Cucumber vinegar salad recipe is simple and easy to make as a light, summertime side dish. Plant-based, vegan, low-calorie, and gluten-free.
Looking for a side that will make your lunch or weeknight dinner a million times better?
This refreshing cucumber salad with vinegar and onion will brighten up any meal. You won't have to fuss with a lot of ingredients or seasonings to fix this cucumber vinegar salad recipe. Plus, it comes together in just 10 minutes of prep!
Make this vibrant, eye-catching salad for your next picnic, potluck, or when unexpected guests pop by. Impress everyone with this brilliant colorful salad dish.
If you need a fancy and super filling salad for big family gatherings you could try my Mediterranean rainbow quinoa salad. It will surely amaze everyone around the table!
Is cucumber salad good for you?
Besides being quick and easy to prepare in no time, this nourishing side dish is loved by everyone in my family. Since cucumbers are so abundant here in spring and summer, we eat them daily, without any exceptions :). And, yes, they are good for you and safe to eat every single day, there would be no problems, only many health benefits!
I'm sure this hearty salad will become a regular part of your clean-eating menu.
Let's make this healthy and delicious cucumber salad with sesame seeds right away!
What does a cucumber vinegar salad recipe contain?
This Asian-inspired recipe for cucumber salad with vinegar uses only wholesome, real food ingredients. Take advantage of seasonal cucumbers and onions and enjoy this time-tested winner vegetable salad that is both affordable and incredibly tasty. All you need is:
- Fresh cucumbers (English cucumbers preferably)
- Onion (red, yellow, or white - you choose)
- Sesame seeds (toasted)
- Apple cider vinegar (or any vinegar of your choice)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and sugar
- Water
- Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
As always, you can find the full recipe with a list of ingredients with measurements in a printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Which cucumber is best for salad
You can use any cucumbers you have at hand and are available in your country: English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers, Kirby cucumbers, or any garden cucumbers. I highly recommend you to use English (European) cucumbers because they have thin skin and a mild taste. They are also known as hothouse or seedless cucumbers. Actually, they have small seeds but you can easily chew and digest them - simply rinse, slice, and serve. We want to keep things simple and uncomplicated! Yay!
Which vinegar for cucumber salad
I always choose apple cider vinegar whenever I make salad recipes that call for vinegar-based dressings. I think it's the best choice for salad recipes because it's not so strong and has a pleasant flavor. But you can use red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or rice vinegar instead. For an even more intense sour flavor, you can use plain white vinegar, too.
Time needed: 10 minutes.
How to make a cucumber vinegar salad recipe?
This classic side dish is a real crowd-pleaser. Its fresh flavor will make every meal special and nutritionally complete.
- Slice cucumbers and onion
Start by slicing the cucumbers with a knife into thin slices. You can use a mandolin if you desire. Chop up the onion into thin half-moons as well. Slicing the veggies as thinly as possible is very important because that will allow them to absorb the dressing and seasonings easily. Combine cucumbers and onion in a medium-sized bowl.
- Season it
Season with salt, sugar, and freshly ground black pepper. Omit the pepper if you don't like spicy flavors.
- Make the dressing
In a small jar mix apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and water. Pour the mixture over cucumbers and onion. Toss until veggies are evenly coated with the vinaigrette and well combined.
- Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds
In the end, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. This step is optional but it gives the salad a nice earthy and nutty finish. If you want to learn how to toast sesame seeds at home read my blog post about making your own homemade tahini. The first step explains the process.
After that, I recommend you refrigerate your cucumber salad for at least 30 minutes or until serving (the longer they marinate in the dressing, the better the flavor). - Serve it and enjoy
Before serving, stir again to evenly mix the vinegar dressing. Enjoy it as a healthy snack on its own or serve it alongside your lunch or dinner.
Store covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
How long does cucumber salad last
Store this tangy, dairy-free cucumber vinegar salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days, but in my opinion, it's best to be eaten after a few hours after being made.
What happens if you eat a cucumber every day
Cucumbers are very low in calories (one raw, unpeeled cucumber contains only 45 calories) but rich in important vitamins and minerals. Eating cucumbers may lead to numerous health benefits like balanced hydration, lower blood pressure, weight loss, and improved digestion. You can add them to your diet easily, including them in many salads or simply eating them on their own.
Is this cucumber vinegar salad recipe good for weight loss?
Wondering how to shed belly fat fast without depriving yourself of delicious food? This light and savory salad is the right choice for you then. It's excellent for people who want to lose weight and get a flat stomach without being hungry or being on a strict"diet". Thanks to its high water and fiber content, this vegan cucumber salad will keep you full and satisfied. Couple it with a nutrient-dense lunch or dinner and you'll get a full and complete meal that will keep your body in shape.
Is it good to eat cucumber with vinegar?
You may ask yourself what do cucumbers and vinegar do to your body? This Asian cucumber vinegar salad is widely known for its many health benefits. It contains plenty of nutritional values, boosts your immune system, and greatly helps in detoxifying your body.
It's best to eat unpeeled cucumbers since peeling reduces their nutritional content. Don't miss out on all the nutrient value the cucumber peel has to offer. To make sure you get all the health benefits, always eat cucumbers unpeeled unless their peel is excessively bitter or thick. Just make sure to wash them well first.
Eating fresh cucumbers in any kind of form is totally guilt-free! This powerful superfood that has zero fat and is low in calories may aid in weight loss and fat burning. Hydrate your body and regulate your bowel movements - the easy way - by eating a plant-based, low-sugar, and low-fat diet that includes lots of fruits and veggies. And cucumbers are among the first on this list!
