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Simple Cucumber Salad with Vinegar (Marinated Cucumbers)

This simple cucumber salad with vinegar is a tangy, quick-pickled side dish even our kids love! Ready in no time, it’s the perfect weeknight salad!

Simple Marinated Cucumbers aka Cucumbers & Vinegar is a crazy easy and fast side dish that goes with most everything! Plus they last a long time in the fridge for snacking. | perrysplate.com #cucumbersandvinegar #quickpickle

These marinated cucumbers are BY FAR the most-often made side dish in our house.

Who knew that cucumbers and vinegar could be such a magical combination? They’re fast and easy for a weeknight side dish or a light summer salad and everyone loves them!

Would you be surprised if I told you I had eight different kinds of vinegar in my cupboard? Before I lived in Europe, my experience with vinegar was limited to dying Easter eggs.

And that’s exactly what I thought about when I smelled the simple oil and white vinegar dressing on the salads I ate in Austria.

I tried to suppress my egg-dying thoughts, not wanting to offend my sweet elderly hostesses by scrunching my nose. Then I grew to love vinegar’s bite. Kind of like how I grew to love plain sparkling water. And this simple marinated cucumber salad recipe.

Simple Marinated Cucumbers aka Cucumbers & Vinegar is a crazy easy and fast side dish that goes with most everything! Plus they last a long time in the fridge for snacking. | perrysplate.com #cucumbersandvinegar #quickpickle

How to marinate Cucumbers in Vinegar

This recipe is beyond easy. You only need a few things:

  • English cucumber (they have a better flavor and you don’t have to peel and seed them like you do with regular cucumbers, but if that’s all you can find, then go for it.)
  • Unseasoned Rice Vinegar
  • Salt
  • Sweetener, preferably granulated

You slice the cucumbers as THINLY as you can and then toss everything else together with a little water and BOOM. Done.

Here, watch how easy it is!

Simple Marinated Cucumbers aka Cucumbers & Vinegar is a crazy easy and fast side dish that goes with most everything! Plus they last a long time in the fridge for snacking. | perrysplate.com #cucumbersandvinegar #quickpickle

I think marinated cucumbers helped me to love vinegar. It’s a popular side dish in Austria (and Germany, too, I think).

To make this extra good you’ll need extra thinly sliced cucumbers. And make sure you have a fresh cucumber, too.

How to slice cucumbers extra thin

Have you bought a mandoline slicer yet? It’s the answer.

Seriously, what are you waiting for? That one I linked to is similar to the one I have. Mine’s old and doesn’t exist anymore, but it still does a great job.

I use it for these cucumbers ALL the time and for making veggie chips, like Crispy Sweet Potato Chips.

Seeing all those super-thin uniform cuts makes me super happy. Unless I cut myself… which I’ve only done once this month. And it wasn’t that bad. I was still happy about the uniformity, despite the blood spewing from my finger. #priorities

You could also use a slicing blade of a food processor or a good old-fashioned knife and cutting board.

It’s way slower by hand and you won’t get them really thin and uniform looking. But if you’re cool with that, then go for it.

Simple Marinated Cucumbers aka Cucumbers & Vinegar is a crazy easy and fast side dish that goes with most everything! Plus they last a long time in the fridge for snacking. | perrysplate.com #cucumbersandvinegar #quickpickle

These cukes are basically going to soak in vinegar water that is seasoned a bit. I like my cukes marinated in a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water with some sugar and a little sweetener added. You can adjust it however you like.

What else can you add to marinated cucumbers?

You could even add herbs like fresh dill, cilantro, or parsley.

Or some minced fresh garlic or thinly sliced red onions if you’re feeling fancy.

A friend of mine adds some sour cream to make a creamy version. That sounds heavenly.

How long do marinated cucumbers last in the fridge?

Then cover and refrigerate — the longer it sits, the better it gets. Until it gets slimy. Don’t wait that long.

They’re really good on day 2 and 3 especially. But you can keep them in there for about a week.

