Fresh & Zingy Pickled Cucumber Salad Recipe for Summer Crunch

Crisp summer days call for a refreshing pickled cucumber salad that instantly cools and delights.

Garden-fresh ingredients transform an ordinary side dish into something magical.

Salt and vinegar work their charm, creating a tangy symphony of flavors.

Cool cucumbers absorb the zesty marinade, developing an irresistible crunch.

Herbs like dill add bright, aromatic notes that dance across your palate.

Simple ingredients come together in minutes, making this recipe a quick culinary adventure.

Dive into this pickle-perfect creation that promises to become your new warm-weather favorite.

Reasons to Love Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad Recipe

• Quick Pickle Magic: Transform simple cucumbers into a tangy, vibrant salad with minimal ingredients and steps, making it a perfect go-to recipe for spontaneous cravings.
• Customize Your Crunch: Adjust spice levels by playing with red pepper flakes, creating a personalized flavor profile that suits your taste buds and heat tolerance.
• Versatile Sidekick: Elevate any meal from grilled meats to sandwiches with this zesty cucumber salad that adds brightness and a crisp texture to your plate.
• Make-Ahead Marvel: Prepare this dish in advance, letting flavors develop and intensify, which means less stress and more deliciousness when mealtime arrives.

Ingredients for Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad Recipe

• Cucumbers: Fresh and crisp vegetables that create the base of this refreshing salad.
• Red Onion: Adds a sharp and tangy flavor to complement the cucumber's coolness.

• Vinegar, Water: Key liquid components that provide the pickling liquid and create a tangy flavor profile.
• Sugar, Salt: Balance the acidity and enhance the overall taste of the salad.
• Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes: Add subtle heat and depth to the pickling liquid.

• Fresh Dill: Brings a bright, herbal note that elevates the entire salad with its distinctive flavor.

How to Prepare Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad

Step 1: Slice Veggies Beautifully

Use a sharp knife or mandoline to create thin, uniform cucumber slices. Delicately chop red onions into whisper-thin rings, ensuring each slice is elegant and precise.

Step 2: Create Tangy Pickling Liquid

• White vinegar
• Cold water
• Granulated sugar
• Kosher salt
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• Red pepper flakes (optional)

Whisk ingredients until sugar and salt completely dissolve, creating a vibrant, aromatic liquid.

Step 3: Merge Veggie Ingredients

Gently toss cucumber and onion slices in a clean bowl.

Pour pickling liquid over vegetables, ensuring every slice gets coated with the zesty mixture.

Step 4: Enhance with Fresh Herbs

Sprinkle freshly chopped dill across the salad.

Carefully fold herbs into the pickle mixture, distributing flavors evenly.

Step 5: Chill and Marinate

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid.

Refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes, though waiting 2-4 hours intensifies the flavor profile. The longer it sits, the more delicious it becomes.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Remove from refrigerator and give a quick stir. Serve chilled alongside grilled proteins, sandwiches, or as a refreshing side dish.

Perfect for summer gatherings and picnics.

Tips to Make Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad Perfectly

• Use a mandoline or sharp knife to create uniformly thin cucumber slices for even pickling and a professional look.
• Control the heat by adding or reducing red pepper flakes, making the salad mild or spicy according to your preference.
• Let the salad sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, but overnight marinating intensifies the flavors and creates a more complex taste profile.
• Swap fresh dill with other herbs like parsley or chives if you want to experiment with different flavor combinations.
• Drain excess liquid after marinating to maintain the cucumber's crisp texture and prevent a watery salad.

Variations for Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad Recipe

• Mediterranean Cucumber Salad: Replace dill with fresh mint and oregano, add crumbled feta cheese, and include sliced kalamata olives for a Greek-inspired version.
• Spicy Asian Cucumber Pickle: Swap vinegar with rice vinegar, add minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and chopped cilantro.
• Creamy Cucumber Salad: Mix in sour cream or Greek yogurt with the brine, add chopped chives, and reduce sugar for a tangy, creamy alternative.
• Herbed Garden Cucumber Salad: Incorporate fresh parsley, basil, and chives instead of dill, and add thinly sliced cherry tomatoes for extra freshness and color.

What to Serve With Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad

• Enhance Flavor Companions: Pair this tangy cucumber salad with grilled barbecue chicken for a refreshing contrast to smoky meat flavors.
• Protein Power Match: Complement the dish with crispy pan-seared salmon, letting the pickled salad's bright acidity cut through the fish's richness.
• Cool Beverage Partner: Sip a crisp, chilled Sauvignon Blanc or light pilsner beer to mirror the salad's zesty and refreshing profile.
• Summer Meal Booster: Serve alongside pulled pork sandwiches or hamburgers for a classic cookout side that adds bright, tangy notes to the plate.

Proper Storage for Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad

Store the pickled cucumber salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Keep the salad submerged in the brine to maintain its crisp texture and tangy flavor.

Before serving leftovers, use a slotted spoon to remove cucumbers and onions, letting extra brine drip off to prevent a watery side dish.

Do not freeze this salad, as the cucumbers will become mushy and lose their crisp texture when thawed.

If the salad seems slightly wilted, give it a quick stir and let it sit for 10 minutes in the refrigerator to help revive the flavors and crunch.

FAQs

• Why do I need to let the salad marinate?

Marinating allows the cucumbers to absorb the vinegar brine, creating deeper and more balanced flavors. The longer it sits, the more pronounced the tangy and seasoned taste becomes.

• Can I use a different type of vinegar?

Yes, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar work great as alternatives to white vinegar. Each will provide a slightly different flavor profile to the pickle salad.

• Is this salad considered healthy?

Absolutely! Cucumbers are low in calories, high in water content, and provide good nutrients. The vinegar-based dressing is also low in calories and can help aid digestion.

Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad Recipe

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4.6 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Crisp cucumber pickles dance with zesty herbs in this refreshing Polish-inspired Fresh Pickled Cucumber Salad that brings cool summer flavors to your plate. Tangy and light, you will discover a perfect side dish that complements grilled meats and adds bright notes to any meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Vegetables:

• 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

Pickling Liquid:

• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Herbs:

• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill

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Instructions

1. Carefully slice cucumbers into translucent, uniform rounds using a sharp mandoline or knife, ensuring consistent thickness. Simultaneously, create delicate, whisper-thin red onion rings.
2. Craft a vibrant pickling liquid by combining vinegar, water, sugar, salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes in a mixing vessel. Whisk energetically until sugar and salt completely dissolve.
3. Transfer cucumber and onion slices into a spacious mixing bowl, gently cascading the prepared brine over the vegetables. Carefully toss to ensure complete and even coating.
4. Sprinkle fragrant, freshly chopped dill across the salad, folding gently to distribute the herbaceous notes throughout the mixture.
5. Seal the bowl with a tight-fitting lid or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and intensify. For optimal taste, allow 2-4 hours of marination or preferably overnight.
6. When ready to serve, retrieve from refrigerator and give a quick, gentle stir. Present chilled as a refreshing accompaniment to grilled proteins, hearty sandwiches, or classic Southern cuisine.

Notes

• Slice cucumbers consistently using a mandoline for uniform, professional-looking pickled salad texture.
• Adjust sugar and vinegar ratio based on personal taste preference for sweet or tangy flavor profile.
• For low-carb version, replace sugar with stevia or monk fruit sweetener to reduce overall carbohydrate content.
• Enhance nutrient density by adding fresh herbs like parsley or mint alongside dill for complex, vibrant flavor.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Pickling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 15 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 290 mg
• Fat: 0 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 4 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg