Every Mama's Favorite Cucumber Salad
- MAKES
- 8 cups
- COOK TIME
- 10 Min
Have a lot of fresh cucumbers on hand? Every Mama's Favorite Cucumber Salad is a great go-along for any meal. You can throw it together in a jiffy.
What You'll Need
- 8 cups thinly sliced cucumbers (about 5 cucumbers)
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped (or 1-1/2 teaspoons bottled chopped garlic)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill (or 1 to 2 tablespoons dried dillweed)
What to Do
-
In a large bowl, combine cucumbers and onion; set aside.
-
In a large saucepan, mix together vinegar, sugar, garlic, oil, salt, and water; bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Pour mixture over cucumbers and onion; add pepper and dill and mix well.
- Keep refrigerated. Serve well chilled.
Notes
- This may be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- We have even more delicious deli salad recipes in our free eCookbook, Simply Deli Salads: 28 Best Recipes for Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad & More.
- Plus, find out how you can turn those leftover cucumbers into pickles with our recipe for Homemade Microwave Pickles!
- For more simple Labor Day recipes, return to our collection page!
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nineinnings 874622 8
Aug 28, 2018
I made this last evening. It was wonderful. My husband couldn't figure out the different taste and it was the fresh minced garlic. Just enough. I will make this again. 2 Thumbs up for another great recipe from Mr Food
Rnbowgrl
Aug 27, 2018
Cucumbers are the perfect snack or side for those days when you want something fresh and light. I actually have been making cucumber slices with onion and spices for years...just because the flavors compliment each other perfectly, but I've never cooked a sauce for them before. It does sound pretty tasty though...minus the sugar ( maybe honey could be substituted). Just wondering though, does pouring the hot sauce pickle the cucumbers and make them soft, or are you supposed to let the sauce cool off first?
Test Kitchen Team
Aug 29, 2018
Hi there! Do not let the liquid cool off, it is suppose to be hot when poured over pickles. This helps to bring out the flavors and quickens the fermenting process. Enjoy!
Rnbowgrl
Aug 29, 2018
Oh ok, I wasn't aware the recipe was for pickles I thought it was for a cucumber salad. Thank you!
kmcartoonity 62072 74
Mar 01, 2017
I love the fresh dill in this recipe! even add a wee bit more, just because I have an herb garden in my kitchen and I can. I would not substitute dried dill, however, as it might end up tasting a bit medicinal. Sweet red onion works really nice in this as compared to a white onion, but those will be fine if you don't have the red ones on hand. This salad is great on it's own, but I have even put some of these tasty dressed cukes on top of a sandwich and it was great.
Bellerophon
Aug 26, 2015
Made this last night,using some home grown cukes that I didn't know what else to do with. Turned out to be an excellent choice. Followed Mr. Food's formula to a "Tee", then into the fridge to chill. Dug into it for the first time tonight, along with some delectable tomato pie for dinner The cukes were fabulous, just like those my dear departed grandmother used to make! So darned good and crisp!
BeckySue
May 25, 2016
I've never heard of tomato pie but it sounds interesting! I love tomatoes, raw or cooked, I'll have to do some research and see what it is!
douglasdherbert
May 21, 2015
This salad is wonderful with a bunch of thawed smaller cooked shrimp. I often add a sour cream/mayo mix to it as well.
roynbarbi 9975190
Aug 29, 2014
So funny, I JUST said to my husband that I would make him a cucumber salad for his birthday and came to the computer to see Mr. Food's feature recipe! Yea. Our garden is producing lots of cukes and I have all the ingredients...thanks, Mr. Food!
debbiemeadows001 5 088852
May 19, 2014
i plan to make this for memorial day picnic but will use less salt and instead of dill I will use celery seed
geriben
Aug 24, 2013
Sometimes I drain some of the slices and mix them with some sour cream. Delicious !
nancy8
Jun 11, 2013
Sprinkle the cucumbers with salt and mix with a handful of ice cubes. Let them sit for a while, drain and then add your sauce. This will keep the cucumbers crisp. Works with creamed cucumbers too.
hagar2935
Jun 09, 2013
Two minor things I would change..... Add small slices of Red Sweet Pepper and 1 cup of "raw sugar" in place of the white sugar (the molasses in the raw sugar adds a nice flavor. Oh and use Sweet onions or Red onions, please!
hagar2935
Jun 09, 2013
And Allow the water to cool a little before pouring over the cucumbers. Too hot will make the cucumbers soggy.......... they taste best if they are crisp! And please refrigerate for at least overnight before serving....
gasilana 0121656
May 25, 2013
i also added a few gated carrots this made it much more brighter and it was de-lish!
qhmk 8583150
May 24, 2013
I make a similar salad but I skip the cooking process and the added water. It disappears every time! Using bottled Italian dressing and a couple of teaspoons of sugar is a nice shortcut.
Lgics 4668976
May 24, 2013
Whenever I use cucumbers in a salad such as this one, I find it gets too watery from the cucumbers. Would you suggest slicing them and then letting them drain a while in order to release excess water?
bojigal1 6991153
Jun 08, 2013
Salt releases a LOT of water from cukes. Try using the salt sprinkled over the sliced cukes and use a colander to drain. Proceed with the recipe, but I cut down on the 1c. water by 1/3-1/2. Taste it all after making it; you can always add more salt to taste.
Muunstruk
Jun 10, 2012
If you add a teaspoon Grey Poupon mustard before you mix it, you will taste this great salad only once. It will take the burp right out of the cucumbers.
jkajihiro 8297124
Jun 09, 2012
I added black olives, some of the kids even ate it. My nieces & nephews love zesty Italian dressing, so I will try that next time. Maybe even add tomatoes. Great instead of the regular boring salad.
grannyblu
May 26, 2012
Very good recipe... Refreshing... can use 1/4 cup Splenda or Sugar Twin and 1/4 cup sugar cannot tell the difference
mountainmama 41828 30
May 25, 2012
Tomorrow, is Farmers Market Day here, and cukes will be bought. This sounds wonderfull.
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