Description

This Healthy Cucumber Pasta Salad is a refreshing and creamy dish perfect for warm weather or as a light side. Featuring crisp cucumber, tender pasta, and a tangy homemade dressing with fresh dill, this salad combines cool textures and bright flavors in every bite. Easy to prepare and perfect for picnics or potlucks, it’s a delightful twist on the classic pasta salad with a healthy touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

1 English cucumber
8 ounces medium pasta (penne or rotini)
1/2 sweet white onion

Dressing

1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
2 tablespoons vinegar
Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Dressing: Begin by combining sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, fresh dill, vinegar, and black pepper in a small bowl. Mix them well until fully combined. Once mixed, set the dressing aside to allow the flavors to meld together.
Prepare the Onions: Thinly slice the sweet white onion and place the slices in a bowl of cold water. This helps reduce the sharpness and mellows the onion’s flavor, making it more pleasant for the salad.
Cook and Cool the Pasta: Cook the pasta al dente according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain and rinse the pasta under cold running water to cool it down and stop the cooking process. Drain well and set aside.
Slice the Cucumber: Cut the English cucumber in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Then slice the cucumber into thin rounds to add freshness and crunch to the salad.
Assemble the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, drained onion slices, and cucumber. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 40 minutes before serving to enhance the flavors.

Notes

Soaking the onions in cold water reduces their pungency and adds a mild sweetness.
Removing the cucumber seeds prevents excess wateriness in the salad.
The salad tastes best after resting in the refrigerator for at least 40 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Use rotini or penne pasta for the best texture and to hold the dressing well.
For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Mixing
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 280
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 370mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 3.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 11.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 6g
Cholesterol: 15mg

Keywords: cucumber pasta salad, healthy pasta salad, vegetarian pasta salad, summer salad, easy pasta salad, creamy dill dressing