Description
Aunt Joy’s Creamy Cucumber Salad is a refreshing and tangy side dish featuring thinly sliced English cucumbers and sweet Vidalia onions tossed in a rich, creamy dressing made from mayonnaise, heavy cream, vinegar, and a subtle hint of cayenne for depth. This salad can be served immediately for crisp freshness or chilled overnight to let the flavors meld beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar (or more to taste)
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
- dash cayenne pepper (optional, for flavor not heat)
Salad
- 1 large English cucumber (about 2-3 cups sliced)
- 1/4 large sweet Vidalia onion (or up to 1/2 onion to taste)
- Fresh herb to garnish (thyme or dill preferred)
Instructions
- Make the Dressing: In a large glass measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, heavy cream, white sugar, white vinegar, kosher salt, black pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper until smooth. Chill the dressing in the refrigerator if not using immediately.
- Slice the Cucumbers: Using a sharp chef’s knife or a mandoline (with caution), slice the English cucumber into thin coins less than 1/8 inch thick for a delicate texture.
- Slice the Onion: Thinly slice 1/4 to 1/2 of a sweet Vidalia onion paper-thin. A mandoline can help achieve uniform slices, but a sharp knife works well too.
- Toss Salad: In a medium-small serving bowl, gently toss the sliced cucumbers and onions together. Just before serving, pour the creamy dressing over the salad and toss lightly to combine. Add more cucumbers if desired. Serve using a slotted spoon to avoid too much dressing on each serving.
- Serving Suggestions and Storage: This salad is crisp and fresh when served immediately, but flavors deepen if chilled overnight. If you prefer cucumbers to remain crisp, store the sliced cucumbers and onions separately from the dressing and combine before serving.
Notes
- Use thin slices of cucumber and onion for the best texture and flavor distribution.
- Adjust the vinegar and sugar balance to suit your taste preferences for tanginess and sweetness.
- A dash of cayenne pepper adds depth without making the salad spicy—feel free to omit if sensitive to spice.
- The salad can be served immediately or refrigerated for a day to let flavors meld, but cucumbers will lose some crunch over time.
- Fresh herbs like thyme or dill are excellent garnishes that complement the creamy dressing.