Easy Cucumber Salad
This cucumber salad recipe is unbelievably simple to prepare, yet flavorful and elegant. With a mix of cucumbers and onion, it’s a healthy salad recipe that’s sure to be a hit during the spring and summer months!
What to serve with it? I love my Baked Chicken Thighs, Honey Mustard Chicken, Dijon Baked Salmon and Citrus Ginger Scallops.
The Best Cucumber Salad
If you’ve perused my sweet and smoky beef brisket recipe, you’ve seen a sneak peek of this cucumber salad. Whenever I’m eating a hearty meat dish like that brisket, I always try to balance it with a light salad. And always something green.
In fact, eating this cucumber salad before a big meal will help you to digest that big meal. That’s because greens, herbs and vinegar help stimulate the body’s digestion and natural enzyme production.
Cucumber Salad Recipe Video
While this recipe is simple to make, it always helps to watch a step-by-step video tutorial. Give it a watch below!
Which Cucumbers to Use?
I recommend English cucumbers as they’re larger, sweeter and have slightly thinner skin. But you could certainly use regular cucumbers in this recipe as well.
Cucumber salad is the perfect summer salad recipe and great for all your outdoor barbecues and festivities. You can even make it a few days ahead as it’ll last for 2-3 days in the fridge. Enjoy!
How to Make this Cucumber Salad
The great thing about this salad is that it’s quick and easy – it only takes 20 minutes to make. So here’s how you make it:
- Slice the cucumber. If you don’t already have a mandoline, I highly recommend one. Not only because it makes this salad easy breezy, but it’s an all-around kitchen time-saver when you need to slice things.
- Sprinkle with salt. After you slice your cucumber, which literally takes one minute, sprinkle on a little salt to help pull the water and moisture out of the cucumber. Cucumbers are moisture-rich, which makes them a great cooling vegetable, but you also don’t want a soggy salad.
- Wash and drain the cucumber. Once your cucumbers have mixed with the salt for a bit, you should notice some liquid dripping out the bottom of your colander. Wash and drain the cucumbers
- Mix the salad together. After your cucumbers have drained, add them to a salad bowl along with some thinly sliced red onion (which takes 10 seconds on the mandoline), sliced scallion and fresh dill.
- Add the dressing. Once everything is in your salad bowl, all that’s left is to add the dressing – which is a simple combinations of vinegar and honey. That’s it.
More Healthy Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Broccoli Salad
- Watermelon, Cucumber and Feta Salad
- Melon Mozzarella Salad
- Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad
- BLT Salad with Avocado and Sprouts
- Lentil Salad with Cucumber
Easy Cucumber Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large English cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp kosher salt
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
- 2-3 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 1/2 tbsp champagne vinegar, or white wine vinegar
- 2 tsp honey
- pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add the sliced cucumber to a colander and toss with the salt.
- Set the colander in your sink or on top of a plate, as the salt will pull liquid from the cucumbers. Let this sit for 20 minutes, then rinse the cucumber with cold water.
- Add the drained cucumber to a salad bowl along with the red onion, scallion and fresh dill.
- Stir the vinegar and honey together in a separate small bowl, then pour on top of the salad.
- Garnish with pepper and additional fresh dill leaves.
Lisa's Tips
- I use this mandoline for slicing up the cucumbers fast and easy!
- And these glass mixing bowls are my favorite and used in almost all my recipe videos.
Nutrition
Recipe originally posted May 2017, but updated to include new information.
Hi Lisa, you are my god sent angel. I am a single grandma adopted 5 grandchildren all under the age of 10. But mind you I had them for 6years now so they were pretty much babies. I have sacrificed so much as well as my health I use to go to the gym and eat healthy all the time but of course when I got the children I could not do it anymore I get so busy taking care of everyone else I forget myself but I had to realize that if I don’t take care of myself how can I take care of these children. I was looking up healthy recipes or I should say my oldest granddaughter was looking for me and came across some of yours and hour preparations and how you explained in detail everything in your recipes really got my attention. I have tried several recipes of yours and I am very satisfied in all. You are a rockstar!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart .
Hi Sabrina – Wow, 5 grandchildren is a lot and I’m sure it must have taken a toll on your body and health. But, I’m glad you discovered Downshiftology as well and that I’m able to help you in a positive way with all my content + recipes! If you ever need help, please reach out via email.
I love everything you made. Because of you will improved my health for now on. Thank you for help so many people. God bless you for ever.
Thanks so much for your kind words Sandra! Happy to hear you’re enjoying all the recipes so far :)
I only had red wine vinegar on hand and this still turned out well! I paired it with pulled pork and it was a really nice balance. Even on day 3 it was still great.
Hi Aimee – Happy you enjoyed this salad with the red wine vinegar :)
Awesome summer salad. For me it’s a little too vinegary but my friends love it. Still trying to figure out the best pairing but definitely flavourful!
Hi Marcos – This will pair great with any meaty main course such as my crispy baked chicken thighs or even carne asada!
Excellent recipe and just in time for the upcoming summer season! (thanks for sharing the salt tip)
It really is the perfect salad for summer! Hope you enjoy the recipe Connie (and you’re welcome on the salt tip). :)
I cooked for dinner. Great idea! Many thanks for the recipe. Very surprised by the sauce. Unusually for me. But it’s delicious!
Yes, the sauce is super simple. Glad you enjoyed it Elena! :)
You really can’t beat a good cucumber salad, so refreshing. I bet the addition of those onions lifts it right up. Perfect for Summer.
I agree! And yes, those thin onion slices add just the right zing of flavor. Hope you enjoy it Michelle!
It’s so hot in here in the past few days and the weather is CRAZY I wouldn’t mind having this delicious cucumber salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Looks delicious and refreshing!
Yes, it’s cooling and hydrating for sure. Hope you enjoy it Natalie!
I eat cucumbers everyday as a snack. I love how fresh and full of flavor you prepared this dish. I am sure we all will love it here. Will be making this on Memorial Day weekend for the gang thanks for posting!
Glad you enjoyed it Claudia! And yes, it’s perfect for Memorial Day. Will be making it again then myself! :)
Cucumber and dill go so well together! We add a little sour cream to ours too.
That’s sound like a great idea for a creamy cucumber salad!
Your photos are just beautiful!! The dressing also sounds super delicious! That’s the perfect salad! And I think it will be a favorite in my house specially for my two year old son who loves cucumbers and raw onions (like, really loves raw onions!)
Thanks Camila! And so funny about your son. Guess he knows what he likes! ;)
I love simple veggie salads like this, vinegar and honey I’m sure gives it a great flavor!
It really does! Amazing what a few simple flavors together can do. :) x
That would be so refreshing in this heat! lovely flavor combination.
Yes! It’s such a cooling and hydrating salad for sure. :)
This looks so delicious! I would be great with a little added feta!
Yes, or goat cheese (my personal fave). ;)
Such a great, healthy side for labor day weekend! Love the fresh dill :)
Absolutely! It’s perfect for any barbecue or outdoor party. :)
This would make a delicious salad for a party.
100%! And it’s all about the outdoor parties this time of year.
I used to make this all the time……them tummy complained. I have switched it up to lemon or lime juice instead of vinegar. :) Gets a thumbs up from me & my tummy!
Perfect! And that’s great that you listened to your body and made the appropriate adjustment. :) x
Such a refreshing, summertime cucumber side/salad/recipe! Wishing you a fabulous long weekend ahead, Lisa. xx
Thanks Liz! You too – enjoy the long weekend! :) x