Cucumber salad
Cucumber salad is a dish that can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was known as kypos salata. The salad was made with cucumbers, onions, olive oil, and vinegar. This basic recipe was then adopted by the Romans, who added garlic and mint to the mix.
In the Middle Ages, cucumber salad recipes began to include cheese and eggs, as well as a variety of herbs and spices. By the Renaissance, cucumber salad had become a popular dish in Italy and France.
The modern cucumber salad can be traced back to the 19th century, when it was introduced to America by German and Dutch immigrants. Since then, cucumber salad has been a staple of American cookery, with many regional and family variations.
Advice
When making cucumber salad, it's important to choose cucumbers that are fresh and firm. Also, make sure to remove the seeds before slicing them up as these can make the cucumber salad watery. For an even more flavorful salad, try soaking the cucumbers in a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and salt for about 30 minutes to an hour before adding them to your dish. Finally, top with a light and tangy dressing such as a light vinaigrette or Greek yogurt-based dressing for the perfect balance of flavors.
Questions
Should you peel cucumbers for a salad?
No, cucumbers do not need to be peeled for a salad. The skin of the cucumber is edible and provides the salad with an added layer of flavor and crunch.
What does a cucumber salad contain?
A cucumber salad typically contains cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, and herbs (such as dill or parsley). Other ingredients, such as feta cheese, olives, capers, and bell peppers can also be added.
What mixes well with cucumbers?
Onions, tomatoes, dill, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, mint, yogurt, and feta cheese all mix well with cucumbers.
What is Japanese cucumber salad made of?
Japanese cucumber salad is typically made of cucumbers, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Some variations may also include sesame oil, garlic, or chili flakes.
Is Cucumber Salad good for you?
Yes, cucumber salad can be very healthy. It is a low-calorie food that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is also a good source of dietary fiber, which can help promote digestive health.
What Cannot be eaten with cucumber?
Cucumber should not be eaten with dairy products such as milk, cream, cheese, or yogurt, as these can cause digestive upset.
Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights
Recipes
Cucumber Salad With Soy, Ginger and Garlic
- pepper
- salt
- soy sauce
- ginger
- sugar
- green onion
- garlic
- cayenne pepper
- cilantro
- dark sesame oil
- skinned cucumber
- rice vinegar
- sunflower oil
Cucumber Salad With Roasted Peanuts and Chile
- chili oil
- salt
- sugar
- red pepper flake
- garlic
- cilantro
- peanut
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- peanut butter
- persian cucumber
Corn, Avocado and Cucumber Salad
- mint
- salt
- purslane
- cherry tomato
- onion
- cumin seed
- red pepper
- cucumber
- corn
- queso fresco
- avocado
- lime juice
- olive oil
Samoan-Style Tuna-and-Cucumber Salad
- lime
- coconut milk
- sushi grade tuna
- light brown sugar
- soy sauce
- sesame chile oil
- cucumber
- coconut flake
- fish sauce
- lime juice
Cucumber Salad
- salt
- dill
- onion
- sugar
- sour cream
- vinegar
- cucumber
10-Minute Thai Cucumber Salad Recipe
- soy sauce
- chili
- english cucumber
- shallot
- sugar
- cilantro
- cayenne pepper
- lime
- peanut
- garlic
- fish sauce
- green onion
EASY Cucumber Salad with Dill
- cucumber
- water
- onion
- dill
- apple cider vinegar
- sugar
- salt
- red wine vinegar
- white balsamic vinegar
Spicy Indian Cucumber Salad with Peanuts and Coconut
- serrano
- brown mustard seed
