This Easy Cucumber Salad is the quintessential dish for warm summer days, bursting with vibrant flavors and refreshing textures. Loaded with crisp cucumbers, sweet carrots, colorful bell peppers, sharp red onions, and fragrant fresh dill, this salad is perfectly tossed in a bright, tangy vinaigrette. Free from mayonnaise, it’s an ideal, worry-free option for your next outdoor gathering, picnic, or BBQ!

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The Ultimate Refreshing Cucumber Salad for Summer: A Zesty Vinaigrette Recipe

Summer is synonymous with light, refreshing, and flavorful meals, and nothing embodies this spirit quite like a classic cucumber salad. While creamy, mayo-based versions certainly have their charm, there’s something uniquely invigorating about a crisp, vinaigrette-dressed salad, especially when the temperatures soar. This recipe isn’t just another cucumber salad; it’s a celebration of fresh produce, designed to be both incredibly healthy and irresistibly delicious. It’s the perfect accompaniment to almost any summer meal, offering a delightful crunch and a burst of fresh flavor that complements grilled dishes, sandwiches, and more.

My journey with cucumber salads has always leaned towards those packed with a variety of vegetables. While the simple cucumber and onion combination is a classic, I find that adding shredded carrots and a medley of colorful bell peppers elevates the dish, making it a feast for both the eyes and the palate. This particular rendition skips the heavier, dairy-based dressings in favor of a vibrant vinaigrette, ensuring it remains light, refreshing, and perfectly suited for any summer occasion, from backyard barbecues to lakeside picnics.

Why This Cucumber Salad Will Be Your Summer Favorite

There are countless reasons why this easy cucumber salad deserves a prime spot on your summer menu. Beyond its simple preparation, it offers a symphony of flavors and textures that will delight everyone at your table.

Unmatched Freshness and Hydration: Cucumbers are renowned for their high water content, making this salad incredibly hydrating and cooling on hot days. Combined with other fresh vegetables, it’s a powerhouse of natural goodness.
A Burst of Nutrition: This isn’t just a side dish; it’s a healthy boost for your daily vegetable intake. Packed with vitamins from cucumbers, bell peppers, and carrots, you’re getting a significant dose of essential nutrients with every bite.
Perfect for Outdoor Gatherings: Unlike salads with mayonnaise or sour cream, this vinaigrette-based recipe is ideal for outdoor events. You won’t have to worry about the dressing spoiling in the heat, allowing you and your guests to enjoy it stress-free.
Irresistible Crunch and Texture: The combination of crisp cucumbers, firm bell peppers, and crunchy carrots provides a delightful textural contrast that keeps each bite interesting and satisfying.
Visually Stunning: With red, orange, and green bell peppers alongside vibrant carrots and fresh dill, this salad is a colorful masterpiece that will brighten up any spread. It proves that healthy food can be incredibly appealing.
Effortlessly Simple to Prepare: You don’t need to be a gourmet chef to whip up this salad. The steps are straightforward, making it an excellent choice for busy weeknights or last-minute potluck contributions.
Incredibly Versatile: While it shines as a side dish for grilled meats and fish, it can also be a light lunch on its own, a topping for tacos, or a fresh addition to a larger meal.

The Stars of the Show: Key Ingredients for a Perfect Salad

Every great salad starts with quality ingredients. For this Easy Cucumber Salad, each component plays a crucial role in delivering that refreshing taste and satisfying crunch. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and some tips for selecting the best produce.

