This delectable sour cream-based German Cucumber Salad, also known as gurkensalat, is made with a little more than a handful of ingredients in less than fifteen minutes. This easy dish has all the great flavors of your German grandmother’s salad.
This easy and delicious German cucumber salad is the perfect side dish for your summer BBQs. With fresh cucumbers, dill, and tangy sour cream, it’s the perfect refreshing addition to any meal. It is a delicious side dish for your summer BBQ and grilling entrees. However, if you want to keep the meal more traditional, in Germany, they serve it with pork schnitzel, beef rouladen, or sauerbraten.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Sour cream: Use full-fat sour cream for the best flavor and texture
- Granulated sugar: I use just a small amount of granulated sugar for a tad of sweetness.
- White vinegar: You can substitute white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar for the white vinegar.
- Fresh dill: Fresh dill is best in this salad as it is flavorful and fragrant. However, in a pinch, you can substitute 2 teaspoons of dried dill. Other fresh herbs that taste great in this salad include chives and parsley. Or add a clove of pressed garlic.
- English cucumbers: English cucumbers work best for this salad. Their skins are less tough, so peeling is not necessary, and the seeds are so small they are barely noticeable. Smaller seeds also mean less water and better texture.
- Onion: Use a sweet yellow onion or Vidalia onion.
How to make German Cucumber Salad
This is the summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Start by slicing your cucumbers and onions very thin. I use a mandolin, but with a little patience and a sharp knife, it can be done without one. Then, whisk together the sour cream, sugar, white vinegar, and dill in a small bowl. Gently stir it into the sliced cucumbers and onions. Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- A mandolin is an excellent way to slice the cucumbers and onions into thin, uniform pieces.
- If less moisture in the salad is desired, sprinkle the cucumbers with a teaspoon of salt and place them in a colander to drain for about an hour. Then, dry with a paper towel before proceeding with the recipe.
- Serve this dish with a slotted spoon.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions for German Cucumber Salad
I love to serve this with German beef rouladen, cabbage rolls, or pork schnitzel. Other great choices are skillet German potato salad and oven-baked ribs.
More Salad Recipes
German Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 2 English cucumbers sliced thin
- ½ onion sliced thin
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, sugar, white vinegar, and dill.
- Gently stir it into a bowl with the sliced cucumbers and onions. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill for a couple of hours.
Notes
- A mandolin is an excellent way to slice the cucumbers and onions into thin, uniform pieces.
- If less moisture in the salad is desired, sprinkle the cucumbers with a teaspoon of salt and place them in a colander to drain for about an hour. Then, dry with a paper towel before proceeding with the recipe.
- Serve this dish with a slotted spoon.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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Janey
I do not think I have ever had a creamy cucumber salad! This looks so refreshing and fun to eat to serve for the summer events.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Janey! Enjoy!
Michelle
This cucumber salad wass amazing! I loved how easy it is to make, and the sour cream dressing was so creamy and refreshing.
Rhea S
As soon as I saw this I thought it would be perfect for a summer BBQ, it’s like you read my mind! It was so refreshing and everyone loved it.
Jennifer
Oh man, this post brings me back to when my grandmother used to make cucumber salad for us! It was soo good! This reminds me of it, and I am totally bookmarking and making it this weekend!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Jennifer! Enjoy!
Melanie E
This is both tasty and refreshing. It is a new favorite and it will come in quite handy this summer as a frequent side dish.
Yvette
We loved this refreshing cucumber salad. It tasted so good, the fresh cucumber worked so well with the dill and the sour cream. I served it with your grilled pork tenderloin and everyone loved it.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Yvette! I am so glad that you all loved it.
Victoria Prasad
I love cucumbers, I can’t wait to give this recipe a try. It will certainly be perfect with meals on hot summer day.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Victoria! Enjoy!
Maria
I love cucumbers so much. Even with vinegar and a little bit of sugar is good to me, but this German cucumber salad was amazing. So creamy! Thanks for sharing this.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Maria!
Karen
The salad turned out delicious…The only addition was one clove of garlic, was so good!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Karen! We love it too!
Beeb
This was so good! I love a creamy cucumber salad and this is the best one I’ve made.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Beeb! So happy that you liked it!
Sophia Pace
Wow, this German cucumber salad wass absolutely delicious! I love that it’s made with simple and fresh ingredients and that it can be whipped up in no time. The perfect accompaniment for any grilled sausage, chicken, or fish!
Beth Pierce
I could not agree more!
Larry Richards
My Mom used to make this salad and I loved it so it was a must try. It was easy and just as delicious as I remember it. I served it with bratwurst and fried potatoes with onions. It was a great meal for me and my wife.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Larry! So glad that you liked the cucumber salad!
Carole C
Cucumbers are good and healthy. We have a similar salad in the Philippines but with a hint of sugar.