With a base of mostly yogurt, this Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe is lower in calories and fat, but still has all the flavor! A sprinkle of goat cheese (or feta) and fresh herbs really take the taste up a notch.
I have had more than my fair share of cucumber salads in my day!
Different Types of Cucumber Salad
My Mom’s Cucumber Salad with Italian Dressing
My mom’s was the first cucumber salad I had, and as kids we had it frequently (at least twice a week) every summer. She always made her cucumber salad into a chunky-style chopped salad. It had cucumber and tomato, and sometimes she’d also add carrot, snow peas, or bell pepper. Italian dressing was her favorite way to dress it.
Indian Raita
Back in college, Indian Raita was my first introduction to yogurt-based cucumber salad-type dishes. Even though it’s more of a sauce than a salad, the flavors are similar. With tangy yogurt, refreshing cucumber, and a plethora of herbs and/or spices, it’s a classic that you can’t go wrong with.
Side Note: I make our favorite Raita with a little salt, fresh-crushed garlic, fresh-grated ginger, ground coriander, cumin, and fresh mint. It’s such a delicious mix!
Thai Cucumber Salad
Also during my college days, my friends and I used to love going out for Thai. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you probably know that I’m a condiment girl through and through, so you won’t be surprised that one of my favorite things about eating Thai out is the little dish of sweet and sour cucumber salad they bring out with the appetizers. It’s addictive; so much so that I made my own version of it a while ago.
Amish Cucumber Salad
In law school I had a friend whose dad was Chinese and mom was Amish…and they could both cook something fierce! They’d have me over for elaborate homemade stir-fries, noodle dishes, and classic home-cooked comfort food like roast chicken and from-scratch stuffing.
Her mom also made a really lovely pickled cucumber salad that had just cucumber, salt, sugar, and vinegar. It was incredibly refreshing and hydrating for those hot Florida days we had to endure (which was really not fun, especially during finals). It paired perfectly with just about any lunch!
Syrian Cucumber Yogurt
My Syrian mother-in-law makes a cucumber salad that she serves along with rice dishes like Maqluba (a Palestinian upside-down rice casserole, the recipe for which is in my cookbook). She keeps her cucumber salad simple with cucumber, yogurt, salt, fresh-crushed garlic, and dried mint. It’s the perfect tangy, refreshing addition to a heavy rice dish.
Greek Tzatziki Sauce
And even though I don’t remember the first time I had it (although I think it was probably late-night at a Greek diner), I really enjoy a good Greek Tzatziki sauce.
I didn’t think about it until after I made it, but I think the flavors in my Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe are most similar to Tzatziki!
Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe
Onion and cucumber make a refreshing mix, and are simply dressing with a tangy yogurt-dill creamy dressing. They are such simple garnishes, but I think the goat cheese, sprinkling of fresh herbs, and drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil makes this salad.
In this recipe, you can use feta instead of goat cheese if you prefer. And instead of using a mix of regular yogurt, Greek yogurt, and mayo, you can just use 1/2 cup sour cream.
Even with all the cucumber salads that I’ve tried in my day, this delicious version is pretty high up on my list!
More Summer Salad Recipes to Try:
- Watermelon Salad Recipe with Feta
- Arugula and Fresh Cherry Salad
- Shirazi Salad with Chickpeas
- Spinach Strawberry Salad
- Avocado and Herb Salad
- Lentil Salad Recipe with Herbed Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith
Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound Persian cucumbers or Kirby cucumbers or English cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt or labneh or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayo
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 2 ounces goat cheese crumbled
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or mint leaves
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Toss the cucumber, onion, and salt together in a large bowl; cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the fridge for at least 1 hour (or up to 4 hours) so the salt can draw out the cucumber’s water.
- Mix together the yogurt, Greek yogurt, mayo, and dill.
- When you’re ready to serve, stir the yogurt mixture into the cucumber mixture.
- Transfer the salad to a serving dish and sprinkle the goat cheese and parsley on top. Drizzle on the olive oil and sprinkle on the black pepper.
- Serve.
Faith's Tips
- Net Carbs: 7g per serving
- You can use feta instead of goat cheese if you prefer.
- Instead of using a mix of regular yogurt, Greek yogurt, and mayo, you can just use 1/2 cup sour cream.
Nutrition
This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on July 9, 2014. I updated it with more information on June 1, 2020.
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items. Thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!
Every summer my friend brings me bags and bags of cucumbers, so I’ll be making this salad plenty, it looks great!
i love cucumber salads. this sounds great!
Made this as a side for BBQ turkey thighs last night and it was delicious. Goat cheese was a perfect addition. Thanks for the recipe!
Such a great salad for the summer. It looks so creamy and delicious!
what an interesting post & read! loved reading about your history in connection to the recipe. thanks for sharing a great post and awesome recipe.
Looks summery and delicious
What a great salad, love everything about this dish!
My mom also made cucumber salads all summer! Hers were more or less a very fast pickle with cucumber and red onion. I love the idea of mixing it up with goat cheese!
A delicious salad! I love the addition of goat cheese and dill.
Cheers,
Rosa
I TOTALLY forgot about cucumber salad! My Mom used to make one when we were kids too. Your version looks incredible!