English Cucumber: My preferred choice for its thinner skin, fewer seeds, and slightly sweeter flavor compared to regular cucumbers. This means less work peeling and de-seeding, and a more delicate texture. When selecting, look for firm, unblemished cucumbers.
Kosher Salt: Essential for drawing out excess water from the cucumbers, ensuring they remain crisp and don’t water down the dressing. This simple pre-treatment is a game-changer for salad texture.
Colorful Bell Peppers (Orange, Red, Green): These add not only a beautiful spectrum of color but also varying degrees of sweetness and a satisfying crunch. Red and orange peppers are generally sweeter, while green offers a slightly more peppery note. Choose firm, shiny peppers without soft spots.
Red Onion: Provides a sharp, pungent kick that balances the sweetness of the other vegetables and the tang of the dressing. Slice it thinly for a milder flavor and better integration into the salad. If you find red onion too strong, you can soak the slices in ice water for 10-15 minutes to mellow their bite.
Carrots: Shredded carrots introduce a lovely sweetness and an additional layer of crunch. They also contribute vibrant color and a healthy dose of Vitamin A. Freshly shredded carrots are always best.
Fresh Dill: This is arguably the “secret weapon” of this salad. Fresh dill offers an aromatic, slightly anise-like, and wonderfully fresh flavor that perfectly complements cucumbers. Do not substitute with dried dill; the fresh herb is crucial for the salad’s signature taste.

For the Tangy Vinaigrette Dressing:

A simple yet potent vinaigrette binds all these fresh ingredients together, elevating their natural flavors without overpowering them.

Olive Oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. It forms the base of the dressing and adds a smooth richness.
Red Wine Vinegar: Provides the essential tang and acidity that brightens the entire salad.
Garlic Cloves: Freshly minced garlic adds a pungent, aromatic depth to the dressing.
Granulated Sugar: A small amount of sugar balances the acidity of the vinegar and enhances the overall flavor profile. Don’t skip it, even if you prefer savory salads; it harmonizes the tastes beautifully.
Salt and Black Pepper: Standard seasonings to taste, bringing out the best in all the ingredients.

Crafting Your Perfect Cucumber Salad: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making this vibrant cucumber salad is incredibly easy, requiring just a few simple steps. Follow these instructions for a perfectly crisp and flavorful result every time.

Prepare the Cucumbers for Maximum Crispness: Begin by thinly slicing your English cucumber. Place the slices in a colander and generously sprinkle them with kosher salt. Toss gently to ensure all slices are coated. Set the colander over a plate (to catch excess liquid) and let the cucumbers stand for about 15-20 minutes. This crucial step draws out excess moisture, preventing your salad from becoming watery and ensuring the cucumbers remain delightfully crisp. After the resting period, thoroughly rinse the cucumbers with cold water to remove any excess salt. Drain them well and gently pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
Assemble Your Vibrant Salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the drained and rinsed cucumbers with the rest of your prepared salad ingredients: the shredded carrots, thinly sliced red onion, and all the colorful bell pepper strips. Add the two heaping tablespoons of freshly chopped dill.
Whisk Up the Tangy Vinaigrette: In a small jar with a tight-fitting lid (or a small bowl), combine all the dressing ingredients: olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, granulated sugar, salt, and black pepper. If using a jar, shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and the dressing is emulsified. If using a bowl, whisk continuously until smooth.
Dress and Serve: Pour the freshly made vinaigrette over the salad ingredients in the serving bowl. Toss gently to ensure all the vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing. For best results and maximum crispness, serve immediately. You can also refrigerate it for about 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld, though this may slightly reduce the cucumber’s crunch.

Expert Tips for an Unforgettable Cucumber Salad

While the recipe itself is straightforward, a few expert tips can elevate your Easy Cucumber Salad from good to truly exceptional. These insights ensure every batch is perfect and help you customize it to your liking.

