Cucumber Salad with Ranch Dressing

I love cucumber salad although I usually make a vinaigrette type of dressing for the cucumber salad. This time, however I tried something different and gave ranch dressing a try. The idea came from a cookbook I checked out of the library called The Texas Cowboy Cookbook. Its an interesting cookbook that goes through the history of cowboy cooking along with lots of recipes. This was a quick and easy salad to make that the whole family enjoyed.

Cucumber Salad
The Texas Cowboy Book

2 cucumbers
1/4 onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup homemade ranch dressing (recipe following at bottom of this recipe)

Peel cucumber and slice very thin. Slice the onion very thinly and combine it with the cucumbers in a bowl. Add salt, cover, and allow to sit in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes. Drain off the water and pat dry with a paper towel. Add the dressing and mix well. Serve cold.

Homemade Ranch Dressing
The Texas Cowboy Book

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream (or substitute plain yogurt)
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons minced red bell pepper
2 tablespoons minced onion
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk in a mixing bowl and stir until smooth. Add the bell pepper, onion, cilantro, garlic, pepper, and salt and mix well. The dressing will keep for a week in a sealed container in the refrigerator.