Name: Creamy Cucumber Salad with Bacon
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 4 ounces plain whole milk Greek yogurt; ¼ cup sour cream; 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice (1/2 lime, squeezed); ½ teaspoon salt; ⅛ teaspoon black pepper; ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder; 1 ½ cucumbers (English of Hot House); 5 radishes, thinly sliced; 3 celery stalks, sliced; 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled; 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

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Make this creamy cucumber salad for summer parties and potluck meals. It’s made with Greek yogurt and sour cream, with crunchy radishes and celery. The addition of salty bacon and fresh cilantro make this a favorite summer side dish for cookouts and barbecues, too.

creamy cucumber salad in white oval platter on white marble table.

WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE?

This dish is best made a few hours ahead so the vegetables stay crunchy. As with most mixtures, the flavors marry and meld together after sitting in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.

This is a great side dish to make for summer cookouts and backyard bbq’s, as it makes use of those herbs and vegetables you’ve been growing in the garden all summer.

Add it to a green themed dinner party alongside grilled meats or grilled salmon, easy pesto pasta salad (with green peppers), and finish with green lime tartlets for dessert.

creamy cucumber salad close up view overhead.

Ingredient Notes

Fresh Cucumbers. Use seedless to make it easier to eat. Look for the name Hot House or English cucumber. They’re usually long, wax free, and individually wrapped in plastic.
Bacon. Cook and crumble the bacon ahead of time so it’s ready to use when you are.
Fresh Cilantro. This adds freshness and a little Tex-Mex flavor. Substitute with fresh parsley if you want, or try fresh dill!
Plain Greek Yogurt. Use whole milk Greek yogurt for a thicker and creamier dressing. Some good choices are Friendly Farms brand from Aldi, Cabot’s, or Fage.
Sour Cream. It helps balance the tangy flavor of the yogurt.

EXPERT TIP: Make sure you prep your cucumbers to drain the excess moisture from them. Otherwise the water from the cucumbers will leach out into the salad and crunchy vegetables will become limp over time.

cucumber salad with bacon and radishes and limes, in white oval platter on white marble table.

Tips & Tricks

Use a mandoline for uniform slices of cucumber and radishes; about ⅛-inch thick.
Prep the cucumbers. If you don’t drain the moisture from them with this first step, your salad will get very limp and watery after about a day. If you’re going to be eating the salad within a few hours it’s not that necessary, but if you’re hoping to have leftovers or taking it to a potluck party you’ll want to do this step.
- Thinly slice the cucumbers and sprinkle them with about ¼ teaspoon of salt. Toss them together in a bowl and set aside for about 30 minutes. Drain the liquid from the cucumber bowl or pour the cucumbers into a strainer to drain the liquid. Press the cucumbers dry with a paper towel and they’re ready to use.
Save the bacon and cilantro to add just before serving.

Serving Suggestions

This creamy salad has a cooling quality so it’s perfect to serve with spicy foods like Indian cuisine or some Thai recipes.
It’s similar to Greek tzatziki sauce or Benedictine in the South, so it would pair well with lamb or Greek burgers.
It’s also a good pairing for baked beans with ground beef as the freshness balances the richness of the beans.

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