Known as the perfect side dish, cucumber salads are a classic treat to enjoy during a warm summer day.
As with other salads, cucumber salads are a great option for clean eating and weight loss. They are loaded with minerals, vitamins, and fiber. They also tend to be low in calories, cholesterol, and sodium.
Before we delve into some of the highly delicious cucumber recipes you can try, let’s briefly see what health benefits you get to enjoy with this side dish.
Health Benefits Of Cucumbers
Below are some of the health benefits you get to enjoy with any of the delicious cucumber salad recipes we will look at;
- A plate of cucumber with the peel on has just 16 calories. It also gives you Potassium, fiber, magnesium, manganese, and vitamins K, C, and A.
- Cucumbers are a good source of Phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are chemical compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer benefits.
- Cucumbers are also super refreshing and hydrating, thanks to their high water content.
- Unfortunately, cucumbers can be rather unexciting to the palate and require some creativity. With these recipes, you will have a healthy, tasty salad on your plate every day of the week. (source)
25 Healthy Cucumber recipes to try out.
Here are some salad recipes to add to our repertoire. You can have this on the side or as a meal by themselves.
1. Cucumber Salad
This cucumber salad is the standard no-frills version that makes the perfect side to any meal. However, we add a twist to the cucumber, olive oil, salt, and lemon to give you our version with some extras.
The result is not far from the original, but we promise it’s tastier.
Ingredients
- 8 Persian cucumbers, diced into chunks
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup chickpeas (rinsed)
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup finely sliced red onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (juice of about ½ medium lemon)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Sea salt, to taste
2. Easy Cucumber Salad
This is yet another family classic that has found its way to family dinners.
This super easy salad recipe can be traced back to Germany, where it is known as Gurkensalat. This recipe has two versions; one has a light vinegar sauce, and the other is creamier.
Here is a guide on how to make the light vinegar version.
Ingredients
- 2 English cucumbers thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 red onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill minced
3. Dad’s Creamy Cucumber Salad
You will probably want to have this creamy, crisp cucumber salad every summer once you learn how to make it.
It’s also tangy and sweet, making it an excellent side for a lemon-herb chicken or beef sukiyaki.
You should and will probably want to have the entire salad on the day you have made it. However, it can keep well for 4-5 days when refrigerated.
Ingredients
- 2 large cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- Dressing:
- 1 ½ 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
4. Creamy Cucumber Salad
This light and fresh salad will only take minutes to make and can be served as a side to most meals and snacks.
Cucumbers and onions are staples for this recipe, with a creamy dressing to wrap it up. The dressing varies from one recipe to the next, but it’s typically made from a sour cream or yogurt base. It also features an acid, commonly lemon or vinegar.
You can peel your cucumbers or make the salad with the peels on. The peel’s color does add some character to the taste and look of the salad. If cucumber peels don’t affect your digestion, keep them on.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sour cream ($0.55)
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice ($0.08)
- 1/2 tsp dried dill ($0.05)
- 1 tsp sugar ($0.02)
- 1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 1 large cucumber ($1.49)
- 1/4 red onion ($0.10)
5. Tomato Cucumber Salad
This should be your go-to summer salad when you need brightness and cheer.
To enjoy this recipe, get the best, freshest ingredients possible. For the tomatoes, for example, try and get fresh grape tomatoes. Their sweet flavor will add delectable tones to the salad. You can also use cherry tomatoes from your garden if you are lucky enough to have one.
For cucumbers, go for ‘English’ cukes. These are seedless, tender, and crunchy, making them perfect for your side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 pint grape tomatoes – sliced in half
- 1 English cucumber – sliced
- 1/2 medium red onion – thinly sliced
- Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper
6. Creamy Cucumber Salad
Once you learn to make a good creamy cucumber salad, picnics, potlucks, and summer grilling will not be complete without it.
The creamy cucumber salad is light, easy to make, and super creamy. This makes it easy to pair with a host of other dishes and snacks or even to be enjoyed on its own.
Any cucumber will do, but if possible, go for English or Persian cucumbers for this one. Also, make this salad two hours before meal time and refrigerate it. This allows the flavors to combine beautifully.
Ingredients
- 3 c. thinly sliced peeled cucumbers
- 1 c. thinly sliced red onion
- 1/2 c. Kroger sour cream
- 1 Tbsp. white vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. minced fresh dill
- 1 tsp. granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
7. Cucumber Salad Recipe
As fun as grilling can be, wondering what to serve as sides can get old pretty quickly.
This cucumber salad recipe is your ultimate side for anything you throw on the grill. Chicken, fish, steak, name it.
Ingredients
- 2 long English cucumbers, sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 Tablespoon sugar , (or coconut sugar or sweetener of choice)
- 1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8. Gaby’s Cucumber Salad
This recipe is from Gaby Dalkin, and that name drop tells you you’re in for a treat.
