Refreshing Crunchy Cucumber Salad (Printer-Friendly)

Crisp cucumbers, red onion, and fresh herbs in a tangy vinegar dressing. A refreshing light side.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 pound English cucumbers or 3 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - ½ medium red onion, very thinly sliced
03 - 1 small carrot, julienned (optional)
04 - ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes (optional)
05 - Thinly sliced jicama or watermelon radish (optional)

→ Herbs

06 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or 1 tablespoon fresh mint, plus more for garnish

→ Dressing

07 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or toasted sesame oil
09 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar or honey
10 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
11 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Toppings

12 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds or chopped almonds (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Wash and pat dry cucumbers. If desired, remove seeds by cutting each cucumber in half lengthwise and scooping out the center with a spoon. Slice into 1/8-inch rounds.
02 - Place cucumber slices in a colander set over a bowl or sink. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt and toss gently. Let drain for 10 minutes to remove excess water.
03 - After 10 minutes, rinse cucumbers under cold water to remove surface salt. Shake off excess water and pat dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, olive oil, sugar or honey, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, and black pepper until smooth.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, add drained cucumbers, red onion, chopped dill or mint, and any optional add-ins such as carrot, cherry tomatoes, jicama, radish, nuts, or seeds.
06 - Pour dressing over the mixture and toss gently until well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and cucumbers to chill. For best texture, serve within 2 hours.
08 - Transfer to a serving platter or bowl. Garnish with extra dill or mint and a sprinkle of sesame seeds or nuts for added crunch and visual appeal.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Its the kind of side dish that makes you forget youre eating vegetables because every bite is crisp, cold, and addictive.
  • You can toss it together in less time than it takes to wait for delivery, and it actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a bit.
  • It goes with everything from grilled chicken to spicy noodles, and nobody ever asks if theres more salad left because the bowl is always empty.
02 -
  • Dont skip the salting step because thats what keeps the cucumbers from turning into a watery puddle at the bottom of your bowl an hour later.
  • Serve this salad within two hours of dressing it for the best crunch, because cucumbers start to soften the longer they sit in acid.
  • If you want to prep ahead, keep the cucumbers and dressing separate until youre ready to eat, then toss them together right before serving.
03 -
  • Use a mandoline or a very sharp knife to slice the cucumbers as thin as possible so they soak up more dressing and taste more flavorful.
  • If your red onion tastes too strong, soak the slices in ice water for five minutes before adding them to the salad, and theyll mellow out without losing their crunch.
  • Taste the dressing before you pour it over the salad and adjust the sugar or vinegar to your liking, because everyones taste buds are different and you want it to taste right to you.
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