This classic Cucumber Salad with Yogurt Dressing is everything you want in a simple side dish — cool, crisp, creamy, and full of fresh herbs. It comes together in minutes with just a handful of ingredients: crunchy cucumbers, Greek yogurt, a splash of vinegar, and plenty of dill, parsley, and chives. It’s light, flavourful, and perfect for warm-weather meals or everyday dinners.
This cucumber salad recipe is inspired by the classic German “Gurkensalat”, but made with a creamy twist that feels both nostalgic and modern. Pair it with grilled fish, baked potatoes, or your favourite BBQ mains, it’s a go-to side you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients for a Classic Cucumber Salad
This recipe for cucumber salad keeps things simple with real, whole ingredients that let the fresh flavours shine:
- English cucumbers – Naturally crisp and mild in flavour. If using organic, there’s no need to peel, the skin adds colour, texture, and extra fibre.
- Greek yoghurt – Rich, creamy, and packed with protein. It’s also full of probiotics that are great for gut health. Go for full-fat for the best flavour and texture.
- Fresh herbs – Dill, chives, and parsley bring freshness and layers of flavour.
- Shallot – Finely chopped for a delicate onion flavour that doesn’t overpower.
- Apple cider vinegar – Adds a gentle tang and helps balance the creaminess of the yoghurt. It’s also known for supporting digestion and promoting healthy gut bacteria.
- Extra virgin olive oil – Just a splash adds richness and helps bring everything together.
Tip: If you’re using plain natural yoghurt instead of Greek for this cucumber salad dressing, see the notes below the recipe for how to prevent the dressing from becoming overly watery.
How to Make Cucumber Salad with Yoghurt Dressing
It doesn’t take much to make this classic cucumber salad, just a handful of ingredients! Plus a mandolin or sharp knife, a bowl, and 15 minutes. Here’s the basic method:
- Slice the cucumbers: Top and tail the cucumbers, then slice them thinly using a mandolin slicer (about 2mm thick). You can leave the peel on if using organic.
- Make the salad dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the yoghurt, vinegar, olive oil, finely chopped shallot, dill, parsley and chives.
- Combine and chill: Add half of the sliced cucumber, season with salt and pepper, and toss gently. Once the dressing is loosened by the cucumber juices, add the rest and toss again. Cover and chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Exact measurements are in the printable recipe card below.rucken könnt.
Perfect Pairings for a Cucumber Yoghurt Salad
This cucumber salad with yoghurt dressing is more than just an easy summer side — it’s a light, fresh dish that works year-round. Served cold from the fridge, it’s the perfect match for anything from the grill, from salmon and halloumi to simple chicken skewers or this flavour-packed chicken shawarma.
It’s also a great addition to picnic baskets, buffet spreads, or a relaxed weekend lunch. And when the temperatures drop? This creamy cucumber salad adds the perfect contrast to warm, comforting sides like roast potatoes, baked vegetables, or hearty dishes such as Turkish meatballs (Köfte) or grilled lamb kofta.
Even better, it’s a favourite with kids. The mild flavours and creamy dressing make it an easy win at family meals. Simple, versatile, and always a welcome addition to the dinner table!
If you’re craving more ways to enjoy crisp, refreshing cucumbers, these flavourful salads are perfect for mixing things up. Each of them is simple, satisfying, and full of fresh ingredients.
- Cucumber Salad with Feta and Chickpeas – A hearty, protein-rich option that works beautifully as a light lunch or picnic side.
- Cucumber Salad with Dill and Feta – Creamy, tangy, and packed with flavour. This quick and easy recipe is a classic for good reason.
- Strawberry Cucumber Feta Salad – Sweet and savoury with juicy strawberries, crunchy cucumbers, and salty feta it’s a summer favourite!
These are the kind of salad recipes you’ll want to keep on rotation all season long.
Cucumber Salad with Yogurt Dressing
An easy recipe for creamy cucumber salad with yoghurt dressing. Made with crisp cucumbers, fresh dill, chives, parsley, and finely chopped shallots.
I’d love your feedback – just click on the stars to rate this recipe! ⭐
Ingredients
For the cucumber salad:
- 2 English cucumbers (preferably organic)
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- sprigs of dill, to garnish (optional)
For the yoghurt dressing:
- 250 g Greek yoghurt (see tips below)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (unfiltered)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 small shallot, very finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
Method
-
Prep the cucumbers: Top and tail the cucumbers. Peel them (or leave the skin on, as I do) and slice thinly into 2 mm rounds using a mandoline.
-
Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, vinegar, olive oil, shallots, and herbs until combined.
-
Assemble the salad: Add half of the cucumber slices to the bowl, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. The cucumber will release juices, naturally loosening the dressing. Add the remaining cucumber slices and toss again. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
-
Serve: Taste and adjust the seasoning, then garnish with fresh dill if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- If using plain natural yogurt instead of Greek yogurt, it’s best to salt the cucumbers beforehand to remove excess moisture. Toss the sliced cucumbers with 1 teaspoon of salt in a colander and let them sit for at least 25 minutes. Place the colander over a bowl to catch the liquid, then discard the liquid before adding the cucumbers to the prepared yogurt dressing.
- If you like, you can also add a small clove of garlic, finely minced, to the dressing for extra flavour.
- This recipe uses 2 large in-season cucumbers. If substituting with 4–5 mini cucumbers, you may want to reduce the amount of dressing slightly, depending on their size.
For a relaxing atmosphere in the kitchen I recommend my personal Elle Republic: Chilled Out Kitchen Tunes Playlist on Spotify.
Did you try this recipe?
Did you try this recipe?Then tag @ellerepublic on Instagram and hashtag it #ellerepublic
How did you like it?
Please let me know how this German Cucumber Salad with Yogurt Dressing recipe turned out for you! I would love to hear how you liked it. Simply rate it with the stars above ⭐or leave me a comment and rate it below.
Did you make any changes to this recipe?
If you have tips for other readers, let me know! It helps me and other readers so much. Sharing is Caring :-).
This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, Amazon will pay me a commission for it. This doesn’t cost you anything additional and the price remains the same.
