Cucumber, Red Onion, and Dill Salad

For one of the simplest summer sides, look no further than this cucumber and red onion salad. It calls for just six ingredients—including the salt and sugar in the dressing—and comes together in under 15 minutes. We prefer English cucumbers for this recipe because they’re easy to prep, but if you’ve got a bevy of garden cucumbers to use up, swap them in instead. Red onion adds pungency while a couple of tablespoons of fresh, feathery dill bring a cooling, fragrant burst of freshness to the dish. Serve this salad alongside grilled chicken, cedar plank salmon, or marinated flank steak. Low on effort but big on flavor, it’s a dish you’ll make all summer long.

Key Ingredients and Swaps

Cucumber: English cucumbers are our pick for this recipe since they contain few seeds and don't require peeling (though you can certainly remove the skin if you prefer). If using garden cucumbers, peel off the waxy skin and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds before slicing.

Red onion: Half a red onion adds a pleasant bite to this salad. To mellow its flavor, soak the slices in ice water for 10 minutes, then drain before adding to the cucumbers. You can use shallot or sweet onion instead if desired.

Dill: Feathery, cooling dill pairs beautifully with cucumbers. We love the brightness that the fresh herb provides, but you can swap in two teaspoons of dried dill in a pinch. If you don't like the flavor of dill, try using cilantro or parsley instead.

White-wine vinegar: Tangy yet mild white-wine vinegar forms the base of the dressing. For something less acidic, use an equal amount of rice vinegar.

Sugar: To balance out the acid, we add a couple of teaspoons of granulated sugar. Add more if you prefer a sweeter taste, or less for an extra-tangy salad.

Why You Need to Chill This Salad Before Serving

Cucumber salads taste best when they're cool and crisp, so we recommend chilling this one for a minimum of 15 minutes before serving. This also gives the flavors a chance to meld and the cucumbers time to absorb some of the dressing.

Do You Need to Salt Cucumbers?

Some cucumber salad recipes call for salting and draining the cucumbers. This draws out excess moisture and can make for a more concentrated flavor. For simplicity's sake, we don't require that step here—plus, English cucumbers aren't as watery so you don't really need it. If you're a fan of salting cucumbers and have the time, you can add in this step for an even crunchier salad:

After slicing, toss cucumbers with 1 1/2 teaspoons of coarse salt and let sit in a colander for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse and pat dry before proceeding with the recipe.