- peanut
- cumin seed
- red pepper flake
- coconut
- coconut oil
- lime
- sugar
- persian cucumber
- cilantro
- salt
Pineapple Cucumber Salad
- white vinegar
- avocado
- cucumber
- jalapeño
- pineapple
- bell pepper
- onion
- red pepper flake
- cilantro
- olive oil
- honey
- lime juice
- salt
Smashed Cucumber Salad
- chili oil
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- white miso
- salt
- ginger
- sugar
- sesame oil
- sesame seed
- garlic
- tahini
- green onion
- lime juice
- persian cucumber
Korean Cucumber Salad
- brown sugar
- sesame oil
- sesame seed
- chive
- sweet white onion
- gochugaru
- korean
- salt
- rice wine vinegar
- garlic
Cucumber Salad With Sour Cream and Dill Recipe
- salt
- vinegar
- sour cream
- cucumber
- black pepper
Baby Heirloom Tomato and Cucumber Salad
- salt
- cucumber
- balsamic vinegar
- white bread
- tomato
- basil infused olive oil
Smashed Cucumber Salad
- sugar
- green onion
- rice vinegar
- ginger
- cilantro
- sesame oil
- soy sauce
- salt
- cucumber
Tomato Cucumber Salad
- red wine vinegar
- cherry tomato
- basil
- onion
- olive oil
- cucumber
- salt
Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad
- onion
- sour cream
- salt
- white vinegar
- dill
- sugar
- english cucumber
- garlic
Cucumber Salad with Herb & Garlic Dressing (Vinaigrette)
- garlic
- red wine vinegar
- dijon mustard
- salt
- sugar
- onion
- olive oil
- cucumber
- herb
Chinese Cucumber Salad
- sesame oil
- soy sauce
- sugar
- vegetable oil
- red pepper flake
- bell pepper
- rice wine vinegar
- cucumber
Creamy Marinated Cucumber Salad
- sweet
- sugar
- salt
- mayonnaise
- white pepper
- cucumber
Creamy Cucumber Salad
- mayonnaise
- onion
- sour cream
- black pepper
- dill
- sugar
- white wine vinegar
- english cucumber
- salt
Cucumber Salad
- sugar
- red wine vinegar
- onion
- white vinegar
- cucumber
- salt
Spanish Cucumber Salad (Ensalada de Pepino)
- onion
- salt
- cucumber
- tomato
- red wine vinegar
- olive oil
Creamy Cucumber Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing
- yogurt
- garlic
- salt
- onion
- mint
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- cucumber
Smashed Cucumber Salad with Za'atar and Feta
- feta
- salt
- red pepper flake
- lime juice
- za atar
- garlic
- olive oil
- persian cucumber
Creamy Yogurt Cucumber Salad Recipe
- non greek yogurt
- salt
- garlic
- black pepper
- dill
- mint
- onion
- cucumber
- lemon juice
Sweet and Spicy Cucumber Salad
- salt
- fried shallot
- cherry tomato
- garlic
- shallot
- cilantro
- tamarind concentrate
- lime juice
- fish sauce
- thai chile
- persian cucumber
- INGREDIENT INFO
- tamarind concentrate
Strawberry-Cucumber Salad with Lemon Cream
- salt
- strawberry
- lemon juice
- crème fraîche
- cardamom
- pistachio
- cayenne pepper
- sugar
- persian cucumber
Fried Eggplant, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad
- deep fry thermometer
- vegetable oil
- tomato
- lemon juice
- garlic
- cilantro
- parsley
- olive oil
- persian cucumber
- eggplant
- green chile
- greek yogurt
- salt
German Cucumber Salad
- dill
- white vinegar
- sugar
- sour cream
- salt
- english telegraph cucumber
- black pepper
Asian Cucumber Salad
- dill
- sesame seed
- cucumber
- rice vinegar
- red pepper flake
- onion
- salt
- sugar
Thai Cucumber Salad
- water
- english cucumber
- chili pepper
- shallot
- salt
- sugar
- white vinegar
- cilantro
Creamy Yogurt-Dill Cucumber Salad
- sour cream
- salt
- black pepper
- dill
- cucumber
Honeydew Cucumber Salad with Feta and Blueberries
- blueberry
- english cucumber
- feta
- honeydew melon
- honey
- white wine vinegar
- olive oil
- salt
- mint
Strawberry Cucumber Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing
- honey
- white balsamic vinegar
- cucumber
- strawberry
Thai Chicken and Cucumber Salad
