Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs

July 7, 2015
Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs ~ This simple cucumber salad gets a jolt of flavor pizazz from fresh dill, parsley, and mint.  And believe me, it's a truly fabulous flavor combination.
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Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs Image

Summer gardens are really starting to share their loot!  And I couldn't be happier.  I just adore fresh produce straight from garden. Nothing beats that just-picked taste.

But with all the harvest bounty, the question then becomes -- What to do with all that beautiful garden-fresh loot?

Well if you've got cucumbers in your garden, this Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs is sure a GREAT answer.

This simple cucumber salad gets a jolt of flavor pizazz from fresh dill, parsley, and mint.  And believe me, it's a truly fabulous flavor combination.

Sadly, I'm not a gardener myself.  Believe me when I say I'm not blessed with a green thumb. I swear, it's tough for me to even keep artificial plants alive. 

But fortunately, I get to share in the results from my mother-in-law's garden.  Unlike me, she  is a fabulous gardener with one of the greenest thumbs around! She grows it all -- okra, squash, tomatoes, green beans, shelly beans, bell peppers, blackberries, pumpkins, you name it.  Just take a look at these photos from her garden -- her garden is truly gorgeous.

Okra Plants in the Garden Image

Green Beans in the Garden Image

Green Bell Peppers in the Garden Image

After working over at my mother-in-law's house the other day, my husband came home with a big bag of fresh cucumbers.  They were our first garden cucumbers of the season, and I immediately knew what I wanted to make -- a big batch of Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs.

My mother-in-law makes a very simple cucumber salad dish by tossing thinly sliced cucumbers and onions with a bit of sour cream. This Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs is a jazzed up version of that simple dish ... getting some zippy pizazz from a bit of fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard and a combination of fresh dill, parsley, and mint.

It's amazing the fabulous flavor this simple mix of fresh herbs brings to this salad.  It's a freshness and herb-iness that's truly wonderful.  And while mint may seem like an odd addition, the cucumber and mint pair together just beautifully.

While mint may seem like an odd addition, the cucumber and mint pair together just beautifully.

Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs Ingredients:

It doesn't take a ton of fancy ingredients to pull this flavorful salad together!

For the salad base, you'll need:
  • Cucumbers - Cucumbers fresh from the garden are best for this salad. If you don't have garden cucumbers available, choose small pickling cucumbers from the grocery. Thinly sliced with the peel on, these cucumbers form the beautiful base of the salad.
  • Red onion - Thinly sliced red onion combines wonderfully with the cucumbers. A thinly sliced sweet Vidalia onion can be substituted, if you prefer.

For the creamy dressing, you'll need:
  • Sour cream - Creates the creamy base of the dressing. Regular or reduced-fat sour cream both work just fine.
  • Fresh dill, parsley, & mint - The mix of fresh herbs that bring this salad's unique and signature flavor. For the best result, use a fresh version of all three herbs. -- Don't omit any of them, as they work beautifully together.
  • Fresh lemon juice - Brightens and enhances the salad's flavors.
  • Dijon mustard - Adds a bit of zing to the salad's dressing.
  • Granulated sugar - Rounds out and "softens" the dressing's flavors.
  • Salt & pepper - Seasons and enhances the flavors of the salad.

Top View Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs Image

How to Make Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs:

Making a bowl of Creamy Cucumber Salad is super easy. To get it started, simply thinly slice some red onion and cucumbers to make the salad's base. With fresh-from-the-garden cucumbers or small pickling cucumbers from the grocery store, leave the peel on. -- The peel on small cucumbers is thin and tender, and its green color makes for a pretty salad.

For the dressing, stir together some sour cream, fresh dill, fresh parsley, and fresh mint with a little lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the dressing mixture over the cucumbers and toss everything together to coat. Then you're good to go with serving up and enjoying this tasty cucumber salad deliciousness!

Keep in mind that the cucumbers begin to release water once they're tossed with the sour cream dressing, so toss everything together just before serving for the best result. If you do need to prepare Creamy Cucumber Salad a bit in advance, refrigerate the cucumbers/onions and dressing mixture in separate bowls until you're ready to serve.

This salad is the perfect dish for enjoying that first batch of garden cucumbers. -- And for enjoying the last of the summer's harvest, as well. I know I'm certainly looking forward to enjoying much more of my mother-in-law's summer garden loot. -- And looking forward to enjoying many more bowls of Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs, too!

Check out these other tasty fresh summer salads:

cucumber salad recipe, creamy cucumber salad recipe, recipes for fresh cucumbers, cucumbers with sour cream dressing
Salads
American
Yield: about 6-8 servings

Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs

Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs

This simple cucumber salad gets a jolt of flavor pizazz from fresh dill, parsley, and mint. And believe me, it's a truly fabulous flavor combination.
prep time: 15 Mcook time: total time: 15 M

ingredients:

  • 4 to 5 c. thinly sliced cucumbers {about 2 large}
  • 1 c. thinly sliced red onion {about half an onion}
  • 1/4 c. sour cream
  • 2 T. chopped fresh dill
  • 1 T. chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/2 T. chopped fresh mint
  • 2 T. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp. granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper

instructions:

How to cook Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs

  1. Place cucumber and onion in a large bowl.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream, dill, parsley, mint, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper; stir until well blended.
  3. Drizzle sour cream mixture over cucumbers. Toss to coat. 
  4. Serve immediately.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
  1. The cucumbers begin to release water once tossed with the sour cream dressing, so toss together just before serving. 
  2. If you need to prepare the salad a bit in advance, refrigerate the cucumbers/onions and dressing mixture in separate bowls until ready to serve.
Created using The Recipes Generator



This post is linked with Weekend Potluck.

11 comments

  1. Try as I might, I could not get the recipe for the green bean, walnut and feta salad.

    Also with the cucumber salad, I slice my cukes, then toss with 1 teaspoon of salt and let sit for an hour. I drain them, then dry them with a tea towel. They are not crisp, but they also do not dilute the dressing ingredients.

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  2. This sounds heavenly! My cucumbers should be ready soon! Can't wait to make this!

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  3. This looks utterly divine! We're shivering in the middle of Winter here in Australia, but come Summer, I'll be trying this for sure. Thankyou. Mimi xxx

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  4. Your vegetable garden and your Creamy Cucumber Salad look fabulous, there is nothing like from Garden to Table. I appreciate you sharing this awesome post with Full Plate Thursday and have a great day.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  5. Loving all your salad recipe from your vegetable garden.

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  6. Creamy Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs is looking so fresh and healthy. Thanks for the recipe. I loved it.

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  7. I can't wait to harvest from my garden! Great recipe. Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party - Have a fabulous week.

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  8. This looks so refreshing Tracey - thanks for sharing and CONGRATS - you are one of our Featured Guests at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy!

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  9. That's a beautiful salad!! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Hope your week is fabulous!

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  10. Thanks for sharing with us at the Thursdays Favorite Things party! I'm featuring your yummy recipe this week. Congrats! ~Theresa

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