Sure! You can omit the olive oil and still have the yummiest, low carb, no oil cucumber salad with sesame seeds.
What do you serve with cucumber salad?
This budget-friendly salad is so versatile, it goes with so many meals, you can serve it up with:
- Crispy Quinoa Patties (GF)
- Creamy Red Lentil Soup
- Baked Potato & Zucchini Fritters
- Cozy Green Peas Stew
- Creamy Broccoli Soup (without cream or flour)
- Gluten-Free Zucchini Patties with Chickpea Flour
More vegan salad recipes
- 20 Minute Vegan Pasta Salad
- Mediterranean Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Fresh Mint
- Simple Butter Lettuce Salad
- Protein-Packed Quinoa Salad
- Picky-Eaters Approved Strawberry Spinach Salad with Walnuts
- Healing Salad with Mixed Greens for Flat Belly
- Vegan-Friendly Potato Salad without Mayo or Eggs
- Kid-Friendly Salad with Apricots and Strawberries
Cucumber Vinegar Salad Recipe (Weight-Loss Side Dish)
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Small jar
- Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 English Cucumbers unpeeled
- 1 medium-sized red onion
- 4 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 4 tablespoon fresh water
- 2 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 1 teaspoon salt add less or more, to taste
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper optional
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds toasted
Instructions
- Start by slicing the cucumbers with a knife into thin slices. You can use a mandolin if you desire. Chop up the onion into thin half-moons as well. Slicing the veggies as thinly as possible is very important because that will allow them to absorb the dressing and seasonings easily. Combine cucumbers and onion in a medium-sized bowl.
- Season with salt, sugar, and freshly ground black pepper. Omit the pepper if you don't like spicy flavors.
- In a small jar mix apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and water. Pour the mixture over cucumbers and onion. Toss until veggies are evenly coated with the vinaigrette and well combined.
- In the end, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. This step is optional but it gives the salad a nice earthy and nutty finish. If you want to learn how to toast sesame seeds at home read my blog post about making your own homemade tahini. The first step explains the process. After that, I recommend you refrigerate your cucumber salad for at least 30minutes or until serving (the longer they marinate in the dressing, the better the flavor).
- Before serving, stir again to evenly mix the vinegar dressing. Enjoy it as a healthy snack on its own or serve it alongside your lunch or dinner. Store covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Notes
- Use any cucumbers you have at home: Persian cucumbers, Kirby cucumbers, or any garden cucumbers. I didn't peel them but if yours have very thick or bitter skin you should remove it.
- You can use any type of onion here: red onion, yellow onion, white onion or scallion.
- If you like your salad to have an intensely sour taste, use white vinegar or substitute the apple cider vinegar with balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, or rice vinegar.
- You can make an oil-free version of this easy cucumber salad by omitting the olive oil.
- Omit the pepper if you don’t like spicy flavors.
Nutrition
Made this cucumber vinegar salad without tomatoes? If yes, please rate it, leave a comment below, and share your photo on Instagram with the tag @go_eatgreen and hashtag it #go_eatgreen. I would love to hear about your experience and your comments just make my day!
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Love, Marinela💚
Julia
What an awesome side dish and so full of flavour. This is perfect to go with so many summer dishes. Thank you.
Marinela
Yes, it perfectly complements many summer dishes, thank you for sharing your feedback with us, Julia!
Lucy
This salad is so light and refreshing. The perfect side dish for any meal during the summer months. So quick and easy to make too. Thank you for sharing.
Marinela
I'm glad you loved my cucumber salad, Lucy, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
Kayla DiMaggio
I love the brightness of this cucumber salad. It was so refreshing!
Marinela
I'm glad you loved my fresh cucumber salad, Kayla, thanks for commenting!
Toni Okamoto
Can't wait to try this one!
Marinela
How lovely! Let me know if you try it, Toni!
Emily
What a delicious and refreshing side dish! I'm going to enjoy this one over and over during the summer!
Marinela
It's really enjoyable and pleasing, I agree 🙂 Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
Anaiah
This was such a wonderful salad! So light and tangy and so easy to make. I love simple salads like this that leave me feeling refreshed.
Marinela
Yes, super simple and refreshing! I'm happy to hear that you loved it, Anaiah! Thank you for sharing!
Maiko
I love cucumbers in a salad! So fresh and perfect for summer. I must make this recipe!
Marinela
Me too, love fresh cucumbers! Let me know if you try it, Maiko!
Choclette
Cucumbers are so underrated and I love that you've made it the star of the show. The salad looks so refreshing and delicious too.
Marinela
Totally agree with you Choclette, and yes, in this simple side dish they really shine! Thank you for your wonderful feedback!
Joshua
Everybody should eat a more simpler diet like this. Your cucumber salad recipe is very easy to make but still so nutritious and flavorful!
Marinela
Yes, simplicity is the key here, and in everything, I think 🙂 I'm glad you loved my easy cucumber salad, Joshua, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!
MayMarie
i love cucumbers exspecially the way we make it for party gathering we use soysauce and vinegar and hot pepper and black pepper and it is delicious as well ... i almost forgot i wanted to know is good for people that is diagnosed with Acute Chronic Kidney Disease stage 5 that is me so i am supposed to watch the potassium and no salt in take
Marinela
I'm sure soy sauce, hot & black pepper would be a lovely addition! Yes, you can reduce or totally cut out the salt/sugar here, the salad will still be delicious. As for me, I love eating plain cucumbers without salt or anything, they're such a simple refreshing snack. Hope you'll love it, too. 🙂 I think the other ingredients are kidney-friendly, so you can enjoy this cucumber salad even without the salt. May God bless you and keep you, MayMarie! Thank you for your lovely feedback, I really appreciate it.