Refreshing Crunchy Cucumber Salad (Printable)

Crisp cucumbers and red onion in a bright vinegar dressing with fresh herbs. A refreshing, tangy side ready in 20 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 lb English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - 0.5 medium red onion, very thinly sliced
03 - 1 small carrot, julienned (optional)
04 - 0.5 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 - 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
11 - 0.25 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 0.25 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 0.25 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 crunch, 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 Suggestions:

01 -
  • It stays cold and crisp even on the hottest days, when heavy salads turn soggy and sad.
  • The vinegar dressing is bright enough to wake up your taste buds without overpowering the fresh vegetables.
  • You can toss it together in twenty minutes, then let the fridge do the rest of the work.
  • It pairs with almost everything, grilled chicken, fish tacos, spicy noodles, or eaten straight from the bowl as a snack.
02 -
  • Do not skip the salting step or your cucumbers will weep all their water into the dressing and turn the whole thing soupy.
  • Slice the red onion paper thin, thick slices stay harsh and crunchy in a bad way, thin slices soften and mellow in the vinegar.
  • Serve this salad the same day you make it, cucumbers get soft and sad if they sit in dressing overnight.
03 -
  • Chill your serving bowl in the freezer for ten minutes before plating, it keeps the salad cold longer on a hot day.
  • If your cucumbers are not very fresh, soak the slices in ice water for five minutes after salting to crisp them back up.
  • Taste the dressing before you pour it on, vinegar strength varies by brand, so adjust the sugar and salt to balance it out.
Return