Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe

Super Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad That Can Pair with Any Dish, Especially Steaks and Spicy Dishes

Cucumber dill salad recipe, a super easy side dish only needs 3 ingredients. The most it needs from you is patience.

Total Time: 2 Hours 15 Minutes
Prep Time: 15 Minutes  
Inactive Cook Time: 2 Hours to Overnight
Serving: 3-4

I served this side dish along with My Uncle Joe's World Best Prime Rib one Christmas dinner. It is insanely easy and creamy. Since then, I make it all the time, especially when vegetables are super expensive which left me with no choice, but seedless cucumbers.

CHEF NOTES

Stainless steel colander works best in this recipe. I once used a meshed basket. Next I realized that it got the rim all rusty because of the extra moisture from the cucumbers.

Using a mandoline to slice the cucumber most likely is the quickest way to get this main ingredient chopped up. However, using this kitchen gadget, make sure that you are extra cautious about it. There are 2 ends of the cucumber. One end usually is the stem and it is long enough to hold on to that part, especially when you are slicing towards the end of the cucumber. Obviously, you can use the safe hand holder.

Start slicing cucumber from this end with a mandoline

Save the stem at the end. You will thank me later.

This cucumber dill salad recipe calls for 2 seedless cucumbers. Chop and drop the sliced cucumbers into the colander once you got the first one done. Add 1/2 tsp of salt and continue the rest of the slicing. Transfer the rest into the same colander and add the rest of the salt in it. By dividing the salt into 2 "layers" helps the tossing process easier and spread the salt evenly throughout.

It may sound like a lot of salt. But the main purpose of salt here is not for seasoning. It is for drawing out the moisture from the cucumber.

Add A Few Twists to Make This Recipe Brand New Again

You may have known me by now that I love to make some twists in recipes. It creates more varieties. But at the same time, you, being a cook, are more stress-free from thinking and looking for new ideas. Here are a few ways to spice up your dressing with store-bought Ranch dressing or sour cream as the base:

1. Add a tablespoonful of grated parmesan cheese and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
2. Add a teaspoon or less of hot sauce with salt and pepper to taste (buffalo, sriracha or tabasco sauce).
3. Add spices, such as cayenne pepper with salt and pepper to taste (add 1/4 tsp at a time. Don’t get too aggressive or it is difficult to knock down the spiciness).
4. If you use purely sour cream without any spices or sauce as mentioned above, add fresh (about 2tbsp chopped) or dry (about 1/2 to 3/4 tsp) dill, salt and pepper to taste.

Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe and Directions

Ingredients
2 regular size seedless cucumbers (thinly sliced)
1/4 cup Store-bought Cesar/Ranch salad dressing or any creamy dressing, such as ranch (divided)
1/2 tsp Dry Dill (Use dry parsley flakes as substitute is another great option.)
1 tsp Salt (divided)

Directions

1. Put a colander into a big mixing bowl. The colander is to allow the excessive liquid of the cucumbers to drain through. The mixing bowl will collect all this liquid excess.
2. Thinly slice the cucumbers and transfer them into the colander. (You can use a mandoline to do the same work. If so, watch out for kitchen safety. I recommend to start slicing the cucumber from the other end away from the stem. So, you will have something hold on to. You still need to watch out so that you are not going to cut yourself.)
3. Add 1/2 of the quantity of salt after slicing the first cucumber. (It will make tossing much easier later) Add the rest of the salt after slicing the 2nd cucumber. Use hands to toss to coat sliced cucumber gently and evenly.
4. Cover it with plastic wrap and transfer it into the fridge for at least 2 hours. Best is overnight.
5. You should see plenty of liquid at the bottom of the mixing bowl. But there is more that you can squeeze out. Do it batch by batch before transfer the cucumber into a salad bowl. At this time, the cucumber is very tender. Don't worry about breaking any slices at all.
6. Add 2 tbsp of salad dressing into the cucumbers first. Toss to coat. Add more salad dressing if needed.
7. Add dry dill, quick toss and serve immediately.

Cucumber Dill Salad Recipe Steps with Photos

3 basic ingredients to make this delicious cucumber salad

Slicing cucumber on a mandoline

As you slice the cucumber, the stem provides as a handle to keep you away from being hurt.

Best is to use the safe hand holder towards the end

Transfer the first sliced cucumber into a colander

Add half of the salt immediately on top before slicing the next cucumber

After tossing salt and cucumber together, cover it with plastic wrap and chill in fridge overnight

You will get around 1/4 of liquid from the cucumber

Squeeze out the extra liquid from the cucumbers

Transferred cucumbers to a big salad bowl

Add salad dressing and dry dill; toss to coat

ENJOY!

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