Description
Cool German cucumber salad delivers crisp summer flavors with a creamy dressing that dances across your palate. Fresh ingredients and simple preparation make this classic side dish a delightful complement to hearty meals you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare a colander by slicing cucumbers thinly using a mandoline or sharp knife, maintaining uniform width for consistent texture.
- Sprinkle salt over cucumber slices and let them rest for 15-20 minutes, allowing excess moisture to drain and concentrating flavor profiles.
- Gently pat cucumber slices dry with paper towels to remove residual moisture and prevent diluting the dressing.
- Whisk sour cream, white vinegar, sugar, black pepper, and chopped dill in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture achieves a smooth, homogeneous consistency.
- Incorporate thinly sliced onions and drained cucumber slices into the creamy dressing, carefully folding to ensure even coating.
- Transfer the cucumber salad to a sealed container and refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes, enabling flavors to harmonize and intensify.
- Prior to serving, give the salad a gentle stir and optionally garnish with additional fresh dill sprigs for enhanced visual appeal and herbal freshness.
- Serve chilled as a refreshing side dish that complements grilled meats or as a standalone summer appetizer.
Notes
- Slice cucumbers paper-thin for a delicate, elegant texture that absorbs dressing perfectly.
- Salt cucumber slices beforehand to remove excess moisture, preventing a watery salad and concentrating flavors.
- Use full-fat sour cream for richer, more luxurious dressing that clings beautifully to cucumber slices.
- Experiment with herb variations like fresh chives or parsley to customize the salad’s flavor profile.
- For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to reduce calories without sacrificing creaminess.
- Serve chilled for maximum refreshment, especially during warm summer gatherings or as a cool side dish.
- Make ahead and let marinate overnight to develop deeper, more complex taste combinations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 81 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg