Barely anything is more refreshing than a nice, cool cucumber salad. Despite its mild flavor, cucumber is always a sweet treat to have during meals. This easy salad recipe makes for a great partner to hearty, savory meat dishes. Its light taste can cut through even the saltiest and richest of flavors. You can also add it in between slices of bread to make an excellent sandwich. Its crunchy texture and delightful flavors will surely bring you joy!
Cucumber actually has origins in India, but since then its renown has traveled across the globe. It’s a popular garnish for dishes due to its adaptability and versatility as an ingredient. Furthermore, it is extremely nutritious, and can aid different parts of the body. From helping regulate cholesterol to providing natural teeth and gum health, it truly is a wonder of a vegetable. You can read more about cucumber and its health benefits in this article.
An extra tip that you can heed before making cucumber salad is the process of “sweating” your cucumbers. “Sweating” is the equivalent of brining fish. This helps bring out excess moisture from inside the meat or vegetable outward. Cucumbers, after all, are known to have large amounts of water content. Before making your salad, slice the vegetable thinly and leave them in a bowl, then pour salt over them. The salt will help bring the moisture out of the cucumber, thus making it “sweat.” You can choose to skip this step altogether, although your cucumber salad might end up slightly “wetter” than usual.
Cucumber salad is definitely a classic, especially at family gatherings. Just one bite can brighten up your taste buds. This makes salad the perfect partner for summer days –– like the ones coming up now! Although I do enjoy a great meat dish, I can’t deny how much I enjoy a fresh salad like this one. I also love the couscous salad with tomato and cucumber, just so you know.
As the name of this article suggests, cucumber salad is easy to make and to enjoy! With a limited number of ingredients and prep time, you’ll be able to serve this at any dining table. Try this easy to make cucumber salad today!
How to Make Easy Cucumber Salad
The only ingredients you’ll need for cucumber salad are as follows: cucumber, salt, red onion, vinegar, sugar, cilantro, and black pepper. Before you start cooking prep, cut your two pieces of cucumber into thin slices. Be sure to also slice your 1 red onion, and chop up your tablespoon of cilantro.
In a large bowl, season your cucumbers with salt and ground black pepper. Mix them well, as to coat all the cucumbers in the flavorings. Then, toss in your red onion and continue to stir them together.
In the meanwhile, pour half a cup of white vinegar into a saucepan. Add a tablespoon of white sugar. Over the stovetop, continue to heat up your pan until your vinegar begins to simmer. Stir the mixture together until you notice that your sugar has begun to dissolve. Immediately, turn the heat off, and let your vinegar cool down for a few minutes.
Once it has considerably cooled down, pour your vinegar and sugar mixture into your cucumber bowl. Once again, incorporate all the ingredients together, blending them well.
Cover your cucumber salad with plastic wrap and let it refrigerate for about an hour. During this time, you can start preparing the dishes you will be serving alongside it.
After an hour, take your cucumber salad out of the refrigerator. Voila –– your cucumber salad is ready! Share and enjoy it with the rest of your family.
Let us know what you think!
Easy Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 pieces cucumbers, sliced sliced thinly
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 piece red onion, sliced
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, season cucumbers with salt and ground black pepper. Mix well.
- Add onion. Mix until well blended.
- Pour vinegar in a saucepan. Add sugar. Heat until vinegar is simmering. Stir until sugar gets dissolved completely. Turn the heat off and let the vinegar cool down.
- Pour the cooled vinegar mixture to the bowl where the cucumbers are. Mix until well blended.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve a side dish to grilled or fried food.
- Share and enjoy!
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