This creamy cucumber salad is the perfect side dish if you're in need of a refreshing dish. With crispy cucumbers, zesty red onion, and crunchy celery in a tangy sour cream dressing - it's the ultimate burst of freshness to add to any meal. And did I mention this recipe is no cook?! Let's get started!
Celery cucumber salad is a beloved dish originating from Eastern European cuisine, known for its cool and refreshing taste. Typically made with fresh cucumbers, onions, and a creamy dressing, it's a staple at picnics, barbecues, and family gatherings, offering a delightful contrast of textures and flavors.
This was inspired by my Mediterranean Cucumber Salad, and pairs well with this any of my delicious grilled meat recipes like Grilled New York Steaks. If you're looking other easy salad recipes, be sure to try my Tuna Pasta Salad.
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🌟 Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Refreshing Flavor: Delight in the crispness of cucumbers, the zest of red onion, and the tanginess of the sour cream dressing with a hint of lemon juice.
- Easy Prep: With simple ingredients and no cooking required, it's quick and effortless to prepare anytime.
- Healthy Choice: Packed with fresh vegetables and herbs, this celery salad is a nutritious addition to your daily diet.
🥘 Ingredients
These ingredients create a refreshing crunch, zesty flavor, and tangy dressing, making the salad deliciously balanced and flavorful.
Salad
- English Cucumbers: Dice into uniform pieces for a consistent texture in your cucumber salad. Using medium cucumbers or regular cucumbers is an option, but if using regular cucumbers, peel them first for a more tender bite. Fresh, crunchy cucumbers are essential for a refreshing and crisp celery salad.
- Red Onion: Dice finely to add a zesty kick to the creamy cucumber salad. For a milder flavor, soak the diced red onion in water for a few minutes to reduce its sharpness. Red onions bring a vibrant color and a tangy flavor that complements the dressing ingredients.
- Celery: Dice the stalks celery for a satisfying crunch in the salad. Ensure the celery pieces are uniform in size with the cucumbers for an even distribution of textures. For a more flavorful crunch, use crunchy celery and avoid the inner, more fibrous stalks.
Dressing
- Sour Cream: Use full-fat sour cream for a rich and creamy dressing that forms the base of this simple salad. Sour cream adds a creamy texture and tangy flavor that balances well with the fresh vegetables. For a lighter version, you can substitute with Greek yogurt or a creamy avocado-based dressing for a dairy-free option.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a refreshing tanginess to the dressing. Lemon juice is key for achieving the right balance of acidity in the creamy cucumber salad. If you don't have lemon juice, you can use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar as alternatives to achieve a similar tangy flavor.
- Fresh Dill Weed: Adds a fresh, herbaceous note to the salad. Fresh dill weed imparts a classic herbal flavor, perfect for a traditional celery salad. If fresh dill weed is not available, you can use dried dill in a pinch, though the flavor may be less vibrant.
- Fresh Tarragon: Provides a unique, slightly licorice flavor to the creamy cucumber salad. Fresh tarragon can be substituted with fresh parsley for a different herbal note if tarragon is unavailable. Tarragon adds a subtle yet distinctive flavor that complements the other herbs.
- Celery Seed: Adds an additional layer of celery flavor to the salad. Though celery seed can be omitted if unavailable, it enhances the celery salad with a hint of celery essence. For a more intense celery flavor, incorporate celery seed into the dressing.
- Sugar: Balances the acidity of the lemon juice and rounds out the flavor of the dressing ingredients. Adjust the sugar to taste or use a natural sweetener like honey or agave syrup for a different sweetness level. Just a touch of sugar helps to create a well-rounded and flavorful dressing.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the creamy cucumber salad. A pinch of salt is crucial for bringing out the flavors of the vegetables and the dressing ingredients. Opt for sea salt or kosher salt for better texture and a more refined flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, salt, fresh dill weed, fresh tarragon, and celery seed, whisking until smooth.
Step 2: Dice the English cucumbers, red onion, and celery into uniform pieces. Add the diced vegetables to the dressing ingredients in the large bowl and gently fold everything together until well coated. Chill the celery salad in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving to enhance the flavors.
👩🏼🍳 Chef's Tip
- Make sure to dice the vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure even flavor distribution and a consistent texture throughout the cucumber celery salad.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Low-Fat Option: Substitute the full-fat sour cream with Greek yogurt for a lighter, low-fat version.
- Herb Variation: Swap the fresh tarragon with fresh parsley or cilantro for a different herbal twist.
- Sweetener Substitute: Replace the sugar with honey or agave syrup for a natural sweetener alternative.
🍴 Equipment
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk or spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Refrigerator
💭 Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use regular cucumbers for this cucumber celery salad, but it's best to peel them first if the skin is thick, as this can affect the texture.
Absolutely! Substitute the sour cream with a dairy-free alternative like a creamy avocado-based dressing or a dairy-free yogurt. You can also use olive oil and lemon juice for a lighter option.
This celery salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best flavor, let it come to room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
🥣 Storage & Reheating
Storage: Keep the creamy cucumber salad in a large bowl or an airtight container in the refrigerator at room temperature for up to 3 days. This celery salad is great for a heart-healthy diet and offers healthy salads for your daily values. To maintain the crunchy celery and the creamy texture of the sour cream dressing, ensure you store it properly.
Reheating: The creamy cucumber salad is best served chilled and does not require reheating. Enjoy this simple salad cold to fully appreciate the refreshing flavors of cucumbers, red onion, and celery. If you need to adjust the dressing, add a splash of lemon juice or a pinch of salt and black pepper to enhance the dressing ingredients.
Freezing: Freezing is not recommended for this creamy cucumber salad due to its high water content and delicate ingredients. The texture of the cucumbers and the creamy sour cream dressing will not hold up well after thawing, making it less enjoyable. Instead, prepare this simple salad fresh and store it in the refrigerator for optimal taste and freshness.
Its citrusy notes and bright acidity complement the tangy dressing and fresh flavors of the salad, enhancing the overall dining experience.
👩🏼🍳 Top Tips
- Ensure Uniform Dicing: Consistently dice the cucumbers, red onion, and celery into uniform sizes. This ensures even distribution of flavors and textures throughout the salad.
- Chill Before Serving: Allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together and enhances the overall taste and freshness of the dish.
- Taste and Adjust Seasonings: Taste the dressing before mixing it with the vegetables and adjust the seasonings according to your preference. This ensures the perfect balance of tanginess, sweetness, and saltiness in the salad.
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🥗 Pairing Recommendations
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating & comment below to let me know how it came out. Thanks for visiting!
📋 Recipe
Creamy Cucumber Salad
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Equipment
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Medium mixing bowl
- Whisk or spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Refrigerator
Ingredients
- 2 English cucumbers diced
- ½ red onion diced
- 1 large celery stalk diced
- 8 ounces sour cream full fat
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill weed
- 2 teaspoons fresh tarragon
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
Instructions
- Dice the cucumber, onion, and celery into approximately the same size and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine sour cream, sugar, salt, dill weed, tarragon, and celery seed together. Whisk until well combined.
- Add the diced vegetables to the bowl and fold together gently to combine, ensuring the vegetables are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Place the salad in the refrigerator for at least an hour prior to serving to allow the flavors to meld together and for the salad to chill.
- Serve chilled and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Reheating: Creamy cucumber salad is best served chilled and does not require reheating.
Freezing: Creamy cucumber salad is not suitable for freezing due to its high water content, which may result in a change of texture when thawed.
🌡️ Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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