I also wanted to mention that I usually avoid white sugar like the plague when preparing our everyday meals and snacks. Most of the time I use coconut sugar or Lakanto monkfruit sweetener when I make these. Honey doesn’t easily mix evenly, and my stevia is super-concentrated. I didn’t want it tasting like cucumber candy.

Simple Marinated Cucumbers aka Cucumbers & Vinegar is a crazy easy and fast side dish that goes with most everything! Plus they last a long time in the fridge for snacking. | perrysplate.com #cucumbersandvinegar #quickpickle

What to serve with cucumbers & vinegar?

This easy (gluten free!) side dish adds some freshness if you’re eating something that’s really meaty or heavy. They also belong underneath a couple of fried eggs for lunch. Or with shrimp and pico de gallo.

I’ve made it for my kids a few times and they eat them like potato chips. (Especially the one who really likes pickles.) We especially love these cucumbers with our Sunday California Roll Sushi Bowls.

They’re also REALLY good along side my Grilled Moroccan Chicken or Spicy Shrimp Rolls!

We’re just cucumber salad & vinegar loving people.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cucumbers with vinegar good for you?

Yes! This cucumber salad is a great way to encourage your family to add some green to their meal!

How long will cucumber in vinegar last?

About a week – but if they’re slimy then don’t eat them!

Do cucumbers in vinegar need to be refrigerated?

Yes. These are not your “normal” pickles (Gerkins) that can be kept in the pantry for ages. They will go off if left out of the fridge.

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Simple Marinated Cucumbers

Simple Marinated Cucumbers

Yield: Serves 4 as a side dish
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

These tangy quick-pickled cucumbers are our favorite side dish! Our kids love them and they're easy to make on a weeknight.

Ingredients

  • 1 English cucumber, sliced very thinly
  • 1/4 cup rice or white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of honey or coconut sugar
  • black pepper, if desired

Instructions

  1. Place the cucumbers in a bowl.
  2. Whisk together the remaining ingredients plus 1/4 cup of water in a measuring cup and pour over the cukes. Stir to coat well; adjust the seasonings if necessary.
  3. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes or up to a few hours before eating.

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tilzey

Thursday 15th of December 2022

While staying in Holland for a couple months, I first learned of this simple, excellent side dish. My hostess did process the fresh cucumbers before marinating them. After slicing them thinly, she spread them on a large plate, salted them lightly, covered them with another plate, and then put something to weigh down the top plate to press out extra water. That step shortened the time needed for marinating.

Roxana

Monday 19th of October 2020

I'm not a fan of honey. I'm almost 63 and I thought I knew what I liked and didn't like. I found this site searching for the simple vinegar and honey mix that I happened across a month ago. I used rice wine vinegar and honey. I think that's all that went into it. Only reason I ventured a try is because I now know how much better honey is when you spend $15 for a 16 oz mason jar from the bee man down the road. Unreal. Perfect mix with rice wine vinegar. I don't remember the ratio, but I can wing it after looking at this. I saw dill listed and I will toss some of that in, too. Another thing I have tried to develop a taste for, is yogurt. My taste has changed. I can't get enough of that stuff! Back to my cukes. Wish me luck!

Natalie Perry

Wednesday 21st of October 2020

Enjoy, Roxana!

Cheryl

Wednesday 12th of August 2020

It would be good to have the nutritional information for your recipe

Natalie Perry

Friday 28th of August 2020

There are a lot of online calculator you can use. Thanks Cheryl!

viviann

Friday 23rd of August 2019

Very tasty recipe!

Natalie Perry

Tuesday 27th of August 2019

Thank you!

Janet

Thursday 1st of August 2019

My mom always put the sliced cukes and some onion in a frying pan with enough water to boil them just until they were a little soft! Then drain and put them into the vinegar mixture! Chill them, and They are delicious!

Natalie Perry

Tuesday 13th of August 2019

Oh wow! That sounds interesting. I may have to try that. Thanks Janet!

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