German Cucumber Salad

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

Are you on the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf