Cold Cucumber Salad
This Cucumber Onion Salad is an easy and healthy side dish that is perfect for your summer cookout!
This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.
Growing up, we almost always had a cucumber or two in the fridge…but we hardly ever ate cucumbers. Why is that? Because my Mom loved to make vases out of those cukes. Seriously. My mother has always been super creative, and at some point she discovered that cucumbers actually make great flower vases. I’m not kidding one bit here, folks. A cucumber flower vase is a real thing!
If you think about it, cucumbers are mostly water already, right? So the cucumber skin clearly does a good job at holding water. So then it’s not a far logic jump to realize that a cucumber vase would also hold water. My Mom would just slice off a thin piece of the end of the cucumber so that it would stand upright. Then she’d cut the cuke in half and hollow out the middle with a spoon. Boom. Cucumber flower vase. I mean it only holds a single bud, but it works! And such was my life growing up.
I made a cucumber flower vase for Laura when we first moved in together, and she told me it was an excellent waste of a cucumber. I mean she’s an engineer. She cuts straight to the chase. While I still think it’s cool that a cucumber can function as a flower vase, I do prefer to actually eat my cucumbers these days.
Cucumbers really are one of those overlooked veggies, too. Not anymore! This Cold Cucumber Salad uses cucumbers as the star of the show…no flowers involved!
Cucumber Onion Salad
Now cucumbers do hold a lot of water (thus the vase thing), so you do need to let this salad sit for a bit for the water to drain out. The recipe calls for you to salt the sliced cucumbers as that sodium helps draw more water out. But other than that, this Cucumber Onion Salad recipe is an easy one to keep in your back pocket when you need a healthy side dish to go along with your summer grilling recipes.
While I do love a good pasta salad (especially this classic Macaroni Salad) or potato salad (especially this southern-style Red Potato Salad), this Cucumber Onion Salad is much lighter fare…making it the perfect side dish to pair with grilled chicken or a big juicy burger! Plus, did you know that one cucumber has 10% of your recommended daily value of Vitamin C and 12% of your recommended potassium? This Cucumber Onion Salad is low in carbohydrates and it packs a punch in nutrition. Bonus!
If you’ve ever made quick pickled onions, then you’ll recognize this Cold Cucumber Salad recipe. A bit of vinegar, a pinch of sugar and then a bunch of fresh chopped dill for flavor. Delish! (Although you could use any fresh herbs you happen to have around. I like dill here as it pairs well with the cucumber, but chopped basil or oregano would be tasty for an Italian twist on this recipe.)
While cucumbers are the star of this salad, don’t overlook the addition of sweet onion. A Vidalia onion is a great choice here if they are in season! The onion flavor adds a lot, but you don’t want to overpower the taste of the salad with onions here.
Also, I prefer to let this salad chill in the refrigerator a bit before serving. It can be served at room temperature, but since this salad is likely to be served at summer bbqs, I do recommend chilling it if you have time. (Plus, that rest in the fridge will help the flavors meld.)
So next time you’re shopping for groceries (or the garden), grab a couple of cucumbers to make this Cold Cucumber Salad. I hope you enjoy this salad as much as we do!
Did you make this Cucumber Onion Salad at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Cold Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 English cucumbers
- ½ small red onion thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 Tbsp coarse kosher salt
- 1½ Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp fresh dill chopped
Instructions
- Slice cucumbers thinly. (Tip: Use a mandolin to evenly slice the cucumber into thin pieces.)
- Place cucumbers, onion, pepper and salt in a colander; toss until well combined. Let mixture sit and drain for 20 minutes.
- Rinse vegetables in cold water, then press vegetables firmly but gently with several paper towels to press out as much water as possible.
- Using a large bowl, combine vegetables with vinegar, sugar and chopped dill; toss until well combined.
- Serve either cold or at room temperature.
This looks fantastic, David! Light, refreshing and great flavor. I make something very similar myself only without the bell peppers (or the dill, can’t stand the stuff, not sure why.)
And I have to say your mom sounds like a very creative lady.
I totally understand what you mean about dill. It’s a strong herb for sure. But that’s what’s fun about this recipe…you can just sub in another flavor profile depending on what you like. And, yes, my Mom is creative…silly cucumber vases. Haha! Thanks, Frank!
I eat tons of cucumbers in the summer because of how hydrating they are–anything to get more water into myself when it’s 112 degrees outside. I never thought of turning one into a vase though–your mom sounds awesome! The addition of dill in here makes this something I have to try soon. Like, today for lunch 🙂
And now you know that cucumbers can indeed be used as a vase. Stick a flower in there and you’ve got kitchen decoration! Hah! This salad is a quick and easy one that we like to whip up for a side dish. Although I could see it being super tasty (and healthy) for lunch, too. Thanks, Kelsie. Stay cool, ok?
Hahaha – Laura’s reaction to your replication of that cucumber vase is priceless! Though, I gotta admit – dang, your mom was pretty darn brilliant – I would never have thought to stick flowers in cucumbers – ever! Growing up, we never had cucumbers hanging out uncut in our fridge as my mom would make raita (cucumber yogurt salad of sorts) as soon as she brought cucumbers home.
