Description
This Cucumber Dill Salad is a refreshing, light, and easy-to-make dish combining crisp fresh cucumbers with aromatic dill, zesty lemon juice, and olive oil. Perfect as a vibrant side for warm days, grilled meats, or as a healthy snack, it offers a crisp texture and bright flavors that come together in under 15 minutes. Versatile and customizable, it suits a variety of dietary needs and tastes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 large fresh cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Optional Add-ins
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (for Greek style)
- 2 tablespoons olives (for Greek style)
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt (for creamy dressing)
- Red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeño, to taste (for spicy kick)
- Additional herbs like fresh mint or parsley (as an herb swap)
- Toasted sunflower seeds or slivered almonds (for added crunch)
Instructions
- Prepare the cucumbers: Wash and thinly slice the cucumbers using a mandoline slicer for uniform thin slices or a sharp knife for chunkier pieces. Place the cucumber slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let them rest for about 10 minutes to draw out excess water and enhance crunch.
- Rinse and drain: After resting, rinse the cucumbers gently under cold water to remove excess salt. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to avoid a watery salad.
- Mix dressing and herbs: In a bowl, whisk together the freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Finely chop fresh dill and add it to the dressing to infuse the salad with a bright herbal aroma.
- Combine ingredients: Gently toss the cucumbers in the dressing until evenly coated. If using red onion or any optional add-ins like feta, olives, or herbs, fold them in carefully to distribute flavor evenly.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled for a cool, refreshing experience perfect for warm weather.
Notes
- Salt cucumbers properly to pull out excess moisture and maintain crispness.
- Use fresh dill instead of dried for the best flavor and aroma.
- Thinner cucumber slices absorb dressing better and blend flavors more evenly.
- Adjust the amount of lemon juice to balance acidity according to your taste.
- Always serve chilled to enhance the refreshing qualities of the salad.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 2 days, drain excess liquid before storing to prevent sogginess.
- Freezing is not recommended as cucumbers lose their crispness upon thawing.
- Do not reheat this salad; serve cold or at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: cucumber salad, dill salad, fresh cucumber recipe, healthy side dish, quick salad, light salad, gluten free salad