Cucumber and Dill Salad is refreshingly delicious and one of our all-time favorite summer salads. The perfect side for Marinated Grilled Chicken, Smoked St. Louis-Style Ribs, or Best-Ever Cheeseburger. And it is so simple to prepare!
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🥒 The Ingredients
A handful of fresh ingredients like crisp cucumber and fragrant dill come together perfectly to create a bright, delicious salad bursting with flavor. Find ingredient notes (including substitutions and variations) below.
🌿 Substitutions and Variations
- Veggies – While cucumbers are the star of this dish, you can also include other vegetables (or fruits) such as tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini, and/or squash.
- Herbs – Fresh dill adds a wonderful depth of flavor. Dried dill can be substituted, but you’ll need only 2 teaspoons. Other herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, or marjoram, are all acceptable substitutions.
- Vinegar – White wine is recommended, but most varieties will work, including distilled white, apple cider, Champagne, or even red wine vinegar.
See the recipe card (with video) below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Expert Tip
For an attractive presentation, use a vegetable peeler to peel off strips of the cucumber skin, leaving strips of the skin on the vegetable. The striped look is festive!
👩🏼🍳 How to Make Easy Cucumber and Dill Salad
- Step 1: In a bowl, whisk the vinegar, mustard, salt, and sugar
- Step 2: Slowly whisk in the oil.
- Step 3: Halve the cucumbers lengthwise and remove the seeds with a spoon
- Step 4: Cut the cucumbers into slices
- Step 5: Add the dill and toss the cucumbers with the vinaigrette.
- Step 6: Transfer to a bowl and serve at once
🍽️ How To Serve
- Though this dish will be delicious when prepared hours in advance, it’s best when prepared within an hour of serving. The cucumbers will release water as they rest.
- The dish is wonderful served chilled or at room temperature. Be sure to give the salad a stirring every now and then to help redistribute the dressing.
- We love to serve this salad alongside other great sides such as Best-Ever Potato Salad, Classic Pasta Salad, and Southern Baked Beans.
🙋🏽♂️ Frequently Asked Questions
English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers are ideal because they have fewer seeds and a thinner skin, making the salad more tender and refreshing. But regular cucumbers work great, too.
Yes, the salad can be made two or three hours in advance and refrigerated to allow the flavors to meld, but it’s best enjoyed the same day for maximum crispness.
Yes, this salad is light, low in calories, and packed with fresh vegetables and herbs, making it a healthy and refreshing choice.
🥙 Other Classic Side Dishes
Ready to make the best side dish at the cookout? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Easy Cucumber and Dill Salad
Video
Equipment
- Vegetable peeler optional
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- 4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 3 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 large cucumbers peeled, if desired
- 4 tablespoon dill fresh, finely chopped
Instructions
- Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, salt, and sugar, and then whisk in the oil in a slow stream.4 teaspoon white wine vinegar, 4 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, 3 teaspoon sugar, 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Halve the cucumbers lengthwise and remove the seeds with a small spoon; cut the halves crosswise into ¼" or ⅛" slices.2 large cucumbers
- Toss the cucumbers and dill with the vinaigrette.4 tablespoon dill
- Serve and enjoy!
Linda B says
Five stars for this, it’s so delicious and summery!
However, I would recommend making it on the day it’s to be served. I made it the night before and by the time I served it at lunchtime the next day the cucumbers had macerated. They were still very tasty, and not completely softened but they lacked the full crunch that is so satisfying.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Linda! So glad you enjoyed the cucumber salad! We agree, it’s definitely best served soon after preparing. We’ll update the recipe to make sure that’s clear! Thanks (as always) for sharing and for the fabulous review! That means the world to us!!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Serge Lapointe says
Can i use red wine vinegar instead of white
Kris Longwell says
Hi thee, Serge! So sorry for the delayed response. You can absolutely sub red wine vinegar for white. Let us know if you make the salad and how it turns out!
Sherry A Poling says
This cucumber and dill salad is delicious! I made for our office pitch in and it was the hit! Also, your chicken salad recipe is “my” chicken salad recipe, but it’s our secret. Don’t tell my kids!!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Sherry! Woo hoo! We LOVE that you made the the cucumber and dill salad! That is one of our favorites and we always hope folks give it a try! And so happy you were a hit at the office pitch in! FUN!!! And we definitely won’t spill the beans about the chicken salad! It’s all YOURS!!! Thanks so much for sharing and the wonderful review. That means so much to us! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Stacy Alexander says
This is so good and refreshing. I added some thinly sliced red onion too. Served with a somewhat spicy barbequed brisket & the coolness of the salad made a nice contrast. I keep fresh dill growing on my kitchen counter….dried wouldn’t do for this. Yours in one of my go-to sites for recipes, guys!
krislongwell says
Hi Stacy! We are so glad you liked the cucumber salad. We totally agree, just nice, simple and refreshing. Perfect for summer! We LOVE the addition of red onion. And yes to brisket!! Sounds all so fantastic. Thank you for letting us know. We appreciate that so very much. All the best, Kris & Wesley
Pamela says
OMG, You guys are awesome!! I was learning and laughing at the same time! Just printed the recipe and can’t wait to get this going!
krislongwell says
Pamela!! You just made our day!! Thank you so much and we truly hope you love this cucumber and dill salad as much as we do! Let us know how it turns out and what you think!! Best, Kris & Wesley