Mediterranean cuisine is known for its delicious yet healthy and easy-to-make recipes. One of them is this pickled cucumber salad.
Pickled cucumbers are super crunchy, so they give this salad a more enjoyable texture. Plus, they’re briny and a little spicy, meaning you’ll have an unforgettable flavored dish for any special dinner.
Since it has pickled cucumbers, many believe that only experts can make this salad. However, if you want a homemade version, you only need a few minutes to prepare them. After they’re refrigerated, you just have to wait a day to eat them!
What do you think? Do you want to make this delicious pickled cucumber salad to surprise your guests with its intense but delicious flavors? You’ve come to the right place! Here’s the best recipe you’ll ever find!
What Is Pickled Cucumber Salad?
As its name suggests, it’s a salad made of pickled cucumbers, so it’s briny and has an intense vinegar flavor.
While many eat pickled cucumber salad alone, it’s a great cooling side for meat-based dishes, such as beef or lamb burgers. It also goes well with fried fish!
You can also serve this salad with grilled chicken, lemon garlic salmon, and meat skewers. If you want to add more flavor to your shawarma or gyros, it’s also a great option!
This salad is also perfect for picnics, whether you eat it as a snack or appetizer.
Pickled cucumber salad is delicious and healthy. That’s why many people prepare it. Also, it’s so refreshing. You’ll love this recipe if you make it for a casual summer feasting.
If you want to make pickled cucumber salad, you only need four simple ingredients – pickled cucumbers, radish, shallots, and fresh dill – and a citrus dressing.
Do you want to prepare a more generous salad for a party or a dinner with many people? You can add more vegetables to this recipe, such as lettuce and tomatoes, for a completely different but just as delicious dish.
Ingredients to Make Pickled Cucumber Salad
Are you ready to prepare this pickled cucumber salad? The first thing you should do is find all the ingredients. These are:
- 3 pickled cucumbers, sliced (if you prefer smaller cucumbers, you can use four)
- 6 radishes, thinly sliced
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- ¼ oz chopped fresh dill
To make the dressing, you also need the following ingredients:
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Cooking Instructions
Once you have all the ingredients, you can start making this delicious recipe. These are the steps you should follow:
- In a large mixing bowl, place the sliced vegetables (shallots and radish) and add the pickled cucumbers
- Add the fresh dill and mix a few times
- In a separate small bowl or mason jar, add the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper
- Whisk or shake the jar until all the ingredients are combined
- Pour the citrus dressing over the salad
- Toss the salad again so that all the vegetables are combined with the dressing (you must make sure all the ingredients are coated with the mixture)
- Serve alone or with your favorite dishes!
How to Make Pickled Cucumbers
Do you want to make this recipe but don’t have pickled cucumbers at home? Prepare your own version! You only need a few more ingredients and start working the day before. Here’s an easy recipe!
Ingredients to Make Pickled Cucumbers
Again, the first thing you need to do is find all the ingredients. These are:
- 3 cups vinegar (you can use distilled or white vinegar or white wine vinegar)
- 3 English cucumbers, sliced into ½-inch rounds (if you use a smaller cucumber variety, make sure you have about 1 ¼ pound)
- 2 ¼ cups cold water
- 2 ½ salt
- 4 green onions (you have to trim and chop both the white and green parts)
- 3 tbsp mustard seeds
- 3 tbsp coriander seeds
- 3 tbsp peppercorn
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 jalapeno peppers without seeds, sliced into rounds
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- Around ½ oz fresh dill
- 2 cups ice cubes
Cooking Instructions
Do you have all the ingredients? These are the steps you must follow to prepare pickled cucumbers:
- Place the sliced cucumbers in a colander in the sink and add a few ice cubes. Let them rest for at least 20 minutes (this trick is ideal if you want your cucumbers to have a crunchier texture)
- Drain the cucumbers and dry them well
- Meanwhile, mix the vinegar and water in a saucepan
- Add salt, coriander and mustard seeds, peppercorn, and bay leaves
- Bring the mixture (brine) to a boil over high heat. After a couple of minutes, lower the heat and let it simmer for about 10 more minutes
- Remove the brine from the heat and let it cool
- Fill a few wide-mouthed jars with cucumbers, garlic, green onions, dill, and jalapenos
- After that, cover all the vegetables with the brine (you can use a spoon to push the cucumbers down as they need to be completely submerged)
- Give the jars a few taps so they release any air bubbles
- Cover the jars well and take them to the fridge
- If you want to get the best results, use them the next day!
