Description
A refreshing and crisp cucumber vinegar salad that transforms everyday cucumbers into a restaurant-quality side dish in just 15 minutes. This easy recipe features a tangy vinegar dressing and fresh herbs, perfect for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds fresh cucumbers (English or Persian preferred)
- 1/3 cup vinegar (apple cider, white wine, or rice vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt (for draining)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (for dressing)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped (dill, mint, or parsley)
- Optional Substitutions: Honey or maple syrup, Lemon or lime juice, Fresh garlic or onion powder
Instructions
- Wash cucumbers thoroughly under cold water.
- Slice cucumbers into uniform 1/8-inch rounds.
- Place sliced cucumbers in a large colander and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons kosher salt. Toss gently and let drain for 30 minutes to remove excess moisture.
- Rinse cucumbers briefly under cold water and pat completely dry with paper towels.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1/3 cup vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Whisk until sugar dissolves.
- Add drained cucumbers and 2 tablespoons fresh chopped herbs to the dressing. Toss gently to coat evenly.
- Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
- Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with additional fresh herbs and serve chilled.
Notes
- Choose firm, unblemished cucumbers with minimal seeds for the best texture.
- Apple cider vinegar provides mild sweetness, white wine vinegar offers clean acidity, and rice vinegar delivers delicate flavor.
- Dill provides classic European flavor, fresh mint adds cooling properties, and parsley contributes bright, clean notes.
- For extra-crisp results, soak sliced cucumbers in ice water for 10 minutes before salting.
- Store in airtight glass containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: German-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/8th of recipe)
- Calories: 25
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg