Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Ultimate Creamy Cucumber Salad stands out for its simplicity and incredible taste. The combination of mayonnaise and yogurt creates a perfectly balanced dressing that’s creamy without being heavy. The addition of fresh lemon juice brightens the entire dish, while the optional red pepper flakes add just the right amount of heat. What makes this recipe truly special is how the flavors meld together after chilling, creating a harmonious blend that complements any meal. Plus, it’s ready in just 15 minutes and uses simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 3–4 fresh cucumbers, thinly sliced (English cucumbers work great)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt (Greek or regular)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 small red or yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a bit of heat)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
How to Make Creamy Cucumber Salad
Creating this Ultimate Creamy Cucumber Salad is incredibly straightforward and requires no cooking. The key is in the preparation and allowing time for the flavors to develop.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Cucumbers Wash and dry your cucumbers thoroughly. Using a sharp knife or mandoline slicer, cut the cucumbers into thin, uniform slices about 1/8-inch thick. If using regular cucumbers, you may want to peel them, but English cucumbers can be left unpeeled for extra nutrition and color.
Step 2: Salt the Cucumbers Place the sliced cucumbers in a large colander and sprinkle generously with salt. Toss to coat evenly and let them sit for 10-15 minutes. This process draws out excess moisture, preventing your salad from becoming watery.
Step 3: Make the Dressing In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, fresh lemon juice, and minced garlic until smooth and well combined. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
Step 4: Prepare the Onion While the cucumbers are draining, slice your onion as thinly as possible. For a milder flavor, you can soak the onion slices in cold water for 5 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
Step 5: Drain and Rinse After the cucumbers have drained for 15 minutes, rinse them thoroughly under cold water to remove excess salt. Pat them completely dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
Step 6: Combine Everything Add the dried cucumber slices and onion to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure every piece is well coated.
Step 7: Chill and Serve Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Give it a final stir before serving.
Helpful Tips
To achieve the best results with your Ultimate Creamy Cucumber Salad, choose English cucumbers when possible as they have fewer seeds and thinner skins. The salting step is crucial and shouldn’t be skipped, as it prevents the salad from becoming soggy. When slicing, aim for uniform thickness to ensure even flavor distribution and attractive presentation.
For the creamiest texture, use full-fat mayonnaise and Greek yogurt. The tanginess of Greek yogurt pairs beautifully with the richness of mayonnaise. Fresh lemon juice is essential – bottled lemon juice won’t provide the same bright, fresh flavor.
If you’re sensitive to raw onion, try using sweet onion varieties like Vidalia, or soak the sliced onions in ice water for 10 minutes before adding them to the salad. This removes some of the sharp bite while maintaining the crunch.
Details
Prep Time: 15 minutes Chill Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes Servings: 4-6 people Difficulty Level: Easy Cuisine: American Diet: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
This Ultimate Creamy Cucumber Salad pairs wonderfully with grilled meats, sandwiches, or as part of a larger spread of summer sides. The cool, creamy texture provides a refreshing contrast to heavier dishes.
