16 Best Cucumber Salad Recipes

We've compiled a variety of cucumber salad recipes you'll want to try: from classics with sour cream and dill to original cocktail-inspired variations.

Make the most of the season!

Whether you grow cucumbers in your own garden or buy seasonal produce from local farmers, there's no shortage of these refreshing green vegetables in the summer. And while you probably add them to salads, pickle them, or enjoy them as a snack, lightly salted cucumbersSummer simply won't come until you've made at least one cucumber salad. There are countless recipes for this classic appetizer, but most people who decide to make cucumber salad prefer this Eastern European version. Cucumbers and sweet onions in a tart sour cream and dill dressing make a refreshing addition to any main course.

Cucumber salad with creamy dressing

When thinking of cucumber salad, many probably think of this recipe. It's an excellent base for an authentic cucumber salad in the style of Eastern and Central Europe. Cucumber and sweet onion, coated in a tart sour cream dressing with dill, will be a refreshing complement to main courses.

Recipe: Cucumber salad in creamy dressing

Cucumber salad with sour cream and yogurt

If you can't decide between sour cream and yogurt for your salad, why not try both? In this simple yet rich cucumber salad, Ina Garten uses yogurt, sour cream, and a splash of champagne vinegar for a tart note. Fresh dill adds a traditional flavor.

Recipe: Cucumber salad with sour cream and labneh

Cucumber salad

Ellie Krieger's simple salad contains many familiar ingredients like dill and onion. However, there's no sour cream, making it lighter. It's a wonderful side dish for hearty meals.

Recipe: Cucumber salad

Cucumber and onion salad

Chef Michael Symon hails from Cleveland, Ohio, where the local cuisine is influenced by Eastern European immigrants. Cucumber salad is a staple in many families' menus. This simple recipe features dill, onion, and vinegar, which enhance the combination of cucumbers and sour cream.

Recipe: Cucumber salad with sour cream

Cucumber salad with mint

This salad is like a Mediterranean day on a plate. Molly Yeh's recipe is based on attractive Iranian cucumbers with fresh lemon juice and mint. The flavors are enhanced with za'atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend with aromatic dried thyme and sesame seeds.

Recipe: Salad of chopped cucumbers with mint

Cucumber Mint Julep Salad

Don't think this recipe is simply a cocktail imitation or just for parties. Honey, bourbon, and mint leaves pair beautifully in a vinaigrette with crisp Kirby cucumbers. Guests are sure to remark on the uniqueness and flavor of this salad.

Recipe: Cucumber Mint Julep Salad

Cucumber salad with yogurt dressing

This salad is full of Eastern Mediterranean flavors and is reminiscent of Greek tzatziki. This isn't a gyros or souvlaki dip, but a hearty salad. The plain yogurt is rich but lighter than sour cream, and the combination of dill and mint provides a lemony, refreshing balance.

Recipe: Cucumber salad with dill in yogurt dressing

Asian-Style Cucumber Salad

Got a jar of pickled ginger left in the fridge from that sushi day? It's hard to find a use for this sweet and spicy snack other than serving it with rolls, but we have another option. Japanese pickled ginger is the secret ingredient in this quick cucumber salad. A little fresh jalapeño pepper adds a subtle kick.

Recipe: Asian cucumber salad

Salad of fresh and pickled cucumbers

This brilliant recipe from Alex Guarnaschelli combines two types of cucumbers. Fresh cucumbers are what you'd expect to see in a salad like this. But there's also an unusual ingredient: pickles. They provide just one facet of the tart flavor in a salad that also includes a garlicky vinaigrette and homemade pickled red onions.

Recipe: Salad of fresh and pickled cucumbers

Cucumber salad with walnuts

This light salad calls for small Iranian cucumbers. They're incredibly juicy, and their flavor pairs well with the tart dressing—served with other dishes, the salad will act as a "flavor neutralizer." Fresh parsley adds a herbal flavor, while walnuts provide crunch and a rich note.

Recipe: Cucumber and Walnut Salad

Cucumber salad with ponzu sauce

Valerie Bertinelli's cucumber salad is a refreshing addition to any meal, drawing on elements from various Asian cuisines. Ponzu, a soy-citrus dressing from Japan, combines with sambal oelek, an Indonesian chili paste, to create the salad's flavorful base. Ginger, garlic, green onions, and cilantro round out the bouquet.

Recipe: Smashed cucumber salad with ponzu

Cucumber and tomato salad

This recipe from Rachel Ray is a twist on the refreshing çoban salad from Turkey, which is also popular in the Eastern Mediterranean. This simple side dish requires only a few ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. A handful of Italian parsley gives the salad a fresh, herbaceous flavor reminiscent of summer.

Recipe: Salad of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers

Indian cucumber and yogurt salad

No collection of the best cucumber salads would be complete without including raita. Raita is a refreshing Indian yogurt-based salad that can be made with any fruits or vegetables. One of the most popular varieties is with cucumber. Aarti Sequeira shares a recipe for cucumber raita with mint and raisins, which adds a subtle sweetness.

Recipe: Cucumber Raita: An Indian Cucumber and Yogurt Snack

Chinese salad with smashed cucumbers

Smashed cucumber salads have long been popular in cuisines around the world. You literally smash the cucumbers, which creates jagged edges that soak up the dressing better! And trust us, you'll want Molly Yeh's rich dressing in every spoonful.

Recipe: Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad

Asian-Style Salad with Pickles

Rachel Ray shares a recipe for lightly pickled cucumbers, which can also be served as a salad. It combines European preserving traditions, such as dill and bay leaves, with ingredients typically found in East Asia. However, the real twist comes from a dash of tamari, or soy sauce, which imbues the cucumbers with an umami flavor.

Recipe: Canned cucumber and chili pepper salad without sterilization

Salad of beaten cucumbers

Smashed cucumber salad (pai huang gua in Chinese) is a popular side dish in many Chinese restaurants and is often served with Asian dumplings. This refreshing, flavorful salad is dressed with Chinese black vinegar and soy sauce. Black vinegar has a deep, slightly smoky flavor, a soft acidity, and a subtle sweetness. Smashed cucumber salad is typically flavored with garlic and sesame seeds or sesame oil, and some variations also include chili peppers or Sichuan peppercorns; this version also uses Korean gochukaru peppercorns for a pleasant, subtle heat and a reddish hue. Smash the cucumbers for the salad so they have jagged edges—more surface area for absorbing the dressing.

Recipe: Salad of beaten cucumbers