This Cucumber Salad with Vinegar Dressing is one of those simple recipes that I make constantly all summer long because it takes just 10 minutes to pull together and goes with absolutely everything. Thinly sliced cucumbers and sweet onion are tossed in a simple homemade dressing made with apple cider vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper and then refrigerated for at least an hour to let the flavors develop.
The result is the most crisp, tangy, and refreshing cold side dish that gets better the longer it sits.
I love this salad because it is so endlessly versatile. It pairs beautifully with grilled chicken, pulled pork, burgers, fish tacos, and really any summer main dish you can think of.
It is naturally gluten free, made with simple pantry ingredients, and stores in the refrigerator for up to 5 days which makes it one of my favorite make ahead side dishes for summer.
Cucumber salad is having such a huge moment right now and once you try this simple version you will understand why people are obsessed with it.
If you are looking for more cold salads you may also enjoy my Watermelon Cucumber and Feta Salad, this Seven Layer Salad, my Gluten Free BLT Pasta Salad or this Thai Style Cabbage Salad recipes.
You can find all of my salad recipes here: Gluten Free Salad Recipes
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Instructions
Thinly slice the cucumbers and sweet onion with a knife or using a mandoline slicer. Place into a serving bowl.
In a small bowl or jar mix together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, salt and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the cucumber and onion. Stir to coat them.
Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour for the salad to be cold and for the cucumbers to absorb some of the oil and vinegar dressing flavor.
Substitutions
- Red Onion - if you can't get a sweet onion this salad is also delicious using red onion
- Mini Cucumbers - this salad is also delicious using thinly sliced mini cucumbers
- Avocado Oil - you can substitute avocado oil for the olive oil in this recipe
Variations
- Spicy - add a pinch of chili pepper flakes for a bit of spice
- Creamy - add ½ cup mayonnaise to make a creamy version of this salad
- Tomato - add cherry tomatoes cut in half for more veggies
I love all the fresh cucumbers available in the garden, grocery and farmer's market right now! This salad is a great use for fresh cucumbers and sweet onions.
Supplies
Storage
Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir the salad before serving to coat with dressing.
More Recipes You Might Enjoy
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Cucumber Salad with Vinegar Dressing
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Cucumber Salad with Vinegar Dressing is a crisp, refreshing, and incredibly flavorful cold side dish made with thinly sliced cucumbers and sweet onion marinated in a simple homemade dressing of apple cider vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. It comes together in just 10 minutes and gets even more flavorful as it sits in the refrigerator making it the perfect make ahead side dish for barbecues, picnics, potlucks, and easy weeknight dinners. Naturally gluten free and one of the most refreshing summer salads you will ever make!
Ingredients
- 2 medium English Cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1 medium Sweet Onion, thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- ½ tsp Sea Salt
- ¼ tsp Coarse Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
Thinly slice the cucumbers and sweet onion with a knife or using a mandoline slicer. Place into a serving bowl.
In a small bowl or jar mix together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, salt and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the cucumber and onion. Stir to coat them.
Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour for the salad to be cold and for the cucumbers to absorb some of the oil and vinegar dressing flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Salads
- Method: Chopped
- Cuisine: American
If you made this Cucumber Salad with Vinegar Dressing I would love to hear what you thought! Please leave a star rating and a comment below. This is one of my favorite easy summer side dishes and I hope it becomes a staple in your kitchen too!
Top tip
Use a mandoline slicer if you have one to get perfectly thin and even cucumber slices that absorb the vinegar dressing beautifully and create the most consistent texture throughout the salad. If you do not have a mandoline a sharp knife works great too. Just try to slice as thinly and evenly as possible. The thinner the slices the more dressing they will absorb and the more flavorful your salad will be after chilling.
Frequently Asked Questions
I use a combination of 2 tablespoons oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar then add the seasoning for even more flavor.
I love to use apple cider vinegar with cucumbers. It has a more warm, mild flavor than white vinegar. I also really love rice vinegar with cucumbers.
You can store this cucumber salad with vinegar dressing in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Be sure to stir the salad before serving.
Yes and I actually recommend it! This cucumber salad gets more flavorful the longer it sits in the refrigerator as the cucumbers absorb the tangy apple cider vinegar dressing. Make it at least an hour before serving and ideally a few hours ahead or even the night before for the best flavor. Give it a good stir before serving as the dressing will settle to the bottom as it sits.
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