The Best Creamy Cucumbers recipe offers a quick and delightful way to enjoy a refreshing side dish that’s perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or a light accompaniment to any meal. This easy-to-make dish is a crowd-pleaser, transforming simple ingredients into a surprisingly flavorful and satisfying experience.
Key Ingredients for Best Creamy Cucumbers
- 2 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (optional, for added crunch and flavor)
How to Make Best Creamy Cucumbers
This recipe for Best Creamy Cucumbers is a testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly special. In just about 15 minutes of active preparation, you’ll whip up a side dish that’s both incredibly easy to make and wonderfully satisfying. The star of this dish is its undeniably creamy sauce, perfectly complementing the cool crunch of fresh cucumbers.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Cucumbers: Begin by thoroughly washing your cucumbers. Peel them using a vegetable peeler, then slice them in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out and discard the seeds with a spoon. Once seeded, slice the cucumber halves thinly. Aim for slices about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Place the sliced cucumbers into a colander set over a bowl or in the sink. Sprinkle generously with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and toss to coat. Let the cucumbers sit for about 15-20 minutes. This salting process draws out excess moisture, preventing a watery salad and ensuring a crisp texture in your finished dish.
Make the Creamy Dressing: While the cucumbers are draining, prepare the dressing. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and mayonnaise. Add the chopped fresh dill, white vinegar, granulated sugar, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Whisk all the ingredients together until the dressing is smooth and well-combined. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or sugar to suit your preference.
Combine and Chill: After the cucumbers have drained, gently pat them dry with paper towels to remove any remaining surface moisture. Add the dried cucumber slices to the bowl with the creamy dressing. If you’re using red onion, add the thinly sliced red onion to the bowl as well. Gently toss the cucumbers and onion (if using) with the dressing until they are evenly coated.
Chill to Perfection: For the best flavor and texture, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid. Refrigerate the Best Creamy Cucumbers for at least 30 minutes before serving. This chilling time allows the flavors to meld together beautifully and ensures the dish is refreshingly cold.
Why You’ll Love This Best Creamy Cucumbers
You’ll adore this Best Creamy Cucumbers for its incredibly fresh and cooling texture, a delightful contrast to many richer side dishes. The creamy, tangy dressing, infused with fresh dill and a hint of sweetness from the sugar, elevates simple cucumbers into a gourmet experience, making it a standout dish compared to a basic cucumber salad.
Not only is this recipe wonderfully delicious, but it’s also incredibly budget-friendly. Using common, affordable ingredients means you can whip up a generous batch without breaking the bank, making it a smart choice for entertaining or everyday meals. The versatility of its simple yet flavorful components means it pairs perfectly with everything from grilled meats to sandwiches, so give these Best Creamy Cucumbers a try – your taste buds will thank you!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Proper storage is key to enjoying your Best Creamy Cucumbers for days to come.
- Refrigeration: Store any leftover Best Creamy Cucumbers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The dish will stay fresh and delicious for up to 3 to 4 days. The creamy dressing helps preserve the cucumbers, but as with most fresh vegetables, their crispness may diminish slightly over time.
- Freezing: Freezing is generally not recommended for this dish as the texture of the cucumbers and the creamy dressing can be significantly altered upon thawing, becoming watery and mushy. It’s best to enjoy this salad fresh.
- Reheating: This dish is meant to be served cold, so reheating is not necessary or recommended. If your dish has been sitting out at room temperature for more than two hours, it’s best to discard it.
Final Thoughts
The Best Creamy Cucumbers are a testament to how simple, fresh ingredients can create an incredibly satisfying and refreshing dish. This recipe is wonderfully easy to prepare and is sure to become a favorite. Gather your ingredients and give this delightful side a try – you won’t be disappointed!
Best Creamy Cucumbers
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Begin by thoroughly washing your cucumbers. Peel them using a vegetable peeler, then slice them in half lengthwise. Carefully scoop out and discard the seeds with a spoon. Once seeded, slice the cucumber halves thinly. Aim for slices about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Place the sliced cucumbers into a colander set over a bowl or in the sink. Sprinkle generously with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and toss to coat. Let the cucumbers sit for about 15-20 minutes. This salting process draws out excess moisture, preventing a watery salad and ensuring a crisp texture in your finished dish.2 large cucumbers, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- While the cucumbers are draining, prepare the dressing. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the sour cream and mayonnaise. Add the chopped fresh dill, white vinegar, granulated sugar, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Whisk all the ingredients together until the dressing is smooth and well-combined. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or sugar to suit your preference.1 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- After the cucumbers have drained, gently pat them dry with paper towels to remove any remaining surface moisture. Add the dried cucumber slices to the bowl with the creamy dressing. If you’re using red onion, add the thinly sliced red onion to the bowl as well. Gently toss the cucumbers and onion (if using) with the dressing until they are evenly coated.2 large cucumbers, 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- For the best flavor and texture, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid. Refrigerate the Best Creamy Cucumbers for at least 30 minutes before serving. This chilling time allows the flavors to meld together beautifully and ensures the dish is refreshingly cold.