Creamy Cucumber Salad

The best ever creamy Cucumber Salad with delicious sour cream and fresh dill dressing. This salad is refreshing treat for all Cucumber Salad Lovers.  Sliced cucumbers with quick mix of dressing, and it is The perfect addition to a summer meal. Gluten Free. 

Dressing is absolutely delicious, and you’ll want to put it on everything. It’s great as a dip for raw veggies, served on side with grilled chicken, or spread on your favorite toast. It is sour cream and mustard based dressing with 2 special ingredients that make extra it creamy, and surprisingly flavorful. (must try)

Oh, also sharing tips to make an crunchy-never-watery-cucumber-salad. Don't miss to read.

CREAMY CUCUMBER DRESSING

This cucumber salad is all about creamy dressing. Dressing is creamy, refreshing with vibrant lemon, mustard and dill weed flavor.

I'm sure you guess it already; The main ingredients for dressing are: sour cream, mustard, lemon juice, and fresh dill weed leaves. My special touch in dressing is just 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil mayo, capers and hint of garlic. 

1. Mayonnaise keeps dressing creamier. A little goes long way. Just 2 tbsp of mayo makes cucumber salad creamy and also helps sour cream not release water.
   Note: To make vegetarian cucumber dressing, substitute mayo with either 2 tbsp of thick Greek yogurt or good quality Vegan Mayonnaise.
2. Capers gives dressing salty bite. If you can't find capers. Add a tbsp of small diced pickle.
3. Garlic adds delicious depth of flavor. Not a whole lot but just one clove of grated garlic takes the creamy dressing from fab to fabulous. Be sure to use the freshest garlic you can find. A little goes the long way. one clove is more than enough. Grate it on fine grated. You don't want chunks of garlic in dressing but smooth depth of flavor.

Optional Ingredients: I also recommend adding some chopped red onion, or scallions and minced jalapeno if you like some heat.

CRUNCHY CUCUMBER FOR CUCUMBER SALAD

Cucumbers are full of water. This water naturally release when cucumbers are mixed with dressing or salted. Treating cucumber with salt before hand helps extract some water out. This way, the cucumbers will not dilute the creamy dressing as quickly. I recommend, for creamy crunchy cucumber salad: 

1. Make dressing and refrigerate separately in an airtight container. Slice cucumber just before serving. Combine dressing with cucumber just before serving. Serve immediately.
2. Salt Cure Cucumber (make cucumber loose water beforehand): Slice the cucumber and slightly salt. Leave aside in strainer for 15-20 minutes. After 15-30 minutes, transfer to paper towel to soak extra moisture hanging outside completely. Or Pat dry with clean paper towel. Cucumber are ready to join a creamy salad dressing.

Friends, this Creamy Cucumber Salad recipe is just two steps: 1) Prepare the dressing, 2) Prepare the cucumber. Mix and serve for a refreshing accompaniment to any summer meal. Remember to: 

1. Don't skimp on dressing. 
2. If serving later, mix dressing and refrigerate separately in an airtight container. Slice cucumber just before serving. Or slice cucumber and salt-cure (explained below), then refrigerate separately. Combine dressing with cucumber just before serving. Garnish with fresh cracked pepper and chopped parsley.
3. For best flavor, serve salad chilled.

I hope this refreshing cucumber salad will make to your summer dinner menu this week. Make some tonight!

Enjoy -Savita