Speaking of cucumber salads – This would be glorious to enjoy with some burgers outside! We have a potluck pool party coming up in a couple of weeks and you have given me a good idea of what to bring!
Happy Monday, my friend! Hoping y’all had a wonderful 4th of July week visiting family!
Sticking flowers in cucumbers is definitely an odd thing…but it works! I grew up with it, so it didn’t strike me as strange. But Laura? She thought it was downright silly! Ohhh. Raita. Now I’m craving that! Also a potluck pool party? I could go for a pool party! It’s been crazy hot up here in New York lately. This cold cucumber salad is good for hot summer days…I can personally attest to that one. Thanks, Shashi!
Your mom is quite creative, but I’m with Laura – Cucumbers are made to be eaten! 🙂 This salad is right up my alley – filled with some of my favorite ingredients. Our cukes are quite ready in our garden yet, but when they are, I’ll be making this salad for sure!
So I didn’t think much of the cucumber vases when I was growing up because, well, they were just there. But Laura thought they were silly. Hah! I’m all about using those cucumbers in recipes, though…and this cold cucumber salad is a good one, Kathy! It’s quick, easy and perfect for hot summer days. Thanks so much, my friend!
Well, a cucumber vase is a first to me, but it actually sounds very Martha Stewarty. I could see a bunch of them on a large platter of goodies, honestly. It would be pretty! Love the salad. It sounds good chilled.
Hah…yes, that cucumber vase does sound very Martha Stewarty. I didn’t mind the vases as they were just ‘normal’ growing up, but I am not a Martha fan at all. Still, it’s a fun idea! And I like the idea of using the cucumber vases to decorate a plate of appetizers. Thanks, Mimi!
Hi Davie! You have perfect timing! Our garden, especially cucumbers, is in overdrive right now! I have over fifty (YES fifty) cucumberz sitting in my kitchen right now, from just two plants! This would pair so well with a steak and grilled sweet corn! This afternoon (and probably well into evening) I’ll be making pickles and pickles and pickles! I must say cucumber vases would be perfect for a summer picnic table!
Fifty cucumbers!? Holy cow, Dorothy. You’re going to be eating cucumbers from now until next year. Haha! This salad is a tasty (and healthy!) one, so it will help get rid of some of those cukes. But not 50! But pickles you say? Now I’m on board with that one! I love a good pickle…especially on my grilled summer burgers! Thanks so much, my friend, and happy pickling!
David, I love this recipe! I love cucumbers, and you are so right, this would be a perfect side for a burger on the grill! Yum! And the vase idea, BRILLIANT! Who’d have thunk?
This cucumber salad is a quick and easy (and healthy!) summer side dish. It’s refreshing, and it goes particularly well with grilled foods…like steaks and burgers. Keep it in mind for sure! Thanks so much, Laura!
Cucumber vases? That must be one of the most creative ideas I’ve ever heard (And that’s certainly the most creative way to enjoy cucumbers). But I’m glad that you finally have cucumbers in your food too, David! They’re so refreshing and delicious, and we are not even bothered with a high water content and drying them out. This salad is super easy yet delicious – we often enjoy similar salads even without grilled things.
Yup, growing up everything was fair game for crafts…even cucumbers! I’m not a very crafty guy, but I do love to cook so I use the cukes in my recipes instead. This salad is perfect for hot summer days. And it’s really pretty easy to make, too! Thanks, Ben!
I can imagine this would go really well with a summer grilling recipe. And as I’m due to get the BBQ out again this coming weekend for a “World Cup Party” your publishing of this recipe is timely David. I’d never heard of cucumbers being made into flower vases. But now I think about it I can see how that would work with the inside hollowed out and a cucumber being mostly water anyway! What a genius idea. But like you, I thnk I’d rather eat them. 😀 Thanks for this recipe!
Oh man, don’t even talk about the World Cup right now, Neil. I’m in mourning after Belgium’s loss yesterday. I’ve been saying for a while that I think France will win it this year, but I was pulling for Belgium. It was a great run, and they were well-matched against France. If that game was played again, it could end in Belgium’s favor. But just not this time. Oh well. I’m assuming you guys are pulling for England?
Back to food! Yes, this cucumber salad is a super easy side dish that goes quite well with grilled recipes. Enjoy, my friend!
This is such a beautiful salad. The vibrant colors jumped out at me on FB so I just had to jump over to see the recipe. And good call, it would be perfect with a delicious juicy burger!
Hey Valentina! Thank you so much for taking the time to hop over here…I really appreciate it. 🙂 This cucumber salad is so easy (it’s almost silly how easy), and it goes great with all sorts of grilled foods. Cheers, my friend!
My husband loves cucumber salad and yours looks great, no peppers for us but I love dill.
Thank you so much, Gerlinde! That’s the beautiful thing about cooking…don’t like peppers? Leave ’em out! Love dill? Add more! 🙂 Thanks so much for your comment, my friend. 🙂