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Mom’s recipe for Cucumber Salad with Vinegar is a healthy and easy side dish to pair with any summer meal. Thinly-sliced, fresh cucumbers are marinated in a sweet and tangy dressing made with vinegar, sugar and a touch of fresh herbs. Refreshing, easy and absolutely delicious!

Close up shot of marinated cucumbers in a serving bowl garnished with fresh dill

These are Mom’s Marinated Cucumbers – the ones that I grew up eating. It’s truly the best cucumber salad, as the simple dressing allows the cool, crisp cucumbers to shine!

Overhead shot of bowl of cucumber salad with vinegar and a serving spoon

How to marinate cucumbers in vinegar:

The easy cucumber salad with vinegar and sugar is incredibly fast and can be prepared in advance. You will need the following ingredients:

  • Cucumbers
  • White vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Salt and pepper
  • Fresh dill or parsley

First, slice the cucumbers into very thin rounds. I like to use this mandoline slicer to keep the slices even and to make the prep work very fast. You can peel the cucumbers first, if desired, but it’s not necessary.

Thinly sliced cucumbers with mandoline on cutting board

Place the sliced cucumbers in a large bowl.

In a small separate bowl or jar with a lid, whisk or shake together the vinegar, water, sugar, salt, pepper and dill.

Vinegar dressing for cucumber salad

Pour the marinade over the cucumbers, cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Sliced cucumbers with vinegar in a glass mixing bowl

Drain cucumbers and serve!

Bowl of the best cucumber salad with fresh parsley in the background

What to serve with Cucumber Salad with Vinegar:

These marinated cucumbers go well with a variety of entrées. Here are a few meal ideas to get you started:

Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations:

  • Optional additions to the salad: you can add thinly sliced shallots, red onions, or sweet onions to the salad. My mom has also added thinly sliced mini sweet bell peppers, which add a nice touch of color.
  • Prep ahead! You need at least 1 hour to chill this salad, but you can prepare it far in advance, as necessary.
  • How long can you keep cucumbers in vinegar? The cucumber salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for at least 1 week. The cucumbers will get softer as they sit, but they’ll still be good!
  • Are cucumbers with vinegar good for you? Yes! This salad is a delicious way to encourage your family to eat more cucumbers. Cucumbers are low in calories but high in many important vitamins and minerals. They contain antioxidants, they promote hydration, and may lower blood sugar (source).

Cucumber salad with dill and vinegar and sugar in a brown clay serving bowl

What else can I do with cucumber? Here are a few ideas:

Close up shot of marinated cucumbers in a serving bowl garnished with fresh dill

Cucumber Salad with Vinegar

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 12 servings (about 1/2-cup each)
Calories 12 kcal
Mom's recipe for Cucumber Salad with Vinegar is a healthy and easy side dish to pair with any summer meal!

Ingredients
  

  • 2 seedless English cucumbers (or about 3 regular cucumbers), peeled if desired (about 1.75 lbs. or 6 cups total)
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • Chopped fresh dill or chopped fresh parsley, to taste

Instructions

  • Slice cucumbers very thinly and place in a large bowl. I like to use a mandoline to keep the slices even and to make the process very fast, but you can just use a knife if you prefer.
  • In a separate small bowl or in a jar, whisk or shake together vinegar, water, sugar, salt, pepper and herbs. Pour over cucumbers. Cover; chill at least one hour or overnight. Drain cucumbers and serve!

Notes

  • Optional additions to the salad: you can add thinly sliced shallots, red onions, or sweet onions to the salad. My mom has also added thinly sliced mini sweet bell peppers, which add a nice touch of color.
  • Prep ahead! You need at least 1 hour to chill this salad, but you can prepare it far in advance, as necessary.
  • How long can you keep cucumbers in vinegar? The cucumber salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for at least 1 week. The cucumbers will get softer as they sit, but they'll still be good!
  • Exact nutrition information is difficult to calculate, since most of the dressing is drained off before consumption. For purposes of calculating nutrition facts, I assumed that 1/2 of the dressing is consumed, while the other half is drained.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5gCalories: 12kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 98mgPotassium: 77mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 53IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg
Keyword: cucumber salad, cucumber salad with vinegar, marinated cucumbers
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Blair Lonergan

This recipe was originally published in August, 2013. The photos were updated in July, 2019.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

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