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    Cucumber Vinegar Salad

    Published: May 31, 2020. Last Updated: May 24, 2021 by: Ginny McMeans

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    Jump to Recipe -
    Two photos one above the other with overhead views of wooden bowls filled with cucumber and onion sliced salad.
    Two photos one above the other of and overhead view with two angles of cucumber salad with red onions. Text in the center for pinning..
    Looking down at a bowlful of sliced green cucumber and red onions. Text above with the title for Pinterest.

    Cucumber Vinegar Salad has thinly sliced cukes, red onions, seasonings, and a sweet vinegar dressing. This healthy cucumber salad is crisp, refreshing, easy, and low carb.

    A large wooden bowl is tilted forward and filled with cucumber vinegar salad tharhas green cucumber slices and thinly sliced red onions.

    Cucumber salads should be a staple at picnics and get-togethers on lazy summer days. You know, like a tradition.

    I'll admit I never had a cucumber salad until I was in my 20's but as soon as I took my first bite I was hooked.

    I bet you love them too. Not especially the mayonnaise kind but the fresh and light marinated kind. Marinated with distilled white or apple cider vinegar that has been sweetened a bit with sugar and spices.

    Jump to:
    • 🥒 What is an English cucumber
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 📖 Cucumber salad variations
    • 🥗 More great raw salads
    • 📋 Recipe
    Overhead view of the large serving bowl and two smaller individual bowls full of cucumber vinegar salad with forks and a slotted spoon on the left.

    Salads are such a welcoming treat too. Whether they are leaf salads or made from other vegetables they always seem like a great addition.

    And pasta salads can become a complete lunch! I have about 15 salads on this blog and every one of them is very different from the other.

    And this healthy cucumber salad is right in keeping with my theme on beautiful, tasty and unique salads. Cucumbers and red onions are the stars.

    Two small single serve wooden bowls are filled with cucumber vinegar salad with the large bowl sitting behind.

    🥒 What is an English cucumber

    An English Cucumber has a thinner skin than a regular cucumber and its seeds are smaller.

    They are mild in taste with no bitter taste.

    English Cucumbers do not cause you to burp so their other handle is burpless cucumbers. I've seen them as hothouse cucumbers too.

    Sometimes each cucumber comes in its own tight clear wrapper. Just look at those smooth long and thin English cucumbers in the photo below.

    Ingredients for a fresh marinated vegetable salad on a red plaid cloth napkin.

    🥘 Ingredients

    • English cucumbers or young regular cucumbers - are the main crispy flavored vegetable for this salad.
    • Red onion - gives a flavor contrast in a milder way than other onions.
    • Celery seed - are surprisingly flavorful and are often used in brines.
    • Salt - a little bit goes a long way for this seasoning.
    • Vinegar - is acidic and helps the flavors become infused into the vegetables.
    • Water - helps dissolve the sugar when it is heated.
    • Sugar - counterbalances the acidic flavor of vinegar and makes the best dressing when they are combined.
    Overhead view of the prepared sliced veggies in a white bowl with seasonings sprinkled on top.

    🔪 Instructions

    • In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, water, and sugar to boil and stir until sugar is dissolved.
    • Take off the heat and let it cool while you're preparing the vegetables.
    • Slice cucumbers and onions and place in a large bowl.
    • Sprinkle on celery seed and salt.
    Overhead view of pouring the cooled prepared dressing from a saucepan over the vegetables.
    • Pour the vinegar mixture over cucumbers and mix well. You can enjoy the recipe right now but it gets even better after it has rested and marinated in the dressing overnight.
    • Place in an airtight container, cover, and seal.
    • Place in refrigerator. to meld.
    A wide photo of two bowl full of a refreshing raw vegetable side dish sitting on a white countertop.

    📖 Cucumber salad variations

    • Even though I consider this cucumber vinegar salad recipe perfect there are additions and changes that you can make.
    • I quickly mentioned this above but you can use apple cider vinegar instead of white distilled vinegar. It is slightly less acidic.
    • You can substitute coconut sugar for the granulated sugar. It is a wonderful flavor and that is what I did for this Mildly Marinated Cauliflower recipe.
    • You can switch out the celery seed for fresh dill or dill seed.
    • Sprinkle in a little black pepper.
    • There are many more things that can be done including adding more seasonings and maybe even chopped tomatoes but then you'd have to change the salad name.
    Closeup photo of cuke and onion slices on a fork and coming right for your mouth.

    🥗 More great raw salads

    • Apple Pecan Salad with Raisins
    • Superfood Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
    • Massaged Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

    If you take a photo of your crisp cucumber salad I would love to see it. Follow me over on Instagram and tag me on your photo @vegan_in_the_freezer.

    Overhead view of two wooden bowls filled with colorful green, white and deep purple veggie colors for this cucumber vinegar salad recipe.

    📋 Recipe

    A large wooden bowl is tilted forward and filled with green cucumber slices and thinly sliced red onions.

    Cucumber Vinegar Salad

    Ginny McMeans
    Cucumber Vinegar Salad has thinly sliced cukes, red onions, seasonings, and a sweet vinegar dressing.
    4.05 from 45 votes
    Print Save Saved
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine Vegan
    Servings 4 Servings
    Calories 174 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups English cucumbers or regular cucumbers - thinly sliced and this is an estimate on the number of cups. It may be four cups.
    • 1 ½ cups red onion - sliced
    • 1 tablespoon celery seed
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup distilled white vinegar
    • ½ cup water
    • ¾ cup organic granulated sugar

    Instructions
     

    • In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, water and sugar to boil and stir until sugar is dissolved.
    • Take off the heat and let it cool while you're preparing the vegetables.
    • Slice cucumbers and onions and place in large bowl.
    • Sprinkle on celery seed and salt.
    • Pour the vinegar mixture over cucumbers and mix well.
    • Place in an airtight container, cover and seal. Place in refrigerator to meld. It will keep nice for three to four days.

    Notes

    Each serving is about 1 to 1 ½ cups.
    Can be made up to 3 to 4 days before serving

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ServingCalories: 174kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 593mgPotassium: 136mgFiber: 1gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 82IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Debra

      May 31, 2020 at 7:17 am

      Pour the sauce over the cucumber and onion while it’s hot?!

    2. Ginny McMeans

      May 31, 2020 at 9:16 am

      It has to cool. I thought I had that in there Debra. Thanks for the heads up.

    3. Kaelin

      June 20, 2020 at 2:52 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! It reminded me of the cucumber salad I had years ago and then I forgot about it. So glad to have this back in my life. Thank you for the easy recipe too.

    4. Ann Marie

      June 06, 2022 at 7:00 pm

      My dad use to make cucumbers and apple cider vinegar…loved it. Was looking for something a little more. Made this tonight and it was AMAZING! My husband is away, but I can’t wait to make it for him! I’m going to make this every chance I get! Thank you!!!

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    For years I dabbled in cooking vegan food, but since I became a mom it has become more important for me than ever. What I’m after is a great collection of healthy and not time-consuming vegan recipes that make the whole family look forward to meals together.

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