Simple cucumber salad

Simple cucumber salad is a fast answer for a warm day, a full market bag, or a side dish that needs almost no cooking.

Cucumber salad works because the ingredient is already refreshing on its own. A little salt, acid, and crunch is often enough to turn it into something you want to keep making.

Before you start

Get all of the main ingredients prepped before the heat really matters. A simple recipe becomes much calmer when the chopping, measuring, and seasoning decisions are already made, and it also makes it easier to stop cooking at the right moment instead of chasing the pan.

Why this recipe works

This recipe keeps the ingredient list short so the cucumbers still taste like cucumbers. Salting the slices briefly helps manage excess water and keeps the dressing from turning thin and washed out.

When this recipe is especially useful

This is a strong recipe to keep around when you have good produce that needs a clear job, when you want something more practical than impressive, or when you need dinner to do a little cleanup work without tasting like cleanup.

Ingredients

• 2 medium cucumbers
• 2 to 3 tablespoons thinly sliced onion or scallion
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil or neutral oil
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional: chopped dill, parsley, sesame seeds, or a pinch of sugar

Instructions

1. Slice the cucumbers thinly and place them in a bowl or colander with a small pinch of salt.
2. Let the cucumbers sit for about 10 to 15 minutes, then drain away any released liquid and pat them lightly dry if needed.
3. Add the onion or scallion, vinegar, oil, and any optional herbs or seasonings you want.
4. Toss well, taste, and adjust the salt or acid before serving.
5. Serve right away for maximum crunch or chill briefly if you prefer it colder.

Tips

This salad is forgiving, but a few habits keep it from getting watery.

• If the cucumbers are very juicy, do not skip the short salting step.
• Use fresh herbs only at the end so they stay bright.
• This salad can lean savory, creamy, or lightly sweet depending on the dressing you prefer.

Storage

Cucumber salad is best the day it is made, though it can still be good for about a day in the refrigerator.

Variations

Yes. You can swap the onion type, the herb, or the vinegar without changing the basic method.

Make it part of the week

You can slice the cucumbers ahead, but the finished salad is best shortly after dressing. Serve it with grilled food, sandwiches, rice dishes, beans, or simple summer meals. That makes this kind of recipe especially useful when you want leftovers, meal components, or one dependable way to keep produce moving through the kitchen.

Related Produce

• What is cucumber and how to use it
• How to store cucumbers
• What to do with extra cucumbers

Find fresh cucumbers from local farms near you.