Old Fashioned Cucumber Salad made with thinly sliced Cucumbers, Vinegar, Salt & Pepper, with or without Onions. This is a simple recipe where we’re after the Fresh, Crisp taste of Cucumbers with a bit of Tang and slight Heat. Optionally add in Sugar, Dill, or Green Onions. Turn it into a Creamy Cucumber Salad with the addition of Mayo, Yogurt or Sour Cream, or just Olive Oil with the Vinegar to create a dressing.
Cucumbers
English Cucumbers & Garden Cucumbers are the most common sold in stores. You can choose to leave the skin on, partially or fully peel the Cucumbers.
English Cucumbers
English Cucumbers are smaller in diameter, thin skin and wrapped in plastic. They will release less water.
Garden Cucumbers
Garden or Field Cucumbers are much larger in diameter. They’re shorter than English Cucumbers and are not wrapped. Instead, they have a thicker and waxy skin with much larger seeds.
Salt Rubbed Cucumbers
Salt rubbing the Cucumber is an extra step you can do that will improve the Flavor & Color, making it more uniform. It removes the bitterness from the skin and stipples with Garden or Field Cucumbers.
Place about 1 tsp or more of Salt in your Palm. Rub the Cucumber within your palm, until a slight green paste is formed. Then rinse and dry the Cucumber.
Salt & Pepper
The very basic Cucumber Salad is just sliced Cucumbers with Salt & Pepper, or the Salt & Pepper Blend which includes White Pepper is nice. Sometimes with a splash of Vinegar. No wait time, or anything Fancy. Just made right there on the spot to enjoy right away.
Salt & Pepper
- 1 Tbl Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp White Pepper
Celtic Sea Salt
Use a good Salt like Sea Salt, Celtic Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt.
Heat Source
The Pepper or Heat source can actually come from a few different places. Such as the Salt & Pepper Blend, where White Pepper is used. Or the use of Chili Flakes, Aleppo, Urfa Peppers, Isot, and even various minced chilies.
Vinegar
Traditionally or the Old Fashioned Cucumbers used White Vinegar and this does give a stronger hit. The White Vinegar can be exchanged with White Wine Vinegar. Even Lemon Juice, Rice Wine Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar.
White Wine Vinegar
White Wine Vinegar is excellent for Cucumber Salads.
Cucumber Salad with Onions
Thinly sliced Onions are a very nice addition. In this recipe, I used Yellow Onions soaked in water before straining to take the edge off and added to the Cucumbers. If you like the stronger taste, you can add them directly in. Other types of Onions can be used instead and may be better suited. Such as White Onions, or Red Onions. Red Onions offer up a beautiful Flavor, while White Onions will offer up a lighter and sweeter taste. Green Onions are a nice addition too.
Green Onions
Add one or more Green Onions.
Cucumber Salad with Garlic
Finely grated or minced Garlic for an additional flavor boosts is very nice. With a Creamy Sauce that uses either Mayo, Yogurt or Sour Cream. It’s a very nice addition.
Garlic
Use 1 or more Garlic Cloves, either minced or finely grated.
Cucumber Salad Seasoning
The Old Fashioned Cucumbers are seasoned with just Salt & Pepper. Although other Herbs & Spices can certainly be added in to taste. Add Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Aleppo or Chili Flakes, Dry Mustard, Parsley, Mint, Chives, Dill, and even Sugar to derive a sweeter taste.
Cucumber Salad with Dill
Dill compliments Cucumber really well. Add 1 tsp of Dill and toss.
Old Fashioned Cucumber Salad add ins
There are just so many things you can add to the Old Fashioned Cucumber Salad to derive many different types of Cucumber Salads. Although sometimes, just the Old Fashioned Cucumber Salad will do. Nothing too much, just a nice Salt & Pepper with White Vinegar and sliced Onions or not. You can also exchange with or include Green Onions, or just keep it simple.
Dressed Cucumber Salad
The Dressed Cucumber Salad uses a Dressing or Vinaigrette for the Sauce. Since this recipe already contains 1 Tbl of White Wine Vinegar for 1 Cucumber. Just whisk in 3 parts of a light tasting Olive Oil to make a Dressing or Vinaigrette. Toss the Cucumbers with the Dressing, Salt & Pepper and refrigerate to let the Flavors Blend.
Using bottled Vinaigrette is a good way to throw a Cucumber Salad together. Just wash the Cucumber, Peel or not and slice to toss with the dressing.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
For a Creamy version, just add in Mayonnaise, Yogurt, Sour Cream or a blend of each.
Mayonnaise is typically the American Style and Full Fat Sour Cream for the German Style or Gurkensalat. Yogurt is used for the Greek Style Tzatziki. This is more of a Sauce than a Salad. However, whole sliced Cucumbers can be tossed with a bit of Tzatziki for a Greek Cucumber Salad version just as well.
Other creamy versions may use Creamy Dressings like Ranch or Caesar. Sliced Cucumbers with Ranch or Caesar Dressing on the side to dip the Cucumbers with chopped Carrot Sticks makes for a great late night snack. Sometimes with Diced Cheese like Cheddar, Monterey Jack or Babybel Cheese.
Recipes with Old Fashioned Cucumbers
These are Fantastic all by themselves as a snack at any time of the day or night. Placed on Buttered Bread with or without mayo for a Cucumber Sandwich. You can even add some Cream Cheese to the Mayo for a Cucumber Sandwich Deli spread. Usually with Dill & Chives, but a bit of Mint can be added too.
They can also be thrown into Salads or served as a Vegetable side or topping for Meat & Rice dishes or Rice Bowls.
Equipment
- 1 Marinating Bowl
- 1 Mandoline or Knife
Ingredients
- 1 Cucumber - thinly sliced
- 1/4 C Onion - thinly sliced or finely grated
- 1 Tbl White Wine Vinegar - can use Lemon Juice or other Vinegars
- 1 Clove Garlic - Optional – minced or finely grated
- Salt & Pepper - to taste
Salt & Pepper
- 1 Tbl Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp White Pepper
Instructions
- Optionally peel the Cucumber or leave the skin on and prepare placing 1 tsp of salt in your hand and rub the Cucumber until a green paste forms and rinse the Cucumber. Thinly slice Cucumber with a Mandoline or Knife to the desired thickness.
- Place the remaining Ingredients into a bowl and mix. Add the Cucumbers to toss, cover and Refrigerate for 1 hour or more before tossing again and serving.