Mom’s Cucumbers and Onions

Mom’s Cucumbers and Onions is an old fashioned recipe featuring garden vegetables.  The ingredients are simple – cucumbers, onions, salt, vinegar, sugar, celery seed and black pepper, but the finished result is the perfect accompaniment to any summer meal.

Mom’s Cucumbers and Onions Salad Recipe:

Mom served cucumbers and onions at almost every summer lunch growing up on our farm.  It’s one of those dishes that you really didn’t appreciate as a kid but you grow to love as you get older.

It had been a while since I’d made up a batch, so I texted mom to get a brush up.  Her answer is classic, and I’m sure you’ve all received a recipe that resembled this in your day.  Here is her recipe word for word. “Slice cucumbers and onions in a bowl. Cover with water. Add salt. Mix. Let sit an hour or so. Drain. Add sugar, white vinegar, pepper and a little celery seed.”

No exact amounts of any ingredient, because honestly, she had never measured a thing when making this salad. It’s just a little bit or this and a little bit of that until the right taste was achieved. Many times, it’s for just this reason that recipes are lost over generations since they really aren’t ever written down.

How To Make Old Fashioned Cucumbers and Onions in Vinegar:

For the full cucumber and onion salad recipe, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Instructions:

1. Peel and slice cucumbers.
2. Add onions and salt, and cover with water for approximately 30 minutes.
3. Drain off the water.
4. Add sugar, vinegar, celery seed and pepper.
5. Let marinate before eating.

Notes About Pickled Cucumber and Onions:

• This is truly an old fashioned cucumber and onion salad in vinegar. Back in the day, you would find this on countless tables during the summer along side a full meal.
• The exact measurements of cucumbers and onions are truly varied.  Most Moms and Grandma’s added a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
• If you prefer a tangier version, reduce the amount of sugar.
• Cucumber and onion salad gets better as it sits in the refrigerator because it becomes pickled cucumbers and onions.
• Keep adding to the bowl with additional cucumbers and onions as you pick them from the garden. You may have to keep adding the rest of the ingredients little by little too.
• Salting the cucumbers and onions helps remove excess water. Many versions of cucumbers and onions in vinegar skip this step, but it’s one that my mom always does, and so do I.
• Looking for some more recipes to use up garden bounty? Try Kentucky Southern Squash Casserole, Sweet and Sour Coleslaw, Fresh Broccoli Casserole, Peach Batter Cake or this whole post on Garden Fresh Veggie Recipes.

Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles from Beyer Beware and Creamy Cucumber Salad from Southern Bite are great alternative ways to use up cucumbers.

Print

Mom's Cucumbers and Onions

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

0 mins

Marinating time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 10 mins

 

Mom's Cucumber and Onions is an old fashioned recipe featuring garden vegetables.  The ingredients are simple--cucumbers, onions, salt, vinegar, sugar, celery seed and black pepper, but the finished result is the perfect accompaniment to any summer meal.

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cucumber and Onion Salad, Cucumber and Onions in vinegar, Cucumbers and Onions, Mom's Cucumber and Onions, Old Fashioned cucumber and onion salad

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

• 4-6 cucumbers, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 white or yellow onion, sliced thin
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (optional)

Instructions

1. Add peeled and sliced cucumbers and onions to a bowl; sprinkle with salt.

2. Cover mixture with water and stir; let sit for approximately for 20 - 30 minutes (up to 1 hour).

3. Drain the water. Add vinegar, sugar, celery seed and black pepper; stir.

4. Allow to marinate before eating. These will get better as they sit in the refrigerator.

Recipe Notes

• This is truly an old fashioned cucumber and onion salad in vinegar. You would find this on countless tables during the summer along side a full meal.
• The exact measurements of cucumbers and onions are truly varied.  Most Moms and Grandma's added a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
• If  you like a tangier cucumber and onion salad, reduce the sugar. 
• Cucumber and onion salad gets better as it sits in the refrigerate because it be comes pickled cucumbers and onions.
• Some versions include the addition of approximately 1/2 cup water to the vinegar and sugar. If you feel inclined to add water, go for it.
• Keep adding to the bowl with additional cucumbers and onions as you pick them from the garden. You may have to keep adding the rest of the ingredients little by little too. 
• Salting the cucumbers and onions helps remove excess water. Many versions of cucumbers and onions in vinegar skip this step, but it's one that my mom always did, and so do I.
• Looking for some more recipes to use up garden bounty? Try Kentucky Southern Squash Casserole, Sweet and Sour Coleslaw, Fresh Broccoli Casserole, Peach Batter Cake or this whole post on Garden Fresh Veggie Recipes. 

This post is sponsored by the Glass Barn, Indiana Soybean and Corn Farmers but all thoughts and opinions are our own.