- chili garlic sauce
- garlic
- cucumber
- lime
- ginger
- onion
- cilantro
- mint
- fish sauce
- rice wine vinegar
- red pepper flake
- almond breeze almondmilk coconutmilk original
- coconut palm sugar
- carrot
- sugar
- lemongrass
- fish sauce
- lime
- cocktail tomato
Kale and Cucumber Salad with Roasted Ginger Dressing
- salt
- cilantro
- red russian kale
- english hothouse cucumber
- garlic
- red thai chile
- onion
- fried onion
- lime juice
- sugar
- fish sauce
- vegetable oil
- persian cucumber
- ginger
Farro and Cucumber Salad
- black pepper
- salt
- farro
- white wine vinegar
- caraway seed
- dijon mustard
- honey
- dill
- parsley
- pumpernickel bread
- cucumber
- yellow beet
- olive oil
Cucumber Salad
- dill
- mint
- english cucumber
- apple cider vinegar
- water
- salt
- agave nectar
- yellow mustard seed
- onion
- sesame oil
- rice vinegar
- sugar
- olive oil
- pickled mustard seed
Smashed Cucumber Salad with Hot Vinegar
- peanut
- salt
- sugar
- rice vinegar
- fish sauce
- garlic
- green thai chile
- persian cucumber
Creamy cucumber salad
- white wine vinegar
- dijon mustard
- dill weed
- salt
- jalapeño
- sour cream
- cumin
- cilantro
- cayenne pepper
- onion
- garlic
- cucumber
Salad-e Shirazi: Tomato Cucumber Salad
- onion
- mint
- garlic
- cucumber
- lemon juice
- olive oil
- tomato
- black pepper
- salt
Cantaloupe and Cucumber Salad
- sumac
- sumac
- coriander
- salt
- english hothouse cucumber
- olive oil
- pumpkin seed
- cantaloupe
- champagne vinegar
- cilantro
- mint
- black pepper
- cardamom
- fresno chile
Japanese Cucumber Salad
- wakame seaweed
- white sesame seed
- gluten soy sauce
- salt
- octopus
- sugar
- persian cucumber
- rice vinegar
- shrimp
Wakame-Cucumber Salad
- wakame
- black peppercorn
- white vinegar
- english hothouse cucumber
- daikon
- sugar
- salt
Savory Peach and Cucumber Salad
- spice mill
- salt
- olive oil
- sesame seed
- avocado
- cardamom
- garlic
- serrano chile
- clove
- coriander seed
- cumin seed
- pumpkin seed
- persian cucumber
- cilantro
- parsley
- lemon juice
- yellow peach
Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon and Celery Salt
- 3x1 lemon zest
- celery salt
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- persian cucumber
Thai Cucumber Salad with Peanuts
- salt
- cilantro
- fish sauce
- sugar
- garlic
- peanut
- onion
- lime juice
- canola oil
- thai chile
- english cucumber
Pistachio-Pear Cucumber Salad
- salt
- bleu cheese
- onion
- olive oil
- red wine vinegar
- cucumber
- red pear
- cranberry
- pistachio
Asian Cucumber Salad
- red pepper flake
- rice vinegar
- salt
- sugar
- peanut
- sesame oil
- cucumber
- green onion
Watermelon Cucumber Salad
- watermelon
- english cucumber
- basil
- arugula
- feta
- Poppyseed Dressing
- honey
- dijon mustard
- olive oil
- salt
- poppy seed
- white balsamic vinegar
Cucumber Salad
- Dressing
- english cucumber
- chickpea
- salt
- onion
- parsley
- mint
- greek yogurt
- olive oil
- black pepper
- garlic
- dill
- lemon juice
- mint
- za atar
Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Creamy cucumber salad
- salt
- lemon
- english cucumber
- white vinegar
- greek yogurt
- herb
- mayonnaise
- radishes toss
- sugar
- Optional, but really nice, additions
- shallot
- feta
Raw Beet and Cucumber Salad
- salt
- olive oil
- lemon zest
- hungarian wax chile
- sugar
- english hothouse cucumber
- sauvignon blanc vinegar
- herb
- poppy seed
- fresno chile
- kirby cucumber
- chioggia
- ricotta salata
- green onion
Wakame-and-Cucumber Salad
- salt
- ginger
- lime juice
- yellow miso paste
- honey
- sesame oil
- vegetable oil
- rice vinegar
- wakame seaweed
- green onion
- persian cucumber
Sour Cream Cucumber Salad
- white pepper
- shallot
- champagne vinegar
- sour cream
- dill
- cucumber
- salt
Dill Pea and Cucumber Salad (Our Sweet Basil Kitchen Cookbook Review)
