Refreshing Crunchy Cucumber Salad (Printer-friendly)

Thinly sliced cucumbers, red onion, and fresh herbs in a bright vinegar dressing, delivering a crisp, tangy, refreshing bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 lb English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced
02 - ½ medium red onion, very thinly sliced
03 - 1 small carrot, julienned
04 - ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes
05 - Thinly sliced jicama or watermelon radish

→ Herbs

06 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or fresh mint

→ Dressing

07 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or toasted sesame oil
09 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar or honey
10 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
11 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Toppings

12 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds or chopped almonds

# Directions:

01 - Wash and pat dry the cucumbers. If desired, remove seeds by cutting each cucumber in half lengthwise and scooping out the center with a spoon. Slice into 1/8-inch rounds.
02 - Place cucumber slices in a colander set over a bowl or sink. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt and toss gently. Let drain for 10 minutes to remove excess water.
03 - After 10 minutes, rinse cucumbers under cold water to remove surface salt. Shake off excess water and pat dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, olive oil, sugar or honey, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, and black pepper until smooth.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, add drained cucumbers, red onion, chopped dill or mint, and any optional add-ins including carrot, cherry tomatoes, jicama, radish, nuts, or seeds.
06 - Pour dressing over the mixture and toss gently until well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
07 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and cucumbers to chill. For best crunch, serve within 2 hours.
08 - Transfer to a serving platter or bowl. Garnish with extra dill or mint and a sprinkle of sesame seeds or nuts for added crunch and visual appeal.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under half an hour but tastes like something you'd wait all day for
  • The salting trick transforms cucumbers from watery to impossibly crisp
02 -
  • Don't skip the draining step, or you'll end up with a puddle at the bottom of your bowl
  • Slice everything as thin as you can—thick chunks feel clumsy and don't absorb the dressing the same way
03 -
  • A mandoline slicer is worth getting for perfect, paper thin cucumber rounds
  • Taste and adjust the salt before chilling—cold food needs more seasoning than you think
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