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Cucumber Apple Salad with Creamy Dressing


This creamy cucumber apple salad has it all! Amazing crunch, sweet and savory flavors, fresh herbs…all tossed in a light, creamy dressing! It just takes about 10-15 minutes to make and it’s a fantastic side dish for chicken, fish, turkey, or even as a lunch side dish with your sandwich!

Recipe Ingredients: Creamy Cucumber Apple Salad

For the dressing:

  • Mayonnaise
  • Greek yogurt
  • Lemon juice
  • Honey or maple syrup
  • Dijon mustard
  • Salt/pepper

For the salad:

  • Apples
  • Cucumber
  • Red onion
  • Fresh parsley
  • Fresh dill
  • Nuts (walnuts/almonds)

Ingredients needed for creamy apple cucumber salad.

Ingredient Notes, Substitutions & Additions

Apples: I like using a combo of both sweet and tart apples like Fuji (sweet), and Granny Smith (tart). But really, use whatever apples are your favorite! Just make sure they are nice and crisp!

Cucumber: An English cucumber or small Persian cucumbers work best.

Nuts: I always think of this salad as an upgraded Waldorf salad, so I always use walnuts. Almonds and pecans are delish, too. Toast them up for extra flavor and crunch!

Honey/Maple Syrup: Either sweetener works well.

Mayo and Greek yogurt: I like the tang + creaminess of the Greek yogurt and mayo together, but you can use all mayo or all Greek yogurt if that’s what you have on hand. You can also substitute the Greek yogurt with sour cream.

Celery: Need more crunch?? Celery is super yummy in this salad.

Protein: Grilled chicken or shrimp, or even chickpeas are delicious for added protein.

How to Make Apple and Cucumber Salad: Step-by-Step

Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below.

Sliced apples in a bowl.
Step 1: Mix 1 tbsp of lemon juice with a cup of water and dunk your apples in the mixture to prevent them from browning. Drain and pat the apples dry and add to a bowl.
Ingredients for cucumber and apple salad in a bowl without dressing.
Step 2: Mix together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Then, add cucumber, red onion, and fresh herbs to the apples.
Cucumber and apple salad in a bowl tossed with the creamy dressing.
 Step 3: Drizzle on the dressing and top with nuts for added crunch!

Expert Tips

  • Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. I like to enjoy this salad within a day or two. After that it’s still delish, but it loses it’s crunch.
  • Make ahead tip: You can make this salad 12-24 hours ahead of time. Just store the dressing and the salad separately to ensure freshness. Remember, for maximum crunch, don’t make it tooooo far in advance 🙂
  • Use good mayo: I prefer full-fat, good quality mayo since it’s a staple in this dish!
  • Red onion: You can soak your red onion in a little cold water while you prep the salad if you want a more mild onion flavor.

How to Serve

This cucumber and apple salad is the perfect salad to serve a crowd (double the recipe!) for both spring and fall holidays. It’s also a great summer salad and goes perfectly with grilled meats like chicken and steak.

It’s also a great lunch side dish. Or, pair it with a light protein like baked chicken for a healthy lunch!

Close up of the apple salad on a fork.

Did you try this recipe?

Let us know your thoughts on this apple cucumber salad by leaving a star rating below or sharing it on Instagram!

Thank you! ~ Casey

Featured image of cucumber and apple salad.

Cucumber Apple Salad with Creamy Dressing

Casey Rooney
This creamy cucumber apple salad has it all! Amazing crunch, sweet and savory flavors, fresh herbs…all tossed in a light, creamy dressing! It just takes about 10-15 minutes to make and it's a fantastic side dish for chicken, fish, turkey, or even as a lunch side dish with your sandwich!
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course lunch, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

For the salad

  • 2 large apples, diced choose a sweet-tart variety like Honeycrisp or Fuji
  • 1 English cucumber, diced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup walnuts or almonds, roughly chopped

For the dressing

  • 2 tbsp Greek yogurt See Note 1
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise See Note 1
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice, divided
  • 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp Dijon muatard
  • 1/8 tsp EACH coarse salt and black pepper more to taste

Instructions
 

  • Prep apples: In a medium bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with 1 cup of cold water. Core and dice the apples. Dunk them in the lemon juice and water to prevent browning. Remove from the water and pat dry.
  • Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, remaining lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  • Mix: In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, apples, red onion, and fresh herbs. Drizzle the dressing over the cucumber and apple mixture. Gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
  • Finish: Sprinkle the toasted nuts over the salad just before serving for added texture. Transfer the salad to a serving dish and enjoy immediately.

Notes

Note 1: I like the tang + creaminess of the Greek yogurt and mayo together, but you can use all mayo or all Greek yogurt if that’s what you have on hand. You can also substitute the Greek yogurt with sour cream.

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One Comment

  1. Casey Rooney says:

    5 stars
    This salad has crunch, sweet, savory…everything you need in a salad! I hope you love it as much as I do! XO ~ Casey

5 from 1 vote

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