Common Substitutions and Variations
Now that you know how to prepare pickled cucumbers yourself, you should be ready to make this delicious salad!
However, before you start, it’s important to know what substitutes you can use if you don’t like or can’t find an ingredient.
First, there’s the dill. If you can’t find fresh dill at a local grocery store, you can use the dry version. Just add the same amount!
Moreover, if you don’t like dill, you can use other herbs. Parsley works well with this recipe! You can also add fresh mint if you enjoy its flavor.
Do you want to prepare another version of this pickled cucumber salad? You can add other vegetables and ingredients. Many people use feta cheese and kalamata olives for a more Mediterranean flavor. It’s a completely different dish, but you’ll love the result!
If you want a more generous salad, you can also add lettuce leaves. In this case, you only have to place them with the cucumber before drizzling the dressing. This version is ideal for those who prefer low-calorie recipes.
FAQs
Do you have more questions about this pickled cucumber recipe? Check this FAQ section and find all the answers you need!
Can I Make This Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make this salad ahead of time. However, in this case, it’s essential to drain the cucumbers first. Otherwise, you’ll have a watery dish!
Can I Use Fresh Cucumbers?
Yes, of course. You can also prepare a version of this salad with fresh cucumbers, but keep in mind that it won’t taste the same!
How Many Calories Does This Salad Have?
This salad only has 61.1 kcal per serving! That’s why it’s perfect for those who want to lose weight or add healthier dishes to their diet.
Should I Drain the Cucumbers?
If you use pickled cucumbers, you shouldn’t drain them. However, this process is ideal if you prefer fresh cucumbers, especially if you don’t plan to serv the salad right away.
To drain cucumbers, you only have to salt them and set them aside in a large colander to remove excess water.
What Variety of Cucumbers Can I Use?
While you can use any variety of cucumbers you find, the best ones for this recipe are English cucumbers.
They’re also known as hot-house cucumbers and are large but thin. Since its dark green skin is not that thick, it’s edible and delicious. Also, it’s easier to work with this variety because you don’t have to peel them, and they’re seedless.
English cucumbers are also sweeter and less watery than other varieties, so they’re perfect for salads.
If I Make Pickled Cucumbers, How Long Can I Store Them in the Fridge?
If you use thigh-lid jars, you can store your pickled cucumbers in the refrigerator for up to two months. You’ll see its flavor will be much more delicious and intense!
Can I Pickle Other Vegetables and Use Them in This Salad?
Yes, of course! You can pickle other vegetables using the same method and then add them to your favorite salad recipe. The most common are red onions, carrots, small peppers, green beans, cauliflower, and asparagus!
How Can I Flavor Pickled Cucumbers?
If you want to flavor your pickled cucumbers to make a more delicious salad, you only have to make a few adjustments to the brine recipe or when you’re packing the cucumbers into the jars.
Do you want to try it? Add some spices to infuse more flavor. The best options are fresh thyme, rosemary, and oregano.
You can also add some chopped onions right into the jars or sliced hot peppers if you want your pickled cucumbers to be spicier!
Final Thoughts
This pickled cucumber salad recipe is one of the easiest you’ll ever find! As you can see, you only need a few ingredients!
Also, in less than 10 minutes, you can make this delicious salad, which is great if you want to eat something delicious but need to save time.
Are you looking for easy and delicious but healthy recipes? This pickled cucumber salad is one of them!
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