Southern German Cucumber Salad (Süddeutscher Gurkensalat)

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust, rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

Published: May 8, 2017, Updated: April 30, 2025

German cucumber salad (gurkensalat) is one of my go-to sides. Light, tangy, and always so refreshing with any meal.

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Oma's traditional German Cucumber Salad is so easy to make, and SO delicious! This refreshing treat is great for summer picnics as well!

This version (unlike my Mutti's) is without sour cream and without yogurt, so it's perfect for a buffet table or to take along for picnics.

This recipe is a great way to use up those cucumbers that have been sitting in your crisper. Put them to use in this lovely picnic salad!

Top Tips for Best Results

1. Use Fresh Cucumbers: Firm, seedless cucumbers are best. The fresher, the better.
2. Slice Thinly: Thin slices absorb the dressing better and provide a delicate crunch
3. Salt and Drain: Lightly salting the cucumber slices and letting them sit helps draw out excess moisture, enhancing flavor and texture
4. Chill Before Serving: Keep in fridge briefly before serving and serve chilled
5. Add Fresh Herbs: Dill or parsley add a fresh flavor and scent. 

North vs South: Salad Styles in Germany

This salad, like many from southern Germany, skips the cream and mayo and uses a simple vinaigrette instead. In the north, creamy versions are more common—though every region has its twist. Some southerners use cream, some northerners don’t. In the end, just make it the way you like it!

Seed or No Seed?

If the cucumber has big seeds in the center, I usually scoop them out with a spoon after slicing it lengthwise. It helps cut down on the water, and that means a crisper salad, just the way I like it.

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How Long It Keeps

If I make this salad with vinegar, I try to eat it within a few days. It softens the longer it sits, and while the flavor gets better, the texture can go from crisp to a bit too soggy if it’s left too long. A couple days in the fridge is perfect. It soaks up all that juicy, vinegary goodness.

Northern Style with Cream

Looking for creamy cucumber salad? This one with sour cream or yogurt is the kind I grew up with. Mutti was from northern Germany, where cream was in everything! So creamy, so good. Just click here for the recipe.

Go to Northern German recipe >

Cucumbers Do More Than You Think

My cucumber salad isn’t just delicious. It’s full of good-for-you stuff too. Cucumbers are packed with vitamins C and K, fiber, and loads of water to help keep you hydrated.

Soaking them in vinegar makes them even better for digestion by boosting healthy gut bacteria. No wonder they’re such a great post-workout snack!

And yes, those cucumber slices at the spa? They actually work. They help reduce puffiness and soothe irritated eyes. Pretty and practical!

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Southern German Cucumber Salad (süddeutscher Gurkensalat)

German cucumber salad (gurkensalat) is one of my go-to sides. Light, tangy, and always so refreshing with any meal.

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

none

Total Time:

10 minutes

Servings:

makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced 
  
• 4 tablespoons (60 ml) white vinegar
• 4 tablespoons (60 ml) water
• 1 - 2 tablespoons (12-24 g) granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon(3 g)  salt
  
• 1 tablespoon (1 g) fresh dill or ½ tsp (0.5 g) dried dill

Instructions:

1. Put thinly sliced cucumbers into serving bowl.
   
2. In separate bowl, mix together vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Pour over cucumbers.
3. Sprinkle with dill and stir. Season with additional salt and/or sugar if needed.

Notes/Hints:

• Try using different types of vinegar ... white wine vinegar, cider vinegar ... or try your favorite.
• Instead of vinegar, use lemon juice. YUM!
• If you have very tender English cucumbers, they do not have to be peeled.
• If you have time, lightly salt the cucumber slices and let them sit a while (even just 10 minutes) will draw out excess moisture, and enhances the flavor and texture. The drain and use for the salad.
• If you want this made with sour cream/yogurt, take a look at this northern German version of cucumber salad.
• Add some thinly sliced onions.

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

Recipe Updated: April 30, 2025

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.