Creamy Cucumber Salad
If you’ve ever had tzatziki, you know of its magic. The refreshing yogurt and cucumber flavors combine so well and truly create a unique and satisfying dip! This Creamy Cucumber Salad is that x 10. It’s tangy, savory, and so delicious.
We all remember the first recipes we learned how to cook, right? For me, it was chocolate chip cookies and tzatziki. Well like, not together but… you know what I mean.
And while everyone understands the perfection that is a good batch of chocolate chip cookies, I’m not sure everyone really gets tzatziki. And in case you fall into the camp of people not yet sold on tzatziki, let this creamy cucumber salad be your introduction.
Tzatziki is rich and creamy Greek yogurt combined with refreshing cucumber, zingy lemon, and garlic. It’s just… divine. We love to eat it with veggies, slathered on pizza, and drizzled on gyros.
So in the name of giving tzatziki all the attention it deserves, today we’re making a “deconstructed tzatziki” of sorts in the form of this creamy Greek cucumber salad!
Creamy cucumber salad ingredients
If you’ve ever made tzatziki, this recipe uses nearly identical ingredients. The only difference is that we’ll be slicing the cucumber rather than grating it up into tiny pieces. The cucumber is the focus of this recipe, and the yogurt sauce is used as a dressing!
- Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is the all-star of the tzatziki sauce game. It’s what makes the sauce, the sauce! Go for unflavored yogurt, either low or full fat.
- Fresh Dill: Fresh dill is one of those ingredients that just fits with yogurt-based dressings. Dried dill can be substituted in a pinch.
- Lemon Juice: Classic tzatziki features a slight yet undeniable tang. Fresh lemon juice is perfect for adding both tang and flavor.
- Garlic: And, because garlic is always a good idea, throw in 1 minced clove!
- Salt and Pepper: Add salt and pepper to suit your taste.
- Cucumber: For the base of the salad, 1 thinly sliced cucumber will be plenty. I love using English cucumber here because they don’t have seeds.
- Red Onion: Finally, add a crunchy bite with some thinly sliced red onion.
How to make creamy cucumber salad
There are two main components to this creamy cucumber salad: the cucumber and the yogurt.
Step 1: Make the dressing
In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, dill, lemon, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.
Step 2: Prepare the cucumber
Cut the cucumber into thin slices (you can also use a mandolin slicer to make it even easier). Pat dry with paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible.
Step 3: Assemble
Combine the cucumber slices and the creamy dressing in one bowl. Gently stir to combine the yogurt dressing with the cucumber and red onion.
Variations to try
Where are my ranch dressing lovers? For those of you who eat it on everything (I know I’ve got some ranch pizza dippers here), I have great news! You can actually use ranch in place of the Greek yogurt dressing. This swap creates a similar, but distinctively different flavor.
There are a number of ingredients that you can also add to this recipe! Consider sprinkling chopped green onions for an extra bite, or add diced tomatoes. You can also add a few drops of extra virgin olive oil for some extra flavor and mouthfeel.
And for a vinegar-based cucumber salad, be sure to try this Thai Cucumber Salad!
How to store
The answer to the big question, “Does this salad store well,” is YES! This salad stores very well, and often tastes better the second day. As the ingredients sit and combine, the flavors really intensify and make this salad one of those meals that’s just better on Day 2!
Keep it refrigerated in a securely sealed container, and you can enjoy it for up to 3 days.
More ways to enjoy tzatziki
Tzatziki is a versatile sauce and dip that works well with many different foods! Here are some of my favorite ways to sneak it into my meals.
Tzatziki Cucumber Salad
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt 240 g
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice 15 mL
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ tsp each salt and pepper
- 1 cucumber thinly sliced
- ¼ cup sliced red onion ¼ of a medium onion
INSTRUCTIONS
- Yogurt Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, dill, lemon, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Cucumber Salad: Pat dry cucumber slices with paper towels. Gently stir to combine yogurt dressing with cucumber and red onion.
