Cucumbers and onions in vinegar is a refreshing cucumber salad that is quick and easy to make. It’s perfect to bring to your next pot-luck or serve at home as a simple side dish.
Some of the simplest recipes are the best and cucumbers in vinegar is no exception. Crispy cucumber slices and onions are tossed in tangy yet slightly sweet vinegar.
It’s a classic summer side dish that can be made in minutes.
This recipe was originally posted in 2017, it’s been updated for content and photos.
Even though this salad reminds me of summer, it tastes great with Swedish Meatballs any time of the year.
Why this Recipe Works
- It’s a simple recipe filled with a fresh flavor and only seven ingredients.
- It’s healthy! Cucumbers are low in calories, full of nutrients and water.
- It’s the perfect recipe to make ahead of time and will keep in your refrigerator for up to a week.
Here is What You Will Need
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This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe, scroll down to see ingredient notes and substitutions as well as a printable recipe card with exact measurements and complete cooking instructions.
Ingredients
Cucumbers
Onions
Apple Cider or White Vinegar
Sea Salt
Coconut Sugar
Fresh Dill
Ground Pepper
Equipment
Here is How To Make Cucumber Salad
Step 1. Place the cucumber slices into a bowl with the onions.
Step 2. Stir in the salt and sugar, and allow the cucumbers to sit at room temperature for one hour.
Step 3. At this point, the cucumbers will have released water into the bowl, if not let them sit for 30 minutes longer or add the vinegar and adjust the flavor with water.
Step 4. Add the chopped dill and vinegar. Adjust the flavor with more water for a less vinegar taste.
Step 5. Toss all of the ingredients together.
Estimated Time To Make This Recipe: 35 to 45 minutes (includes time for cucumbers to sit in the brine)
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Cucumbers. You can use whatever type of cucumber you prefer. In the summer I use cucumbers from my garden. In the winter, I like the small Kirby or Persian cucumbers, for their delicate flavor and thin skins.
Onions. As with the cucumbers you can use any type of onion that you have. The red onions make a pretty presentation, white or vidalia onions are a good choice too for their sweet flavor.
Coconut Sugar. I prefer to use natural sweeteners, and you can easily substitute refined or sucanat sugar for coconut sugar.
Sea Salt can be replaced with table salt or kosher salt.
Vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is my vinegar of choice in this recipe, but you can also use white wine, red wine or champagne vinegar.
Serving Suggestions
Cucumbers and onions in vinegar taste great as a side dish with a burger, grilled chicken, beef, pork, seafood or Swedish meatballs
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover cucumber salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Recipe Variations
Change up the Cucumbers and replace them with thinly sliced zucchini or a combination of both.
Change up the Herbs and use any combination of chopped fresh mint, basil or oregano.
Cucumber Salad Questions Answered
Here are the most commonly asked questions about cucumbers and onions in vinegar. If your question isn’t answered below, leave me a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
The cucumbers are soaked in salt and sugar brine to draw the water out of the cucumber slices. The water also dilutes the vinegar taste, and more water can be added if the vinegar is too strong.
It’s okay to not peel the cucumbers when the skin is thin as is the skin is on baby, Persian or English cucumbers. If the skin is thick and tastes bitter it’s best to peel the cucumbers.
No! Do not drain the cucumbers before adding the vinegar. The water from the cucumbers will dilute the vinegar, and it can be adjusted by adding more water and sugar to taste.
You Might Also Like these Summer Recipes
Cucumbers and Onions in Vinegar
Cucumbers and onions in vinegar is a combination of crispy cucumbers and onions in a tangy yet slightly sweet vinegar. It’s a classic summer side dish that can be made in minutes.
Ingredients
- 3 medium cucumbers
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped dill
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- With a sharp knife or mandolin, slice the cucumbers and onions very thin
- Place the onions and cucumbers into a bowl; sprinkle with sea salt and sugar and mix well.
- Set the mixture aside for at least one hour to allow the cucumbers to release water
- Add the vinegar and dill; stir – adjust the salad with salt, pepper and sugar and water to taste
Notes
Ingredient notes:
Cucumbers - any type of cucumber can be used in this recipe. If they are thin skinned cucumbers they do not need to be peeled.
Onions - Red, white, yellow or vidalia onions are the best onions for this salad.
Sea Salt - can be replaced with an equal amount of kosher salt or table salt.
Coconut Sugar- can be replaced with an equal amount of sucanant sugar or refined sugar.
Vinegar - Apple cider, white, red or champagne vinegar are good choices.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 50Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1195mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 1gSugar: 6gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information is provided by an online calculator and is meant to be used for informational purposes only. Even though I try to provide accurate information, these figures should still be considered as estimates.
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