Old Fashioned Cucumber and Onion Salad with Vinegar
This is the old-fashioned cucumber salad recipe you’re looking for, just like your mom made. You’ll be amazed by how the simplest ingredients of all can make something so good.
A delicious summer classic that’s one of the most budget-friendly side dishes you’ll find. It’s just cucumbers, onion, vinegar and sugar!
Grandma’s Cucumber & Onion Salad {Simple!}
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 2 large cucumbers
- ½ small white onion
- ⅓ cup white vinegar
- 4 teaspoons sugar (1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon)
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make the dressing. Combine the vinegar, salt, and sugar in a small mixing bowl. Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve.
- Prep the veggies. Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, then use a spoon to scrape out the seeds. Cut into ¼ inch thin slices. Cut the onion into very thin slices.
- Combine and chill. Put the veggies in a mixing bowl and pour the dressing on top. Stir to combine, then cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
Notes
Every summer, without fail, Grandma’s Cucumber & Onion Salad becomes the hero of my kitchen. It’s the dish I turn to when the heat waves roll in, and the thought of standing by a hot stove seems unbearable.
I love that I can whip it up, let it chill, and then forget about it while I dive into the day’s adventures—be it a trip to the farmers’ market or a lazy afternoon in the garden.
When dinner time rolls around, and the grill is fired up for some easy-going barbecue, that salad is there: crisp, refreshing, and infused with memories of summers.
FAQs
Red onions will work wonderfully in this salad. They have a slightly milder flavor and add a beautiful pop of color. Just remember, if the flavor is too strong for your liking, soaking the slices in cold water for about 15 minutes before adding them to the salad can help mellow them out.
Yes, you can adjust the sugar according to your taste or dietary needs. Some folks like to use a sugar substitute, while others find that reducing the amount doesn’t drastically change the overall taste. If you’re cutting it out completely, you might want to experiment with the vinegar ratio to ensure the salad isn’t too tart.
This salad actually gets better as it sits and the flavors meld together. Making it a day in advance is perfect for allowing the cucumbers and onions to marinate in the dressing, enhancing their taste. Just keep it covered in the fridge, and give it a good stir before serving.
Absolutely! While white vinegar is the classic choice, you can experiment with apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or even rice vinegar. Each type will give the salad a slightly different flavor profile. Adjust the amount of sugar as needed to balance the acidity.
This salad actually gets better as it sits and the flavors meld together. Making it a day in advance is perfect for allowing the cucumbers and onions to marinate in the dressing, enhancing their taste. Just keep it covered in the fridge, and give it a good stir before serving.
Yes, you can make a creamy cucumber salad by adding a bit of sour cream or Greek yogurt to the dressing. This will give it a creamy texture while still keeping the tangy flavor from the vinegar.
For best results, use fresh cucumbers with thin skins like Persian cucumbers or old-fashioned cucumbers. Salting the cucumber slices before adding them to the salad helps draw out excess moisture, keeping them crisp. You can also use a mandoline slicer to cut the cucumbers into thin slices.
Remember, recipes like this are starting points. Feel free to tweak it to make it your own. The most important thing is that you enjoy making and eating it!
More Fresh Summer Sides You’ll Love
Hot days call for cold side dishes. Serve these with something on the grill.
- My favorite potato salad EVER! It has tons of flavor from celery seed, hardboiled eggs, and soft redskin potatoes. So good!
- A creamy macaroni salad, with a twist. This Old Bay Shrimp Macaroni Salad is delicious and makes a great lunch all by itself.
- Don’t forget about chips, pretzels, or something pre-made. You don’t have to make everything yourself!
This is the perfect dish to bring a light, fresh flavor to any meal, and it’s so easy to make. With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, you can have a delicious salad chilling in the fridge, ready to be served whenever you like.
With just the right balance of sweetness and saltiness, the vinegar dressing beautifully complements the crisp cucumber and sharp onion, creating a perfect side dish that everyone will love.
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.