Expect some crispy cucumber, the creaminess of the avocado, and some tanginess from the balsamic dressing.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 small-to-medium cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 ripe avocado, pitted and sliced or diced
- 4 Persian cucumbers or 2 medium English cucumbers (12 ounces), thinly sliced
- Optional additions: 1 to 2 cups arugula, ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes, and/or 1 to 2 chopped radishes
9. Chopped Tomato, Onion, and Cucumber Salad
We are often advised to ‘eat a rainbow’ as different colored foods are linked to higher levels of specific nutrients.
This salad gets you pretty close to the rainbow. It has onions, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, and a light vinaigrette.
The result is color, crunch, and a whole lot of flavor. Of course, you can enjoy it on its own, but you might find it much more delicious than salsa.
Ingredients
- 1 long English cucumber or 3 Persian cucumbers, chopped small
- 1 pound tomatoes, chopped small
- 1/4 large sweet onion, chopped small (1 cup chopped)
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped
- 2 tablespoons vinegar, lemon juice or a combination
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon honey, optional
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper
10. Easy Cucumber Salad
This salad is super easy and uses a few easy-to-find ingredients.
You can also make it ahead of time but within an hour or two of consumption. If it stays longer than that, it quickly starts losing its crunchiness.
Do you seed or leave the seed? Good question. Cucumber seeds have some flavor; you can leave them on if they are small and soft. However, if you taste a cucumber and it’s somewhat bitter, it might be best to remove the seeds as they tend to be the bitterest part.
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 large cucumbers (or 4 to 5 smaller cucumbers)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, basil, or Thai basil (see Recipe Note)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
11. Cucumber Vinegar Salad
With this salad, you get the perfect balance of sweet and sour and fresh dill to top it off. It also has red onions to deliver more flavor and some crunch. The best part? It’s easy to make, and you will enjoy every bite.
Ingredients
- 6 Persian cucumbers
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ cup white-wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
12. Asian Cucumber Salad
This salad is simple and refreshing, and you can tweak it as necessary, depending on your meal choice.
You can add a tsp of fish sauce, Thai, and some peanuts to it for a Thai meal. And gochujang to accompany a Korean dish.
This recipe uses thin-skinned cucumbers like Persian, English, or Turkish. These also deliver the best flavors and the least bitterness.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds Turkish, Persian or English cucumbers (about 5 cups sliced)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4–5 scallions, finely sliced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or honey, or sugar)
- 1 teaspoon red chili paste (or sriracha, both optional) more to taste
- 1–2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
13. Cucumber Salad
This salad features paper-thin cucumber slices doused in light vinegar. You should allow this to marinate for a couple of hours to bring out the flavors perfectly.
This salad will go down easy with some grilled or teriyaki chicken pieces. Feel free to experiment with some dill and red onions.
Ingredients
- 2 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup cider or white vinegar
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- Chopped fresh dill weed or parsley, if desired
14. Kachumber (Indian Cucumber Salad)
A salad with thinly sliced cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes is found in many parts of the world. Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East all have their variations. In India, this combination is known as Kachumber, and it’s very similar to Kachumbari in parts of Africa and the widely known Israeli salad.
What sets kachumber apart is that its dressing is not oil based. Instead, kachumber is dressed in a simple lime and salt and pepper solution.
The result is a refreshing side you can serve with dal, curries, rotis, sandwiches, and burgers.
Ingredients
- 1/2 medium red onion
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 large English cucumber
- 1 large carrot
- 4 medium radishes
- 1 jalapeño pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
15. Cucumber Veg Salad
This is your traditional cucumber salad with red onion, salt, vinegar, and a dash of sugar.
When it’s nice and ready, serve with hot dogs, roast chicken, salmon, or pork chops.
You can make this salad a day before the actual serving. Time left to chill before serving will heighten its flavor and make the salad tangier.
Ingredients
- 1 pound seedless cucumbers, thinly sliced crosswise on a mandoline
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
16. Cucumber-Mint Salad with Creamy Lemon & Greek Yogurt Vinaigrette
This salad has some spearmint as a surprise ingredient. It’s then rounded off by olive oil, lemon juice, Greek yogurt, herbs, and spices.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon (medium zested)
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons minced shallots
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper (to taste)
- Salad
- 3 cucumbers (medium sliced (about 4 cups))
- ¼ cup chopped spearmint
- Kosher or sea salt (if necessary)
17. Sour Cream Cucumbers
Put this Hungarian recipe on your to-do list when cucumbers are in plenty.
As you are about to find out, this will be super easy to whip up, and you are likely to have all the ingredients in your pantry anyway, so why not?
