Creamy Cucumber Salad
Published Jul 20, 2022
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This Creamy Cucumber Salad recipe is a delicious contemporary version of the sour cream-based cucumber salad of Poland and Eastern Europe. Greek yogurt makes it healthier and ranch dressing takes it to another flavor level! Soo good with Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs or my Reuben Casserole!
Why This Recipe is a Keeper!
Cucumbers and ranch dressing are a favorite snack around our house, and even the grandkids will devour them because they go so well together. Another classic combination is cucumbers with a sour cream dressing, which is believed to have been created in Poland centuries ago and is still loved today.
This creamy cucumber salad recipe is an updated version of the classic salad. It uses Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and has the crowd-pleasing flavor of ranch dressing. Fresh dill and a splash of white wine vinegar make it irresistible!
This Creamy Cucumber Salad with yogurt is:
- Super easy!
- So flavorful!
- Perfect for summer picnics and cookouts and with everything from crab cakes to stuffed cabbage rolls.
How to Make Creamy Cucumber Salad with Yogurt:
Recipe Ingredients:
Here’s everything you’ll need to make this creamy cucumber salad recipe. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:
- Cucumbers: I like to use English cucumbers for this recipe because they’re not as seedy and watery as Kirby (used for pickling). English cucumbers are the long cucumbers you see in the produce department wrapped in plastic. They’re also called hothouse or seedless cucumbers.
- Greek Yogurt: For the best flavor, I prefer full-fat Greek yogurt, but you can use reduced-fat or non-fat. Sour cream is a great substitute for the yogurt.
- Ranch Dressing: It really was created on a ranch called Hidden Valley Ranch!
- White Wine Vinegar: White wine vinegar is fermented and oxidized white wine. You can also use distilled white vinegar or rice vinegar.
- Dill: If possible, use fresh dill.
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Gather and prep all the ingredients.
- Feel free to leave the peel on for maximum nutrition. I like to “semi-peel” the cucumbers so that some of the peel remains for a pretty presentation, crunch and color.
- Cucumbers contain a huge amount of water, so you’ll need to salt and drain them so that water doesn’t dilute the dressing too much. Place the cucumbers in a colander, salt generously, and let them drain for at least 30 minutes.
- While the cucumbers are draining, combine the dressing ingredients: Greek yogurt, ranch dressing, chopped fresh dill, white wine vinegar, and black pepper.
- Pat the cucumbers dry with paper towels. They don’t need to be completely dry, just get most of the excess water off.
- Toss the cucumbers with the scallions.
- Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and toss to coat.
- Taste and add salt if it’s needed.
- Place the Creamy Cucumber Salad in a serving bowl, and garnish with more fresh dill.
- Enjoy! Creamy Cucumber Salad with Greek yogurt will become your new favorite creamy cucumber salad recipe!
Chef Tip:
- I hand-slice the cucumbers with a chef’s knife but a hand-held mandoline speeds up the process.
Recipe FAQs:
English cucumbers are hands down the best. This “seedless” cucumber is perfect for salads, canapes, and sandwiches because you don’t have to scoop out the seedy center to prevent watering down the recipe.
Here’s where salting the cucumbers is super important. To remove water from cucumbers without affecting the taste or texture, sprinkle cut pieces with salt. Place them in a colander, toss them, and let them drain. The salt helps to leach out excess liquid, reducing the risk of a watery salad. Dab them dry with paper towels.
You can, but the cucumbers may continue to water out. For best results, make it just before serving. The dressing, however, can be made 1 day ahead of time.
What goes with cucumber salad:
- Baked Catfish Pecan Meuniere
- Spice-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Peach Chipotle Barbecue Sauce
- Nashville Style Hot Fried Chicken
- Sweet and Spicy Barbecue Chicken Sliders
More great salads with cucumber!
- Greek Cucumber Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Creamy Pasta Salad with Cucumber Dressing Peas and Fresh Dill
- Middle Eastern Chopped Vegetable Salad
- Cucumber Onion Salad
Get all my side salad recipes at Side Salad Recipes – From A Chef’s Kitchen.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2-3 English cucumbers, approximately 3 pounds
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 bunch scallions, white and light green part only, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, or 2 teaspoons dried dill
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Peel the cucumbers leaving strips of peel (for color) then slice.
- Place in a colander and sprinkle with the salt. Stir so that all the cucumbers are in contact with the salt.
- Let drain in the sink or over a bowl for at least 30 minutes.
- Pat dry with paper towels (not necessary to be completely dry; just remove excess water). Transfer to a mixing bowl. Add chopped scallions.
- Combine dill, yogurt, ranch dressing, white wine vinegar and black pepper to taste in a small bowl.
- Pour over the cucumbers and stir well. Taste and add salt if necessary. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use sour cream in place of yogurt.
- Distilled white vinegar or rice vinegar can also be used in place of white wine vinegar.
- Slice the cucumbers and drain. Chop the scallions and refrigerate. (May be combined in the same container.) Make the dressing and refrigerate.
- When ready to serve, combine the cucumbers, scallions and dill with the dressing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Made this today because … it’s that time in the garden where cucumbers multiply overnight!
Love the recipe. I must admit, I added about a half cup of crumbled feta. My husband is from Wisconsin and believes cheese improves everything.
Hi, Sally, Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed!! I think some feta cheese would be a great addition! I’m also from Wisconsin so yes, a little extra cheese never hurts. 🙂 Thanks again!!
I love cucumber anything but not so much ranch dressing. But I think I will give this a try. Thanks!
Hi, Alene, Thanks so much!! A whole salad of ranch dressing would be rather cloying, which is why I combine the yogurt and ranch dressing. The small amount of vinegar cuts it, too. I don’t find it overwhelming at all. Hope you enjoy!!