- red pepper flake
- english cucumber
- olive oil
- pea
- grape tomato
- apple cider vinegar
- balsamic vinegar
- dill
- sugar
- garlic
- salt
- black pepper
Creamy Cucumber Salad
- dill
- garlic
- lemon zest
- greek yogurt
- salt
- onion
- english cucumber
- pepper
Tomato and cucumber salad with cornbread croutons
- lime juice
- salt
- cucumber
- cumin
- cilantro
- cotija cheese
- cayenne pepper
- onion
- tomato
- olive oil
- garlic
- jalapeño
- ch cornbread
Vinegar-Cucumber Salad
- olive oil
- white wine vinegar
- dill
- persian cucumber
- salt
Tomato Cucumber Salad With Fried Capers
- salt
- black pepper
- english cucumber
- olive oil
- sherry vinegar
- dill
- caper
- tomato
Big Greek Gus Burger and Cucumber Salad
- oregano
- salt
- salt
- mayonnaise
- olive oil
- onion
- lemon juice
- dill
- mint
- ground beef
- feta
- greek yogurt
- tomato
- garlic
- cucumber
- hamburger bun
- tomato
Chunky Bacon and Cucumber Salad (Sichuan 'Kai-Wei' Salad)
- salt
- dryroasted peanut
- chili oil
- groundnut oil
- lime juice
- shaohsing rice wine
- red chile
- star anise
- chile flake
- cilantro
- clear rice vinegar
- sesame oil
- sichuan peppercorn
- smoked bacon lardon
- chile
- cucumber
Malloreddus Pasta and Cucumber Salad
- basil
- salt
- mustard
- apple cider vinegar
- fennel seed
- spring onion
- malloreddus
- olive oil
- cherry tomato
- cucumber
- friggitelli
Thai Cucumber Salad
- fish sauce
- garlic
- sweetener
- cilantro
- mint
- peanut
- avocado oil
- rice vinegar
- english cucumber
- green onion
- lime juice
- onion
- sesame seed
Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe
- green onion
- sour cream
- dill
- garlic
- cucumber
- salt
Smashed Cucumber Salad with Italian Dressing
- black pepper
- mint
- salt
- honey
- onion
- olive oil
- persian cucumber
- red wine vinegar
Mango-Cucumber Salad with Mint
- sugar
- mint
- canola oil
- lime juice
- chili garlic sauce
- fish sauce
- rice vinegar
- english cucumber
- mango
Gaby's Cucumber Salad
- avocado
- balsamic vinegar
- garlic
- olive oil
- persian cucumber
- salt
- additions arugula
Japanese Cucumber Salad
- sugar
- sesame oil
- salt
- japanese cucumber
- rice vinegar
- soy sauce
watermelon cucumber salad
- pepita
- cucumber
- ricotta salata
- watermelon
- olive oil
- salt
Thai Cucumber Salad
- cucumber
- green chile
- sugar
- water
- white vinegar
- salt
- ginger
Easy Cucumber Salad
- white vinegar
- salt
- onion
- sugar
- water
- dill
- english cucumber
Eli Sussman's Tomato–Cucumber Salad with Fennel Dressing
- salt
- salt
- lemon cucumber
- watermelon cucumber
- fennel seed
- olive oil
- fennel pollen
- lemon juice
- tomato
- fennel bulb
Arugula, Avocado, Tomato and Cucumber Salad
- lemon juice
- black pepper
- salt
- english cucumber
- avocado
- purple onion
- feta
- arugula
- olive oil
- tomato
Green Cabbage Cucumber Salad with Herbs
- green onion
- salt
- white vinegar
- black pepper
- english cucumber
- dill
- green cabbage
- sunflower oil
Din Tai Fung Chilled Cucumber Salad
- chili garlic sauce
- salt
- honey
- mirin
- canola oil
- sesame oil
- rice vinegar
- persian
- marinade
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Correlated with Higher Ratings
- soy sauce
- mint
- lime juice
Staple Ingredients
- salt 74%
- sugar 38%
- cucumber 36%
- garlic 33%
- olive oil 32%
- onion 32%
Common Ingredients
- cilantro 22%
- dill 21%
- persian cucumber 20%
- english cucumber 18%
Usual Ingredients
- rice vinegar 16%
- black pepper 14%
- lime juice 14%
- mint 13%
- red pepper flake 12%
- fish sauce 11%
- green onion 11%
- lemon juice 11%
- sesame oil 11%
- sour cream 11%
- honey 9%
- peanut 9%
- soy sauce 9%
- white vinegar 9%
- ginger 8% See More
- red wine vinegar 8%
- tomato 8%
- cayenne pepper 7%
- sesame seed 7%
- shallot 7%
- white wine vinegar 7%