Description
Dad’s Creamy Cucumber Salad is a refreshing and classic side dish featuring crisp cucumbers and sweet onions tossed in a rich, tangy dressing. The salad is simple to prepare, full of flavor, and perfect for picnics, potlucks, or summer meals. With a creamy base enhanced by dill and a hint of sweetness, it stands out as a cooling accompaniment to any main course.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Cucumber Mixture
- 2 large cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon of sea salt
Creamy Dressing
- 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise, or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Salt the Vegetables: Mix cucumbers, sweet onion, and sea salt together in a large bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the mixture sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. This helps draw out excess water from the vegetables, resulting in a crispier salad.
- Drain the Vegetables: Transfer the cucumber mixture to a colander placed over a sink or a bowl. Let it drain for about 30 minutes, gently stirring occasionally to remove as much liquid as possible. Once most of the liquid has drained, move the vegetables into a large bowl.
- Prepare the Creamy Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, dried dill, garlic powder, and ground black pepper until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Combine and Toss: Pour the creamy dressing over the drained cucumber and onion mixture. Stir thoroughly to coat all the vegetables evenly with the dressing.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to become even more refreshing.
Notes
- For a lighter salad, substitute part of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Add extra fresh dill or chives for a bright herbal flavor.
- If you prefer a tangier salad, use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar.
- Best served chilled, and can be made a day ahead for fuller flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
