You can never have too many salad recipes, and this Best Cucumber Salad with Pickled Onions is quick, delicious and the perfect side for meat or fish.
I am anxiously awaiting the warm weather and grilling season. With that comes outside eating and LOTS of salads. Potato, pasta, and green salads are great, but sometimes you want a change of pace. This simple Cucumber Salad fits the bill, and according to my husband the best cucumber salad he has ever eaten. Easy to make, crisp and tangy. Perfect for hot weather meals like backyard BBQ’s and picnics.
There are so many great ways to enjoy cucumbers. Do you know how healthy they actually are? I love adding them to water for a nice fresh flavour, and using them in appetizers too.
When I was a child, my mom, aunts and of course baba ALWAYS had gardens. So many great vegetables were at our fingertips. It was like having a farmers’ market in your own backyard. Somehow the green thumb did not get carried along with me. I am not a gardener at all. Not even close.
However, I do recall having to pick the vegetables at “just the right time”, especially when it came to cucumbers. You see, my mom was adamant on the perfect size of cucumber to make dill pickles. I also remember she would just happen to go on vacation right around the time the “perfect cucumbers” would be ready.
So guess who she would leave in charge of this chore? Yup, me! Since I did not like spending time in the garden, this was not a chore I welcomed. If I left them for a day too long (heaven forbid), I would certainly hear about it when she got home.
If the cucumbers got too large, she would use them in a salad. You have probably eaten something similar? Her version consisted of cucumbers, onion, and mayonnaise.
BEST CUCUMBER SALAD VARIATIONS
If you search the web you will see so many variations for this simple cucumber salad. Russian, Greek, Italian, Thai, Scandinavian, I think every culture has a form of this kind of salad. Some are creamy, some are tangy, some are on the sweet side. The basic cucumber salad recipe includes:
- cucumbers
- dressing
- seasonings
Some cucumber salad recipes will add other items like onions, tomatoes or radishes. In fact, my Snap Pea Salad has cucumbers too.
The cucumber can be peeled (or not), cut in circles or chunks. Seeded by removing the pulp (or not), and some people like to sprinkle salt over the cucumber slices/pieces and let them drain (sweat) for a few minutes to release excess moisture.
WOW, there are A LOT of variations for one humble salad. Yet they are all so simple to make, and the end result is a crisp, refreshing great side dish (or even a great lunch all on its’ own). Perfect with Grilled Chicken Skewers or Zucchini Burgers.
I took my mom’s version and switched it up. Since hubby does not like eating raw onion (even red ones), I used pickled onions instead (the secret to making this the best cucumber salad he has ever eaten). I replaced mayo with sour cream and seasoned with dried dill. I also used the salt method to get excess water out of the cucumber before mixing it all together.
Speaking of pickled onions, have you ever tried pickled eggs?
The result was a light, refreshing and tasty side dish to our grilled burger. Feel free to switch things up and use greek yogurt, fresh dill and raw onions. There is not a right or wrong way to make and enjoy this great salad.
This Best Cucumber Salad with Pickled Onions is quick to make, and the perfect party salad. Easy on the budget and you can make a HUGE batch in no time. I know this will be a staple this summer. Give this a try!
Do you have a cucumber salad recipe you love?
Be sure to sign up for my WEEKLY NEWSLETTER and grab your FREE printable.
Best Cucumber Salad with Pickled Onions
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ teaspoons dried dill
- ½ cup pickled onions
- 1 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Wash and slice the cucumber into ¼" rounds. Place in a mesh sieve (over a bowl or in the sink) and sprinkle with the salt and mix a bit to distribute.
- Let the cucumbers sit for 10-30 minutes (depending on how much time you have).
- Mix the sour cream and dill in a bowl and set aside. Feel free to use more if you like.
- Slice the pickled onions into thin strips, and place in a bowl.
- Take the cucumbers out of the sieve, and place in either paper towels or a kitchen towel. Give this a good squeeze to release as much moisture as possible. Place the cucumbers in the bowl with the onions.
- Add the sour cream mixture, stir to combine.
- ENJOY!!
Nutrition Information
Notes
Heather
This looks amazing!! What an awesome salad, especially with warmer weather heading our way soon. I love that you use sour cream .. it looks so creamy and inviting. Great recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
It is such an easy salad to put together, and sure makes a great crowd pleaser for all the backyard parties this summer.
Sara
This looks like a great dish! I am definitely taking this to a picnic this summer
Homemade & Yummy
Perfect for easy summer eating.
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago
This looks like a wonderful summer salad and I love the idea of pickled onions!
Homemade & Yummy
Yup easy summer eating for sure.
Tamara Andersen
We have grilling season all year ’round in south Texas, and I would love your cucumber salad anytime… We just smoked a couple of chickens, and it would have been the perfect side! Pinning!
Homemade & Yummy
This is the perfect side to so many dishes. Just bought more cucumbers today.
Lauren
I am anxiously awaiting summer and all of the food that comes with it, and this looks perfect for barbecues! So easy!
Homemade & Yummy
YES….bring on SUMMER…and all the wonderful foods that go with it.
Analida @ ethnicspoon.com
I really love a cool and creamy salad dish to pair with spicy BBQ dishes in the summer. They tame the heat of my husbands habanero wings. Thanks!
Homemade & Yummy
YES…my hubby loves spicy food too. This is the perfect side to help with that.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
I love a cucumber salad and pickled onions!
Homemade & Yummy
I know, the pickled onions really take this humble salad to the next level.
Carrie
What a great summer salad! This would be perfect as a side at barbecues!
Homemade & Yummy
I know it is going to be a summer staple here for sure.
Anna
Oh this salad brought back so many memories for me! I was born and raised in Poland, and my nana had a huge garden where we all had to pull the shift in, but it was amazing, having all these fresh fruit and veg, straight from the garden. I make a very similar version of this salad often (I’ve been using raw onion rather than pickled one) , and I just love the combo of sour cream and cucumber.Looks delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
Oh yes….picking the veggies from the garden. Glad it brought great memories for you.
georgie @ georgieeats
I love this! I am going to try this recipe at the weekend and let you know what I think… Thank you for sharing!!
Homemade & Yummy
Great, hope you like it as much as we do.
Amanda Delffs
I may have missed it but would love to have your pickled onion recipe! I’m a big fan of cucumber salad and have my favorite but this might be even better!
Homemade & Yummy
No, you did not miss it….that will be coming soon. In the mean time you can use any bought pickled onions you like.
Dominique | Perchance to Cook
This sounds so good! It reminds me of a Hungarian cucumber dish that my mother used to make growing up. She also used sour cream, but she added lots of paprika. 🙂 I’d love to try this version!
Homemade & Yummy
Paprika would be great too. I absolutely LOVE smoked paprika.
Sarah
Our weather in WV has been unseasonably cold this spring. I actually woke up to an unexpected blanket of snow this morning– unreal! I can’t wait for summer BBQs and cold veggie salads like this.
Homemade & Yummy
I am SOOOO done with this weather. Bring on the WARM sunny days.
Carmy
This looks like the perfect summer pinic dish! The cucumbers are so refreshing and accessible! I’ll have to keep this in my mind for next work potluck too. Can’t go wrong with salad.
Homemade & Yummy
Perfect for hot weather meals….which I sure hope come soon.
Veena Azmanov
I eat a side of salad every single day and often with every meal..!! The only way to maint that waist. So I’m always looking for ways to make my salad more fun. This sounds perfect for my next meal. Yum!
Homemade & Yummy
Well this one is HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS and super easy.