Choosing Your Cucumbers Wisely: As mentioned, English cucumbers are fantastic for this recipe due to their thin skin and minimal seeds, which often means no need for peeling or de-seeding. However, if you opt for regular garden cucumbers, you might want to peel them and scoop out the larger seeds from the center to prevent excess water and a slightly bitter taste. Always look for firm, dark green cucumbers.
Personalizing Your Bell Peppers: I love the vibrant mix of red, orange, and green bell peppers for both flavor and visual appeal. However, feel free to use any combination you have on hand, or even just one color if that’s what you prefer. The key is their fresh crunch and sweetness. Whether you prefer them roughly chopped or sliced into thin strips, as I did, is entirely up to you – both methods yield delicious results.
The Power of Fresh Dill: This cannot be stressed enough: always use fresh dill for this salad. Its unique, aromatic, and slightly tangy flavor is a cornerstone of this recipe. Dried dill simply doesn’t offer the same bright, fresh punch. If you’re not a fan of dill, fresh parsley or even a bit of mint could be interesting alternatives, but dill is highly recommended.
Don’t Skip the Salting Step: This pre-treatment for cucumbers is vital. It extracts excess water, concentrating their flavor and ensuring they stay crisp longer. It also helps to prevent a watery salad dressing. Rinse thoroughly to avoid an overly salty taste.
Make-Ahead Considerations: While best served immediately, you can prepare some components in advance. Chop all your vegetables (except for the dill) and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Prepare the dressing separately and store it in a jar. Combine everything just before serving for optimal freshness and crunch. This is particularly useful when hosting!
Serving Suggestions: This versatile salad pairs beautifully with almost any summer dish. It’s excellent alongside grilled chicken, fish, or steak. It also complements BBQ favorites like pulled pork or ribs, or can be a refreshing side to a hearty sandwich or burger. Its lightness provides a perfect contrast to richer main courses.
Adjusting the Dressing: Taste your vinaigrette before pouring it over the salad. Feel free to adjust the sugar for more sweetness, or add a touch more vinegar for extra tang. A pinch of red pepper flakes can also add a subtle heat if desired.

You’re going to absolutely adore the incredible crunch and fresh flavors this salad brings to your table! We enjoy it as a refreshing side to everything we grill throughout the summer season, and I’m confident you will too.

Please do let me know if you give this recipe a try! Your feedback is invaluable. If you have any questions about the recipe or want to share your variations, just drop a comment below. Enjoy every delightful bite!

Other Refreshing Summer Salad Recipes to Explore

If you love this Easy Cucumber Salad, you might also enjoy these other delicious and vibrant salad recipes perfect for warm weather gatherings:

Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad: A hearty and flavorful pasta salad, perfect as a main course or a substantial side.
Ramen Noodle Salad with Honey Sesame Vinaigrette: An adventurous twist on a salad, offering unique textures and an irresistible Asian-inspired dressing.
Greek Chickpea Salad with Green Goddess Dressing: A protein-packed vegetarian option full of Mediterranean flavors, dressed in a creamy, herb-rich dressing.

Easy Cucumber Salad

Author: MaryAnn Dwyer

Servings: 6 servings

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You can’t beat an Easy Cucumber Salad for summer. This salad is loaded with crisp cucumbers, carrots, colorful bell peppers, red onions and fresh dill and it’s tossed with a tangy vinaigrette! This mayo-less salad is perfect for your next summer party!

Prep Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

Cucumber Salad

1 large English cucumber, thinly sliced
1 Tbsp. Kosher salt
2 carrots, peeled and then shredded (roughly 1 cup)
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 small red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 small orange bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 small green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
2 heaping tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

Dressing

4 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Instructions

Cucumber Salad

Add the cucumbers to a colander and sprinkle with the kosher salt. Toss. Place the colander on a plate and let the cucumbers sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with cold water.
Add the drained cucumbers and remaining salad ingredients to a large serving bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad.

Dressing

Add all dressing ingredients to a jar and shake well.

Notes

You can use English cucumbers or regular cucumbers for this recipe. I prefer English cucumbers because there are less seeds and they’re a smidge sweeter.

I used a combination of red, orange and green bell peppers for this recipe, but use any combination you have on hand.

Definitely use fresh dill for this salad over dried.

Nutrition

Keyword: cucumbers, summer salad

Cuisine: American

Course: Salad, Side Dish

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