Easy Old Fashioned Cucumber Salad (with onions)
Make these old fashioned cucumbers with your fresh garden cucumbers! This is a refreshing cucumber salad with a sweet and simple vinegar dressing, like Grandma used to make.
​This post was sponsored by Zulka, but all opinions are mine.
I have to say, if you haven’t had this easy cucumber onion salad, you are missing out! It’s a simple summer salad that dresses sliced cucumbers and onions with a homemade dressing. I remember my maternal Grandmother serving this delicious salad every year in the late summer months. It’s a great way to use up garden cucumbers, which is definitely what she was doing!
Luckily, it’s easy to make this classic cucumber salad! You only need a few simple ingredients; cucumbers, water, oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and celery seed. I add fresh dill to the mix, but feel free to omit the dill, or substitute other fresh herbs like fresh basil.
For this easy recipe, I used Zulka® pure cane sugar. I love to use Zulka® because it’s a clean sugar! There are no animal by-products, chemicals or preservatives added. And, it’s sustainably produced using family-owned sugar mills!
Zulka is a high-quality sugar that can replace other sugars 1:1 in your baking recipes! I love using it in salad dressing as well, because it dissolves fully without having to heat the dressing up.
For the dressing recipe, you can make adjustments. If you like a more tart dressing, add more vinegar. For extra sweetness, add more sugar. I know that some of my family members add whole garlic cloves to the dressing for a garlicky flavor. Please taste and adjust to your personal taste!
Recipe Substitutions:
This easy cucumber salad is a flexible recipe with several substitutions. You know that I love substitutions because they allow you to use what you have on hand at home! Here are a few suggestions:
- Instead of white vinegar, use red wine vinegar, rice vinegar, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- Instead of the yellow onion, use a white onion, Vidalia onions (sweet onions), red onions or shallots
- Instead of the fresh dill, use dried dill. You will need 1/3rd of a teaspoon of dried dill.
- I used garden cucumbers for this recipe, but feel free to use another variety. English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers or mini snacking cucumbers. Be aware that some varieties have thicker skin, so you may want to peel those first when using them.
Recipe Additions:
- Add a cup of halved cherry tomatoes.
- Add fresh herbs like fresh parsley or basil.
- Add whole garlic cloves or a sprinkle of minced garlic to the dressing.
Looking for a creamier version of this cucumber salad recipe? Try my Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad.
Serving Suggestions:
This simple side dish is perfect for summer cookouts or early fall potlucks. If you’re making it for home, I love this serving fresh side dish on a hot summer night. It’s wonderful with grilled pork chops or smoked chicken.
When I have leftovers, I like to eat this easy salad recipe for lunch as a main course with some hummus and crackers on the side!
The good news is that this great recipe lasts in the fridge for about a week, so you can use it for several meals.
Storing Leftovers:
Store leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to one week. I like to use a mason jar or glass container since this is an acidic recipe.
Old Fashioned Cucumber Salad
Make these old fashioned cucumbers with your fresh garden cucumbers! This is a refreshing cucumber salad with a sweet and simple vinegar dressing, like Grandma used to make.
Ingredients
- 2 large fresh cucumbers, sliced (about 3-4 cups)
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- ½ yellow onion, sliced thin
For the dressing:
- ¾ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup Zulka pure cane sugar
- ​2 tablespoons cold water
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Optional, for garnish:
- fresh dill
Instructions
- Slice cucumbers into thin slices using a chef knife or mandolin slicer.
- Place sliced cucumbers on a paper towel lined plate or cutting board and sprinkle them with the salt. Allow the cucumber slices to rest for at least 20 minutes. This will help to remove excess moisture, so you have crisp cucumbers!
- In a large bowl, add vinegar, Zulka sugar, water, black pepper, and celery seed. Whisk vigorously with a wire whisk until the sugar dissolves.
- Add onion slices to the vinegar mixture and allow it to rest for at least 5 minutes before adding the cucumbers.
- Toss the cucumbers and onions in the vinegar dressing, then cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Serve cold. Enjoy!
I just loved this salad, the flavors were spot on. It’s so crisp and refreshing, perfect in this summer heat!
This was such a delicious throw back and reminded me of a salad my grandmother used to make all the time. I made it for a neighborhood party and everyone loved it. Simple, easy and yummy!
My son just loves cucumbers but we’ve never actually made anything with them. So we tried your recipe and we both loved it! He asked for it again tomorrow. 🙂 Thanks so much!
This was delicious to eat! I loved how crisp and tangy the dressing was and the herbs popped with flavour when I paired it with smoked salmon.
I’m so glad I found this recipe! It’s so easy, and the sweetness of the sugar is just perfect. I added some chopped onions and fresh dill, and it was a huge hit at my dinner party.