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Oma's Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe ~ Northern Gurkensalat

➤ by Gerhild Fulson

This German cucumber salad recipe, aka Gurkensalat, is one of our favorite summer salads. It's the one that's most popular in Northern Germany. In fact, it's one that I just can't alter.

I've tried, BUT, nothing beats this delicious recipe that I grew up with.

For the full list of ingredients & detailed instructions, see the recipe card at the end of this post. But before you scroll, there’s important & interesting stuff to know right below.

This cucumber salad is so delightfully refreshingThis is the first time my granddaughter made the German cucumber salad recipe. It turned out wunderbar!

It seems that whenever I make it, I never make enough. Somehow, it always disappears quickly. My plan is always to make more the next time, after all, it's a quick German recipe ... so easy to make.

Tips and Tricks for Cucumber Salad :)

  • You can use any type of cucumber for this recipe, but English cucumbers work best. If the skin is nice and thin, don't bother peeling them. Leaving the peel looks pretty in the salad and is healthier. Lecker!
This cucumber salad is so delightfully refreshing!
  • Some people remove the seeded center part of the cucumber to help remove some of the excess water. I don't. I love using the whole cucumber. It's healthy. Why throw some of it away?
  • If you wish, you can make it hours ahead -- you just need to make it a bit differently then. The problem is that cucumbers are quite watery and if the dressing is added early, the cucumbers release liquid which dilutes the dressing. There are two ways to tackle this:
  • One way is to slice cucumbers thinly, then put them into a bowl, sprinkle them with a teaspoon of salt, and stir. Let sit for about one, or even a couple of hours. The salt will draw out the cucumbers' excess moisture. (This will help keep the dressing from thinning out too much while the cucumbers are marinating.) Drain well and pat dry with a paper towel. Add the dressing to which you have NOT added salt. Rather, taste the final salad before adding extra salt if needed.
  • Another way to pre-make the salad is to cut the cucumbers into paper-thin slices. A sharp knife or mandoline slicer will help. Then, leave them covered in a bowl in the fridge. Make the dressing and refrigerate it as well. Combine the cucumbers and the dressing just before serving.
  • You'll find that when you serve this delicious salad, everyone will want the recipe, so be prepared to give it out. Adults and kids alike just love the taste of fresh cucumbers in the creamy dill dressing. 

Want a cucumber salad without the creamy dressing?

This cucumber salad is so delightfully refreshing! A delicious summer treat!

Above is my cucumber salad with a simple vinegar dressing that makes a very refreshing side dish that's perfect for buffets and picnics. It's also a perfect accompaniment to most meals. Here's the recipe.

Lydia Remembers...

I have so many wunderbar memories in the kitchen with my Oma, and have had MANY of her most popular and traditional recipes, like this homemade cucumber salad! 

Oma and I have made this staple side salad for many family gatherings and it has certainly become a favorite. It adds a bright and summery feel to any meal! 

Making this easy recipe is quite the yummy treat for me considering pickles are my FAVORITE snack of all; the dill flavoring is spectacular. For all you dill lovers looking for a light summer snack, this is the one!

I remember learning to make this salad a few different ways. The Northern and the Southern way! The dill makes for such a nice punch of flavor. 

Learn a little bit about me, Lydia, and my kitchen adventures with Oma!

Grab your copy of Oma's favorite salads in her Summer Salads e-Cookbook.

Take a look at Oma’s Summer Salads eCookbook and enjoy the traditional taste of German cuisine!

Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!

Hummus?

Yep. Hummus. Sylvie, my daughter-in-law, shares that hummus is delicious with this. Her easy hummus recipe is so quick to make and it's becoming wildly popular in Germany. Try it. I think you'll like it too!

Oma says,

When making this creamy cucumber salad recipe, you can use low-fat sour cream or yogurt instead of regular sour cream. Personally, I love to use Greek yogurt.

Fresh dill is awesome, but frozen or dried are good too. Not only is the resulting salad so tasty, but any remaining dressing is devoured as well.

Did you know ...

 ... that this is one of the TOP 10 traditional side dishes to serve with rouladen? Really.

Looking for more German salad recipes?

Ready to make the best German cucumber salad?

Oma's German Cucumber Salad Recipe

Oma's German Cucumber Salad Recipe

This refreshing summer salad is made with simple ingredients and is the perfect side dish. It's a great way to use up fresh cucumbers from the garden.

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

none

Total Time

10 minutes

Servings:

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced 
  • ½ cup sour cream 
  • ½ teaspoon dill, preferably fresh (or more to taste)
  • 1½ teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1½ teaspoons granulated sugar
  • salt and pepper

Instructions:

  1. Put the thin cucumber slices into a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
  2. In a small bowl, mix sour cream, dill, lemon juice, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate.
  3. Just before serving, pour the dressing over cucumbers and mix.

Notes/Hints:

  • If you have time, you can pre-slice the cucumbers and sprinkle them with a little salt and let them stand. Pour off the excess liquid BEFORE adding the dressing by draining in a sieve.
  • Use apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, or white wine vinegar instead of lemon juice.
  • Use low-fat sour cream, plain yogurt, or Greek yogurt instead of the regular sour cream.
  • My personal preference is to leave the salad as is, however any of the following would make a great addition: thinly sliced red onion, white onion, fresh chives, sweet onions, or green onions.
  • For the Southern German version, the one without the cream, check out my version of this German cucumber salad.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Below is Karen's recipe (from Lethbridge, AB Canada) that she sent into our 2012 Quick Christmas Recipe Contest. It's a great traditional cucumber salad from her Oma.

Karen's Oma's Gurkensalat

Ingredients:

  • 1 cucumber
  • 3 green onions or sweet white onion sliced
  • 4-6 radishes sliced
  • ½ teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
  • ½ teaspoon chopped dill
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

  • Slice cucumber with or without skin
  • Add sliced onion, radishes, and herbs.
  • Make dressing and pour over veggies.
  • Let sit in the fridge for at least an hour, stir before serving.
  • Serves about 4 people

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This cucumber salad is so delightfully refreshing, especially in the summer.

Oma's German Cucumber Salad Recipe ~ Northern Gurkensalat

By
Oma's Northern German Cucumber Salad Recipe ~ Gurkensalat
Traditional German Cucumber Salad recipe that brings back memories of Mutti's cooking. Creamy, tart, sweet, yummy! Just like it's made in northern Germany! OH. SO. GOOD.

Ingredients: cucumber, sour cream, fresh dill, lemon juice, sugar, seasonings,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

Words to the Wise

"Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich."

Proverbs 10:4 (NLT)


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