Cucumber salad is a cool, refreshing treat that's perfect for summer picnics. Passed down through several generations of my family, here is a rundown of the basic ingredients.
The key ingredient in cucumber salad, cucumbers can be sliced paper thin or, chopped or slivered before adding to your base dressing. For best results, use freshly-picked cucumbers from your own garden.
Thinly sliced onion plays second fiddle in this recipe and helps set off the fresh flavor of the cucumber. Don't worry about using a too-strong onion, the dressing helps take the edge off of this normally sour vegetable.
Vinegar is the main component of the dressing, and bind the whole salad together. Vinegar also plays a key role by softening the vegetables and toning down their flavor.
Mayo adds a level of creaminess to this salad and completes the dressing. It also gives your gtaste buds a much-needed counterpoint to the strong, overpowering flavors in this dish.
Salt and Pepper are the basic 'spices' that many people add to make this dish delicious, but other options can kick up the flavor even more. Add the juice from half of a lemon to make a great side dish for fish, add paprika to give the flavor more depth, or add a dash of rooster sauce for a spicy salad.
To create this salad simply combine the above ingredients. Use 1 whole cucumber, 1 half onion, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1 cup mayo and spices to taste. Let sit in the fridge overnight before serving.
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