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    Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

    Simple Italian Cucumber Salad

    Published: Oct 13, 2023 by Cree · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    Imagine a crisp cucumber salad drizzled in a zesty homemade Italian dressing. No need for fancy ingredients with this one. Just a few simple ingredients to turn your side into a flavor-packed dish.

    This recipe is perfect for any time of the year and was inspired by my Easy Peach Arugula Salad.

    Jump to:
    • Pairing Suggestions
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Italian Cucumber Salad
    • Can You Make It Ahead?
    • Storage
    • Top Tips
    • Add-ins
    • FAQs
    • More Salad Recipes
    • More Pairing Suggestions
    • Did you make this recipe?
    • 📖 Recipe

    Pairing Suggestions

    Whether you're planning a light lunch or a hearty dinner, I've got you covered with with the perfect dishes to go with your Italian cucumber salad.

    • London broil
    • Lemon Pepper Pork Chops in Cast Iron Skillet
    • Dutch Oven Pork Chops with Gravy
    • Baked Marinated Whole Chicken Wings
    • Spinach Pesto Pasta

    Ingredients

    Now, let's talk about the few ingredients you need to whip up this simple salad. If you buy cucumbers on a regular basis, you may already have everything you need.

    • Cucumbers (any kind but preferably seedless)
    • Homemade Italian dressing: Avocado oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, shallot, garlic, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning

    See recipe card for quantities.

    How to Make Italian Cucumber Salad

    This Italian cucumber salad is hands-down the easiest side dish you'll ever make. It's the kind of dish you can whip up quickly. What's cool about this dish is that when you sprinkle in some fresh herbs, it looks like you went the extra mile. So, let's dive in.

    • Cut your cucumbers into round slices that are the same size in width and spread them out into a serving dish.
    • Drizzle your homemade Italian dressing over the top so that each cucumber is evenly coated.
    • Sprinkle with black pepper and garnish with fresh herbs. I used dill.
    • Serve immediately

    Can You Make It Ahead?

    Absolutely, this crispy cucumber salad is a quick and simple make-ahead side dish. All you need to do is slice your cucumbers and store them in an air-tight container with a tight-fitting lid or in a ziploc baggie without the Italian dressing.

    I highly recommend storing your dressing separately. You can use a small jar or mason jar.

    Storage

    As I mentioned above, store your dressing separately from the sliced cucumbers until you're ready to serve. This will keep your cucumbers fresh and crisp.

    By drizzling your dressing over the cucumbers and letting them sit in the fridge, the cucumbers will begin releasing water which will make your dressing taste watery and look thin and your cucumbers will not taste as crisp.

    Top Tips

    1. Select cucumbers that are firm and without wrinkles or soft spots or bruising. Any type of cucumber will work for this recipe.
    2. Slice your cucumbers into equal sized rounds that aren't too thin or thick - around a ¼ inch thick.
    3. Add in chopped herbs for freshness. Basil, mint, or dill works perfectly.
    4. Due to cucumbers having a high water content, this recipe is best when served right away.

    Add-ins

    Feel free to add in thinly sliced red onions or pickled red onions. If you want to add a creamy and salty element to your Italian dressing cucumber salad, sprinkle in some crumbled feta cheese.

    FAQs

    How do you keep cucumber salad from getting soggy?

    Cucumber salad is best when it's eaten immediately or soon after making it. Otherwise, to keep the cucumbers crisp and fresh for a longer period of time. One simple trick is to drizzle your vinaigrette or dressing over the cucumbers right before serving.

    What are the best cucumbers for salad?

    Hot house cucumbers are also known as English cucumbers. They are seedless and their skin is thin which makes it easier to eat and digest.

    How long do fresh cucumbers last in the fridge?

    Typically, fresh cucumbers can last 7 to 10 days when stored in the fridge.

    More Salad Recipes

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Peach arugula salad with dressing in large white bowl, on top of a back drop next to saucers that are stacked on top of each other.
      Easy Peach Arugula Salad
    • close-up of ingredients in white bowl before salad is tossed.
      Chicken Strawberry Walnut Salad
    • spring mix salad on platter with beige napkin next to platter
      Fresh Spring Mix Salad

    More Pairing Suggestions

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with this easy Italian cucumber salad recipe:

    • Raw turkey wings, seasoned and placed in aluminum foil cake pans, surrounded by slices of yellow, orange, and green bell peppers and onions.
      Southern-Style Smoked Turkey Wings with Cajun Spice
    • Overhead shot of golden brown crab cakes with crispy edges, plated with smoky jalapeño tartar sauce in a small dipping bowl. Crab cakes are arranged in front of dipping sauce.
      Pan Fried Crab Cakes That Don't Fall Apart (Southern-Style)
    • Waffles on a gray plate topped with fried chicken with a generous pour of maple syrup.
      Southern Fried Chicken and Fluffy Sweet Potato Waffles
    • Buttermilk fried chicken tenders on a gray oval serving platter, with a small bowl of ketchup for dipping next to it.
      Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders (Dutch Oven)

    Did you make this recipe?

    If so, let me know how it went. Leave a 'Star Rating' within the recipe card down below and/or TAG @cookingwithbliss on Instagram. I can't wait to see how it turned out.

    📖 Recipe

    Italian cucumber salad in a white oval serving dish garnished with fresh dill with dill also on the side.

    Simple Italian Cucumber Salad

    By Cree
    Simple Italian Cucumber Salad
    Crisp cucumber salad drizzled in a zesty homemade Italian dressing.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Calories: 147kcal
    Simple Italian Cucumber Salad

    Equipment

    • 1 mandolin or chef's knife for slicing cucumbers
    • 1 Chef's knife for mincing shallot and garlic
    • 1 Cutting board
    • 1 serving dish or salad bowl
    • 1 mason jar or small jar for mixing your homemade Italian dressing

    Ingredients 

    • 1 hot house cucumber (aka English cucumber - any cucumber will work, but I recommend seedless)

    Homemade Italian Dressing

    • 4 tablespoon avocado oil (extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil)
    • 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
    • ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • ½ teaspoon shallots (minced)
    • ½ teaspoon garlic (minced)
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

    Instructions

    • Homemade Italian Dressing: To a small jar with a lid or mason jar, combine all the ingredients to make the dressing, tighten the lid, and shake until all ingredients are combined. Set aside.
    • Wash your cucumber and pat dry thoroughly with a paper towel.
    • Use a mandolin or chef's knife to cut the cucumbers into equal rounds. Do not cut them too thin or too thick. Place them in a serving dish or salad bowl.
    • Drizzle your homemade salad dressing over the top making sure all cucumbers are evenly coated. Sprinkle with a little more black pepper and garnish with freshly chopped herbs such as dill. You can garnish with chopped parsley if that's what you prefer. Or, dried parsley would work also. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    1. Select cucumbers that are firm and without wrinkles or soft spots or bruising. Any type of cucumber will work for this recipe.
    2. Slice your cucumbers into equal sized rounds that aren't too thin or thick - around a ¼ inch thick.
    3. Add in chopped herbs for freshness. Basil, mint, or dill works perfectly.
    4. Due to cucumbers having a high water content, this recipe is best when served right away.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 147kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 314mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 86IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.4mg

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For the most accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information using the specific ingredients and brands you use.

    Tried this Recipe? Don’t forget to give this recipe a Star Rating and Leave a Comment below- I’d love to hear from you.
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    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    HEY, I'M CREE

    I’m excited to share all things food from my perspective while bringing together Southern, Cajun, and Soul food with a modern vibe so if we haven't met.

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