type of onion that I keep in our home. The other reason is because of the flavor that it imparts into this classic salad. However, you may use white or red onion if you prefer to use either of those.
How Should The Onion Be Chopped?
Having the onion diced as finely as possible makes the delicious onion flavor spread easily and infuse with the sauce. The smaller pieces will also allow for an equal distribution of onion in every bite!
What Foods Should I Serve with Creamy Cucumber Salad?
This creamy cucumber salad pairs very well with a variety of meats. The classic way to serve a creamy cucumber salad is with some kind of barbecue. It’s also delicious with grilled burgers, sausages and chicken.
What’s The Shelf Life of Creamy Cucumber Salad?
Although the flavor of this cucumber salad gets better with time, I recommend enjoying this salad within 7 days of preparing. This ensures the best flavors and textures when eating.
Can I Make Cucumber Salad for Meal Prep?
Yes! I encourage you to make this cucumber salad for meal prep! It’s a great way to use in season produce and have an easy vegetable side dish with every meal.
Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.
Classic Creamy Cucumber Salad
Equipment
- Medium mixing bowl
- Mixing Spoon
- Large Tea Towel
Ingredients
- 2 Medium Cucumbers roughly 2-3 cups when sliced – Peel if desired
- ¼ cup Finely Chopped Yellow Onion
For the dressing:
- ¼ Cup Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Greek Yogurt
- 2 Tsp Dried Dill
- 1 Tablespoon White Wine Vinegar
- ½ Tsp Salt – for extra minerals, I like to use Redmond Real Salt
- ⅛ Tsp Pepper
Instructions
- Begin by slicing your cucumbers into ⅛-¼ inch rounds.
- When both cucumbers are sliced, place all of the rounds on a clean and dry tea towel. Be sure they’re arranged roughly in a single layer.
- While the tea towel absorbs some of the moisture from the cucumbers, finely dice the onions.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the onion with the mayonnaise, greek yogurt, onion and other seasonings. Mix until well combined.
- Add all sliced cucumbers to your mixing bowl and stir well until all of the slices are evenly covered with the sauce mixture.
- Cover the bowl with beeswax wrap, plastic wrap or other lid and place in the fridge. This cucumber salad can be eaten immediately but the flavors will be enhanced if it sits in the fridge for at least an hour. For best results, you can make this cucumber salad the night before you want to eat it so the flavors have more time to develop.
