Name: German Cucumber Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 telegraph cucumbers (the English or long ones); 1 teaspoon white sugar; 1 tablespoon white vinegar; ½ teaspoon salt; Black pepper, to taste; 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill weed

German cucumber salad, or “gurkensalat” as it’s fondly known in Germany, is a combination of juicy cucumber and creamy dressing which features sour cream, vinegar and more. Expect a juicy, tangy and creamy side dish which is versatile enough to be a summer salad or a winter side dish to go with your favorite roasted or grilled meat. If you own a mandoline, a type of slicer, it’s quick and easy to prepare the cucumber. If not, you’ll need a sharp knife.

So, what’s this secret ingredient that gives this German cucumber salad its distinctive flavor? It’s dill weed. Dill is often paired with fish and seafood, and often added to salads and salad dressings such as ranch, but here it really helps showcase the cucumber flavor and make this creamy salad as tasty as it is. Dill weed isn’t an ingredient you can omit if you want an authentic German cucumber salad.

German cucumber salad is cool, creamy and delicious. The dill weed gives it a characteristic flavor and it just wouldn’t be the same without it. You’ll love this easy German cucumber salad paired with pretty much any type of meat or poultry.

Why You’ll Love the Recipe ?

The creamy, aromatic, tangy flavor of this traditional German cucumber salad means it pairs beautifully with just about any meat dish. It’s especially good with German pork recipes such as crispy schnitzel or roasted pork knuckle.

How to Serve It ?

This salad is cool and refreshing, so it’s best served chilled. You can offer it as part of a buffet or pair it with any meat dish.

Can You Make It Ahead?

Yes, actually you need to make this one ahead, since it needs to sit for hours in order for the cucumber juice to get into the dressing and thin it down.

Storage Instructions

This salad keeps for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Give it a stir before serving, in case the ingredients have separated.

Variations and Substitutions

Swap the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt if you like. You can also use the Lebanese or short cucumbers and you don’t have to peel those because the skin is softer and thinner than the skin on long cucumbers.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 telegraph cucumbers (the English or long ones)
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Black pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill weed

How To Make German Cucumber Salad:

Step 1. Peel the cucumbers and cut them into very thin (about 0.2-inch) slices using a mandoline or very sharp knife.

Step 2. Whisk together the other ingredients.

Step 3. Toss the cucumber slices in the dressing (don’t worry if the dressing seems too thick, the cucumber juice will thin it).

Step 4. Leave overnight or for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator, then serve chilled.