Today I am sharing another childhood favorite, a summer tradition at my grandparents’ for each and every barbecue – Cucumber Salad! Crisp summer cucumbers and onions thinly sliced, marinated in a simple yummy vinegar, sugar and water dressing. A summertime favorite side dish.
Cucumber Salad – A traditional, old-school classic recipe. Refreshing, cool and crisp, perfect on hot summer days. This is the perfect side dish for any family gathering, picnic, BBQ or potluck – even better, it’s budget friendly!
Cucumber Salad – A traditional, old-school classic recipe. Refreshing, cool and crisp, perfect on hot summer days. This is the perfect side dish for any family gathering, picnic, BBQ or potluck – even better, it’s budget friendly!
Every time my grandpa grilled steaks, burgers or hot dogs in the summer, this was always one of the side dishes. My great-grandma, (Grandma B), loved this salad, hence the name.
Over the years I have changed the recipe a smidgen, adding tomatoes and dill for another layer of flavor. I also like mixing in a little red onion along with a white or Vidalia onion.
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best ones. This salad allows the garden fresh cucumbers and onions (and tomatoes) to shine.
I love lots and lots of dill in the salad (optional). Fresh dill weed is best, but dry dill weed works well too.
Grandma B’s Cucumber Salad
- 2 large cucumbers, peeled and sliced thin
- 1 small onion, sliced thin (use your favorite onion – Vidalia is great, sweet onion or white). I like to mix in a little red onion for color, I also love the taste.
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar (use less or more to your liking)
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional
- toss in fresh tomatoes (use your favorite – cherry, plum, fresh from the garden)
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried dill or 3 teaspoons fresh dill weed
- English cucumbers are great for this salad
Directions
Place sliced cucumbers and onions (tomatoes if you are using them) in a medium size bowl.
In a separate medium size bowl (or large 4 cup measuring cup), mix vinegar, water and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Pour over veggies. If adding dill, toss in dill and mix well. Cover and place in fridge for two to three hours before serving. Serve chilled. Salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers!
My mom made always made cucumber salad at our weekly BBQ. Hers was cucumber sliced tomatoes and thin sliced red onion. All from our garden.. she would run the tines of a fork down the sides of the cucumber, looked pretty and absorbed the dressing. I do make this for my family now.Thanks for the memory.
I grew up on this one too, loved it, still do, but ours always had the tomato in it!
We have a very similar version of this everyday when we have fresh cucumbers and onions in the summer. My family likes it pretty sweet, so I use more sugar, and my husband likes the cucumbers crispy – so I don’t marinate, but make it just before serving.
Many thanks for this healthy and delicious vegetable salad!
I grew up on this salad! Sometimes my Mom made a sour cream based dressing for it and sometimes we had the vinegar based dressing. Both were very good.
Love Grandma B’s cucumber salad. Very easy way to print all recipes….thanks.
We decrease the sugar in this, but have really enjoyed as a way to enjoy our summer cucumbers. Any idea how long this should keep in the refrigerator if keeping it around to snack?
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My mother and grandmother made this except they used celery seed instead of dill
Do i have to use dill weed
Grew up on this salad. No tomatoes or sugar, just cukes, onions, salt, pepper and vinegar. Let set over night. Delish.
Just made this. I added a little celery salt to the recipe. With or without it this salad is so tasty.
I just made this and my husband LOVED it…adding it to our list of recipes to do weekly during the summer. Thanks.
So my grandmother also made a cucumber salad that was a bit different. After slicing the cuke up thin we would take handfuls of the slices and squeeze them till they were all limp and much of the fluid was gone. Then we'd chop up some fresh curly parsley and some onion real fine add some salt, pepper and dill and sour cream. Mix it all together and chill in the fridge till ready to serve. I still make it today and my grandkids love it!
We didn't squeeze we salted them put in refrig for a couple hrs (or less). Then drained them. Then continued on with recipe
This is exactly what I grew up on from my Mom and Grandparents in GA where I grew up! Thanks for the reminder! Gonna start making this again!
This is exactly what I grew up on! Thanks for the reminder! Gonna start making this again!
I'm a W.Va. gal and we made this all the years I was growing up there. Only diff. was NO sugar, just cukes and onions. We Never added sugar to beans or spaghetti sauces either. It's a great salad though.
I have made this twice and we love it!