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Pepper to taste
- 4 medium cucumbers, peeled, if desired, and thinly sliced
- 1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
18. Shogun Cucumber Salad
Some miso, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and cilantro give this cucumber salad a unique flavor.
Learn how these ingredients and condiments combine to create this healthy masterpiece.
Ingredients
- 1/2 bunch cilantro leaves
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons wasabi powder
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon miso
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Salad:
- 3 medium English cucumbers, halved lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced
- 8 plum tomatoes, halved, seeded and sliced
- 1 sweet onion, such as Walla Walla, sliced
- 4 ounces grated or crumbled feta cheese
- 1 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1 sprig basil, chopped
19. Cool Cucumber Salad
A salad can’t get easier than this. Some sugar, vinegar, English cucumbers, Vidalia onion, and tarragon combine beautifully to create this flavorful, cool fresh salad.
Chill it for a couple of minutes in the summer before serving.
Ingredients
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 English cucumbers, thinly sliced into half moons
- 1 small Vidalia onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
- 1 teaspoon salt
20. Cucumber Feta Salad
This thinly sliced cucumber feta salad has simple ingredients that come together to create a winning combination you will love.
The feta cheese adds extra special notes with its unique saltiness. It also makes this salad filling as well.
Ingredients
- 1 medium cucumber, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, torn
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Kosher salt
21. Cucumber Ribbon Salad
The cucumber ribbon salad is a beautiful way to present a cucumber salad with a lovely salad dressing.
Our recipe has smoked salmon as an optional ingredient, which makes the salad filling enough to be had as a meal on its own.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons minced shallot
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
- 3 English (seedless) cucumbers, peeled
- 4 ounces smoked salmon, optional
22. Cucumber Raita Salad
The cucumber raita salad is made with mustard seeds and toasted to coax all their fragrance. This is added to fresh cucumbers, yogurt, red onion, garlic, lemon juice, and black pepper.
The result is something you will want on your plate several times a week!
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 2 English cucumbers, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
23. Cucumber Salad
It almost seems like everything good comes out in the summer—lovely weather, grills, good spirits, and fresh cucumbers.
This is the perfect time to try out some sumptuous cucumber salads as sides to the heavenly steaks and burgers you will be grilling outdoors! Learn how to make this salad properly, and you will probably stick to it all summer.
Ingredients
- 2medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1/3cup cider or white vinegar
- 1/3cup water
- 2tablespoons sugar
- 1/2teaspoon salt
- 1/8teaspoon pepper
- Chopped fresh dill weed or parsley, if desired
24. Sweet-Tart Cucumber Salad
Sometimes, you want a simple, unpretentious salad as a side, snack, or complete meal. This simple salad is the go-to if you want something light, yummy, yet healthy.
Ingredients
- 10 pickling cucumbers or 3 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 3 teaspoons celery seed
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 medium onions, halved and thinly sliced
25. Khmer Pickled Vegetable Salad
The Khmer pickled vegetable salad is perfect for days you want a salad, albeit a slightly sophisticated one.
Don’t let the word sophistication fool you, however, as this salad is easy to put together, offers some vibrant colors, and can be quite filling.
Ingredients
- 2 medium daikon radishes (about 1-1/4 pounds each), peeled and thinly sliced
- 4 cups shredded cabbage (about 1/2 small)
- 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced
- 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cut fresh green beans (2 inch)
- 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 piece fresh gingerroot (1 inch), thinly sliced
- 2 Thai chili or serrano peppers, halved lengthwise, seeded if desired
- 2 cups rice vinegar
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Final Take on This Cucumber Salad Recipe Collection
Salads can be a lifesaver when trying to figure out sides for main meals. They are also great for people trying to lose weight, thanks to their low caloric content.
But healthy shouldn’t be boring. These salad recipes will give you a great-tasting salad each time!
FAQs
Here are some answers to questions you might be dying to ask.
Can you make cucumber salad with yogurt?
Yes, you can. Adding yogurt to a cucumber salad can round the flavors nicely and give it a creamier texture.
How do you make creamy cucumber salad?
Adding yogurt, sour cream, mayo, or avocado can make your cucumber salads creamier and thicker.
How do you keep cucumbers from getting watery in a salad?
A quick trick would be to salt the cucumbers after slicing. The salt helps to leach out the excess moisture that would otherwise make your salad watery.
Should You Peel Cucumbers for Salad?
It’s not necessary to peel your cucumbers. However, you can peel cucumbers if the peels give you digestive problems. The same goes when you find the peels too bitter for your liking.
What ingredients are in cucumber salad?
Cucumbers (off course), then different variations will have either herbs and spices or both and a vinaigrette.
Which cucumbers are best for a salad?
English and Persian cucumbers take the cake in salad making.
