A couple of weeks ago I linked to an article I wrote on ReadyMade about how I learned to love the cuke. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t a cucumber fan. However, after years of turning up my nose at the long green watery veg, I became smitten. I’ve been making tzatziki and a refreshing scallop salad and even have enjoyed slices dipped in hummus. I also have been making quite a few creamy salads packed with dill and a few dollops of yogurt. The recipes are all made up based on what I’ve got in the fridge…sometimes they include slices of red onion or a few kalamata olives. Often they get tossed with some romaine leaves for a more traditional salad. But the recipe below is a good standby.
This is my go-to salad and for very good reason. If you already love cucumbers there isn’t much arm-twisting that needs to be done. It’s fresh, it’s crunchy and it just tastes good. Really, really good. But if you are leary, I think this is a good recipe to start off with because the cucumbers are salted beforehand, resulting in a crisp pickle-like slice. Salting is key! The yogurt and feta make things creamy while the lemon juice adds tang, and the fresh dill knocks the flavour out of the park. We ate this salad with some burgers and with friends and it was a perfect side. It would be an ideal salad for picnics and for balcony hang-outs when the weather gets nicer too. I’m eating the last of the salad for lunch today…2 days after I made it and it’s still super crunchy and the flavour is much more intense (which is a very good thing).
Elsewhere: You can find me waxing on about my love for Community Sponsored Agriculture over at ReadyMade.
creamy cucumber dill salad
1 english cucumber, thinly sliced
1/2 T kosher salt
4 T plain yogurt
1 T mayonnaise
juice of 1 small lemon
freshly ground pepper
a few large springs of dill, minced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 T crumbled fetaThinly slice the cucumber with a knife or a mandoline (I just went knife-style) and place slices in a medium-sized bowl. Sprinkle with salt, toss and refrigerate for 30 minutes. The salt draws water from the cucumber so when you remove the cukes from the fridge, drain all the liquid.
In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, mayo, lemon juice, pepper, dill, onion and feta together and then drizzle over the drained cucumbers. Toss well and serve.
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I am a fan of the long, green watery veg 🙂 This looks so good! I wish I had some dill on hand to make it for dinner as I already have all the other ingredient in stock. How can I make my dill last longer than just a few days in my fridge? It turns mushy quickly…
These kind of creamy cucumber salads feel so much like summer to me, and remind me of also potluck meals at my parents’ church when I was a kid – someone ALWAYS brought some variation on the theme.
Even though I get that not everyone likes the same things, I still have a slight sense of disbelief that anyone anywhere could not like cucumber. (But it’s crunchy! And tasty! And good! Are you crazy?!) Probably I eat it 5 days a week.
Usually I eat it in some variation on a Greek salad, but less complicated. From plain jane chopped cucumber and tomato with salt and pepper to the same with a drizzle of olive oil to the same with a sharply lemony dressing to the whole shebang with red onion and diced bell pepper and feta cheese.
I think my favourite cucumber salad, for summer anyway, is this: toss together a couple handfuls of bean sprouts, with a red pepper sliced into long thin strips and most of an English cucumber cut in half down the length and seeded, then also cut into long thin slices, about the same length and width as the pepper/bean sprouts. Season with salt and pepper to taste, toss, and yum. It’s incredibly plain – I remember the cookbook I found it in had a variation on either French dressing or some sort of orange flavoured concoction but I’ve always liked it just with the vegetables and enough seasoning to make them taste their best. It’s a watery, crunchy, light, and fresh salad. (And I can never convince anyone but my mom that it’s worth eating as is, but I guess that’s okay.)
(Also, holy rambly comment, batman! Apologies!)
This looks so good! I’m trying it tonight!
@Bijoux: I use dill a lot, too (my husband’s Greek), and I don’t keep it in the fridge, I keep it in a small cup of water like you’d do with a bouquet of flowers. I just trim the stems a little and make sure to change the water every day. It keeps a lot longer! I picked up this trick from my Greek mother-in-law who keeps all her fresh herbs this way. Hope that works for you!
Thanks for the dill tip Kristin, much appreciated. I will give it a try!!
i am one of those people that craves cucumbers like crazy in the spring/summer. as well as strawberries–always craving them.
love this salad girl!
This looks like it would be awesome on slices of toasty baguette or sourdough.
Can’t wait to try this as I travel along with you on the cucumber journey (the tzatziki was awesome!).
Bijoux, you could always make this with dried dill and still get very good results!
Hold your spin, thanks so much for your comment! I LOVE long comments especially when recipes are included. I’ll have to try your sprouts version this summer!
Obviously, I have the best readers ever! Thanks so much Kristin for your tip! Love it.
Vanillasugar, now I’m seriously craving strawberries! Doh.
Eileen, it’s perfect any which way.
Haley, hop on board! This is soooo good. Enjoy the journey to cuke-ville!
Cucumber and dill what a great combination! Great way to start the summer!
I like cucumbers as long as they are paired with big, intense flavors. This looks like just that kind of recipe! Delicious.
This would be such a light and refreshing accompaniment to any warm-weather meal. I’m definitely adding it to my list of dishes to make!
I only have three syllables for this: Om Nom NOM! Looks delish!
Cxx
One of my favorite snacks growing up was cucumber spears sprinkled with salt. (I also liked candy.) As an adult, I still absolutely LOVE cucumbers and just tried them out on my boys. They both loved them too. Salad looks terrific, by the way…
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Just great for the sort of crazy hot weather we have here. And not overloaded with mayo too, definitely my cuppa tea. 🙂
I love yoghurt-based dressings, they’ve always got the creamy factor without the cloying feeling or…guilt!
Looks so yummy:) Great recipe!!!
great post! great side for the summer. thanks
This looks insanely good. Perfect for a spring picnic by the water.
Daniel, I’m just waiting for spring to begin – let alone summer! C’mon summer, I’m ready for ya & I’ve got the salad to prove it.
Joanne, meet your cucumber salad 🙂
Lauren, it’s pretty perfect.
Claire, I like noms!
Dana, I hoped you liked candy too or you would have frightened me!
Vicky, call me jealous of your hot weather. And I agree about yogurt dressings….it’s virtuous!
Thanks Przepisy.
Yup, thanks Myrna.
Tracy, now you’ve got me thinking of picnics. Can’t wait.
Mmm it’s kind of like an inside out tzatziki! If that makes any sense haha. Looks delicious.
Ha, I can see that Ashley!
Delicious! I just made this, and it is fabulous. Will be making it again!