Recipes Ingredients Vegetables Cucumber Recipes 9 Cool, Crunchy Cucumber Salad Recipes to Make Right Now They're the perfect to accompaniment to a summer meal. By Lynn Andriani Lynn Andriani Lynn is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Published on August 15, 2024 Close Photo: Bryan Gardner Cucumbers are pretty much synonymous with cool, and they're terrific in slaws, noodle dishes, and drinks—we even like them in cooked dishes. But the very best way to use these ubiquitous vegetables might just be in a cucumber salad recipe, whether they're the star ingredient or combined with other fresh produce. For one, their mild and lightly sweet flavor is easy to match with a range of ingredients, from spicy red onion to bright and light herbs such as dill and mint. Perhaps even better, though, is that a cucumber salad is just as good at complementing classic summer mains, such as burgers or grilled meats or fish, as it is supporting spicy entrée since cukes do a great job tempering heat. So whether you've picked up a plastic-wrapped English cucumber, a package of small Persian cucumbers, or maybe even grown your own, you'll find plenty of inspiration here. How to Store Cucumbers So They Stay Fresh and Crunchy 01 of 09 Cucumber Salad With Sour Cream and Dill Dressing Creamy and crunchy, with a pop of herbal flavor from the dill, this classic cucumber salad goes with nearly any main course, but it's a particularly great match for burgers, ribs, or grilled salmon. View Recipe 02 of 09 Melon and Cucumber Salad GENTL & HYERS Walking the line between sweet and savory, this beautiful arrangement of melon and cucumbers would be equally as comfortable served with grilled fish for dinner as it would as part of a summertime brunch. View Recipe 03 of 09 Quick Pickled Cucumber Salad Keep this quick and easy recipe in your back pocket, and you'll never be at a loss for what to serve with a summer meal. It requires only four ingredients, plus salt and pepper. View Recipe 04 of 09 Black Bean, Cucumber, and Feta Salad Marcus Nilsson Cilantro, lime, and feta spruce up black beans and cucumbers in this fabulous hearty salad. Try it with fish tacos. View Recipe 05 of 09 Cucumber, Red Onion, and Dill Salad This light salad calls for white wine vinegar, which lends a pleasant tang that's tempered with a small amount of sugar. It's excellent with picnic or cookout fare (you could even top a burger with it!). View Recipe 06 of 09 Watermelon-Cucumber Salad Leave the pork chop portion of this recipe, take the vibrant salad part. Simply toss together watermelon, cucumber, jalapeño, basil, fish sauce, coriander, and lime juice, and you've got a great side for nearly any grilled protein. View Recipe 07 of 09 Celery-and-Cucumber Salad With Herbs Here's a vibrant green salad that gets its verdant crunch from not one but two great vegetables: cucumbers and celery. Fresh mint is the surprise ingredient, adding brightness and zing. View Recipe 08 of 09 Thai Cucumber Salad Bryan Gardner This cooling and crunchy cucumber salad would be great alongside noodle dishes or any dish with some kick. You can make this salad ahead of time and then just garnish it with chopped peanuts and herbs before serving. View Recipe 09 of 09 Rice Salad With Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Feta Paola + Murray This tabbouleh-like salad incorporates onion, garlic, tomatoes, feta, parsley, mint, and, of course, cucumbers. Instead of bulgur, though, you use rice, which offers a different texture (and a great opportunity to use up any leftovers you may have). View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit