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Home / Recipes / Creamy Cucumber Salad

Creamy Cucumber Salad

1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
| 2 Comments |
5 from 1 vote
Jump to Recipe 06/03/19 | Updated: 01/03/20 | by Nora

Try this Creamy Cucumber Salad for a wonderfully refreshing side dish. Dill, sour cream, red onion and plenty of crunchy cucumber slices make this a summer favorite!

Creamy Cucumber Salad Pin 2

What do you do when it’s too hot to cook during the summer?

Honestly – I often just… Don’t cook.

We’ll have a few different salads, some deli meat and a hearty, toasted bread. And that’s dinner!

One of our favorites? This creamy cucumber salad.

Creamy Cucumber Salad Video Tutorial:

I can do some prep ahead, and it’s so easy to throw together – perfect for those lazy summer days.

How to Make a Creamy Cucumber Salad:

bowl with creamy cucumber salad

Making a cucumber salad is very easy: You chill the cucumbers (preferably sliced in salt water), then toss them in a simple sour cream dressing.

So easy!

Why do you soak the cucumbers in salt water?

First of all: It is by no means necessary to soak the cucumbers in salted water.

It’s just extra-good.

I definitely don’t always have it together enough to actually do this step, and the salad is delicious either way.

The soaking will help the cucumbers to lose less water (so they won’t make the dressing watery – IF you drain them well, that is) and they’re super cold and crunchy.

Which is, admittedly, pretty nice 😉

cucumber slices soaking in salt water in a glass bowl

Can you make the cucumber salad without dill?

Next, I know dill is a love it or hate it thing.

Dill refusers, fear not: You can obviously make a delicious cucumber salad without any dill at all.

If you’re feeling adventurous, go for a different herb:

Chives, parsley, oregano or mint have all found their way into my cucumber salad. Different from the traditional dill, but still so good!

Any sour cream substitutes?

Now if you’re not a fan of sour cream (or simply don’t have any on hand), it’s pretty easy to substitute with Greek yogurt, or a thicker regular yogurt.

I actually make this a lot with yogurt because it’s something I always have in the fridge.

glass bowl with creamy cucumber salad and wooden salad tongues

And can you make this cucumber salad ahead of time?

You can definitely slice (and soak) the cucumbers a few hours ahead.

And you can make the dressing ahead, too.

I just wouldn’t recommend mixing the cucumbers with the dressing more than an hour or two before serving – the cucumbers will lose water AND get limp.

It’s better to prep both separately and then mix the chilled cucumber slices with the dressing right before you want to eat the salad.

close up photo of creamy cucumber salad

Making a no-cook dinner out of salads without any mom guilt whatsoever is one of the best things about summer, if you ask me.

And especially so if it includes plenty of creamy cucumber salads 😉


More Summer Salads You’ll Love:

The Best Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

Caprese Cherry Tomato Salad

The Ultimate Chicken Taco Salad


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bowl with creamy cucumber salad
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Creamy Cucumber Salad

Try this Creamy Cucumber Salad for a wonderfully refreshing side dish.
Recipe by Nora from Savory Nothings
made it? tap the stars to add your rating!
5 from 1 vote
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Recipe details

Prep 10 minutes mins
Chilling Time 1 hour hr
Total 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Servings 4

Ingredients
 

  • 4 cucumbers peeled if desired and thinly sliced
  • 2 teaspoons salt divided
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar optional
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1 red onion halved and thinly sliced

Instructions
 

  • Prep cucumbers: Place cucumber in a bowl and cover with water. Stir in 1.5 teaspoons salt. Chill for 1-2 hours. Drain in a colander and rinse under fresh water. Drain well and pat dry with a paper towel.
  • Make dressing: Whisk together sour cream, dill, vinegar, sugar, remaining salt and black pepper in a salad bowl. Add cucumbers and onion. Toss well and serve cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 1194mgPotassium: 489mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 410IUVitamin C: 11.9mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 0.8mg
Nutrition is an estimate.

More recipe information

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Traditional

Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings
About Nora 
When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me!   Learn more.

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Comments

  1. Maureen says

    Jun 30, 2019

    Salt free diet, so this wouldn’t be a good idea..:/

    Reply
    • Nora says

      Jul 1, 2019

      Hi Maureen, you can absolutely make this salad without soaking the cucumbers in salt water! You’ll want to chill them really well in the fridge before slicing them up right before serving the salad, though. And I’d add more herbs to the dressing for flavor if you need to leave the salt out completely. Hope that helps!

      Reply

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Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings

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Hi, I'm Nora! I wasn't always a good cook, but then I fell in love with a professional chef and learned my way around the kitchen. Now I share all my secrets to effortlessly great food here on my blog, bite-sized for home cooks just like me and you.

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