This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through those links (at no extra cost to you).
This Creamy Cucumber Salad is a classic German recipe, an all-around summer favorite, and an easy, tasty way to use up your cucumber bumper crop.
ย
Table of Contents
Creamy Cucumber Salad Ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
- Cucumbers: If you use thick-skinned cucumbers, you may want to peel them for this salad. To remove any large seeds, cut them in half lengthwise, then scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Slice and salt as direct in the recipe.
- Dill: Or substitute 2 teaspoons dried dill.
- Lemon juice: Or substitute 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.
How to make Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Add cucumbers to a colander set over a medium bowl, salting in layers (I do about 4 layers, ยผ teaspoon per layer). Let stand for 1 hour.
- In a medium bowl combine sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ยฝ teaspoon salt and ยผ teaspoon pepper). In a large bowl, add drained cucumbers and sour cream mixture, tossing until evenly coated.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes 8 cups of cucumber salad (8 servings, 1 cup each).
- Ranch dressing: This creamy dressing here is similar to classic Ranch, so grab a bottle if youโre looking for a shortcut.
- More mix-ins: Stir in minced fresh parsley or chives if you have more herbs on hand.
How to Store Cucumber Salad with Mayo
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator. The dressing will begin to break down and turn watery and the cucumbers will become soggy (but the salad is safe to eat for up to 4 days).
- Make ahead: This dressing is best assembled right before serving (30-60 minutes in advance is okay; store it covered in the refrigerator until serving time).
More for your menu
Grilling and Smoker Recipes
Wisconsin Beer Brats
Salad Recipes
Easy Potato Salad
Slow Cooker Recipes
Crockpot Baked Beans from Scratch
Drink Recipes
How to Make Lemonade
Join Us
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Sign up for our weeklyย newsletterย and follow along onย Facebook,ย Pinterest, andย Instagram for our latest recipes! Tag all your glorious creations #culinaryhill so we can eat vicariously through you.
Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe (with mayo)
This Creamy Cucumber Salad is a classic German recipe, an all-around summer favorite, and an easy, tasty way to use up your cucumber bumper crop.
Ingredientsย
- 4 hothouse cucumbers thinly sliced (see note 1)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill (see note 2)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (see note 3)
- 3 cloves garlic minced
Instructionsย
- Add cucumbers to a colander set over a medium bowl, salting in layers (I do about 4 layers, ยผ teaspoon per layer). Let stand for 1 hour. Drain excess liquid and pat cucumbers dry.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ยฝ teaspoon salt and ยผ teaspoon pepper). Cover and chill while the cucumbers are draining.
- In a large bowl, add drained cucumbers and sour cream mixture, tossing until evenly coated. Serve immediately (see notes).
Recipe Video
Notes
- Cucumbers: If you use thick-skinned cucumbers, you may want to peel them for this salad. To remove any large seeds, cut them in half lengthwise, then scrape out the seeds with a spoon. Slice and salt as direct in the recipe.
- Dill: Or substitute 2 tsp. dried.
- Lemon juice: Or substitute 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar.
- Yield: This recipe makes 8 c. of cucumber salad (8 servings, 1 c. each).
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator. The dressing will begin to break down and turn watery and the cucumbers will become soggy (but the salad is safe to eat for up to 4 days).
- Make ahead: This dressing is best assembled right before serving (30-60 minutes in advance is okay; store it covered in the refrigerator until serving time).
- Ranch dressing: This creamy dressing here is similar to classic Ranch, so grab a bottle if youโre looking for a shortcut.
- More mix-ins: Stir in minced fresh parsley or chives if you have more herbs on hand.
Nutrition
Calories: 97kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 52mgPotassium: 252mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 285IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @culinaryhill on Instagram so we can admire your masterpiece! #culinaryhill
This was super salty with the ranch packet. I imagine homemade ranch would be less salty.
Hi Bb, sorry it was salty! The recipe doesnโt call for a ranch dressing packet, did you add it in addition to the ingredients listed, or perhaps it was for another recipe? So sorry again, regardless. โ Meggan
Delicious! I made up a yogurt/raita type sauce instead of the recipe dressing, and it was very nice. The preparation of the cucumbers made the difference.
So glad you enjoyed it, Michelle! โ Meggan
Bit disappointed as mine has gone very watery. Think I will have to drain is off again.
Hi Mo, Iโm sorry the salad became runny. It can happen as the salad sits, so itโs best to assemble it 30 to 60 minutes before youโre ready to serve. So sorry about that! โ Meggan
Ok, whatโs the recipe for 1 cake, thank you
Hi Geoff, if you click the jump to recipe card at the top of the page, it will take you to the recipe card. Once there, there is an underlined โ8โ under servings. You can click that and use the slider to adjust the number of servings. Each serving is about 1 cup each, depending on the type and size of cucumber youโre using. So for one serving it is:
1/2 hothouse cucumbers thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sour cream
a little more than one teaspoon mayonnaise
3/4 teaspoons fresh dill minced
a little less than 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
less than 1/2 clove garlic minced
And you can adjust to your liking! I hope this helps, take care! โ Meggan
Love ,love this creamy salad, I added some dill pickles finely chopped. So refreshing thanks. Also Iโm new to your blog , your taste buds are so like mine, Yeah,keep them coming.thx
Going to make this tonight to go with pork chops.
What time should I be over for dinner? Sorry I sound like my dad there. ๐ -Meggan
Made this tonight with the fresh cucumbers in my garden itโs so yummy. I did add white onion to the recipe. It was really food!
Helloโฆexcited that I just discovered your site. Iโm wondering a couple of things, do you use a garlic press that you like? I havenโt yet found one that is perfect for me. Also, do you ever use jarred or tube garlic?
Thanks!
Hi Sharon, I donโt use a garlic press anymore. But, back in the day when I did, I loved the OXO Good Grips Soft-Handle garlic press. Itโs great! As far as jarred garlic, no, I donโt use it. It is heat-treated so it doesnโt taste the same as fresh garlic, in my opinion. However, I know a lot of people who love that convenience. So, if you want to use it, I would say use it in cooked recipes like spaghetti sauce or gravy, but not in raw recipes like salad dressing. But I cannot honestly recommend it. The tube garlic, however, is NOT heat-treated and it tastes just like fresh. I have that in my fridge all the time, and I love it. I think its great. Most of the time I just mince fresh cloves, but sometimes if I have to hold my baby or something, a squeeze from the tube is all that is happening LOL. ๐ If you have any other questions, please let me know! Thanks a lot! So glad you found me. -Meggan
Hello! Just wondering if you have a garlic press that you prefer. I havenโt yet found the perfect one for me. Also, do you ever use jarred or tube garlic? Thanks!
Canโt wait to try this. Sounds like what my grandmother used to make. She used red wine vinegar instead of lemon juice