German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat) - Oma's Recipe (2024)

PIN RECIPE Jump to Recipe

This tangy and sweet German Cucumber Salad is a delicious side salad that takes only minutes to make.

It's a perfect side dish for many German recipes, such as Schnitzel and Krautfleckerl, and American favorites, such as Taco Casserole and our Lazy Lasagna.

German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat) - Oma's Recipe (1)

This is the number one salad I grew up with in Germany. It's always been one of my favorite things to eat.

My Oma made this Cucumber Salad whenever I was at her house. I talk a lot about German food, and there are lots of recipes I love to share. But this one is special.

German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat) - Oma's Recipe (2)

Never Miss A New Recipe

Subscribe to receive the newest recipes,tips, tricks.

It brings back all those feel-good childhood memories and how lucky I was to learn so much from Oma. And looking back, it's the recipe that started my love for food and cooking.

What Is Gurkensalat?

Cucumber Salad in German is called Gurkensalat. It's one of the most popular side dishes in Germany. Generally speaking, we have two different kinds of cucumber salad.

The one in this recipe is made with a simple dill dressing, and our creamy Cucumber Salad is made with sour cream.

CREAMY GERMAN CUCUMBER SALAD
This is the other German Cucumber Salad - the creamy one!

This is how you pronounce Gurkensalat in German:

Why This German Cucumber Salad Works

TASTE - It is a very refreshing side dish. Once the cucumbers had a chance to absorb the flavors of the dressing, they became soft, almost chewy, and ultra-refreshing.

EASY - Who doesn't love easy and delicious recipes that require only a handful of ingredients? Our traditional German Cucumber Salad fits the bill.

PARTY FAVORITE - Light and refreshing, this German Cucumber Salad is the perfect dish to bring to your next party, potluck, or family gathering. It's easy to double, triple, or even quadruple the recipe.

DIFFERENT - This salad slightly differs from some salads you might be used to. First, you'll notice that there's a lot of dressing. A lot. And that's ok. Unlike other cucumber salads, we don't remove the inside or try to remove the excess water.

At first, the dressing is quite intense, but the excess liquid of the cucumbers creates a deliciously balanced tangy, sweet, and refreshing summer salad. Cucumbers are not very flavorful, but they take on the flavoring of the dressing.

Ingredients

Please use the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.

German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat) - Oma's Recipe (4)

CUCUMBER - You will want to get English cucumbers (sometimes called hothouse cucumbers). Despite their "English" name, they are the seedless cucumbers we use in Germany.

LEMON - Fresh lemon juice is a must (for me). Some recipes use white wine vinegar, but I like fresh lemon best. If you are interested in alternatives, read the next sections below when I go into more detail about substitutions.

Use 1-2 lemons. You'll want to have about a third to a half cup of fresh lemon juice.

OIL - Use your favorite oil. We used to use vegetable oil or sunflower oil at the time, but these days, I mostly use olive oil when making this salad. If you want a more traditional salad, use the other oils I mentioned.

SUGAR - Use regular granulated sugar.

SALT - Adding salt lifts and brightens all of the flavors.

DILL - Fresh, chopped dill is ideal for this easy dill dressing.

German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat) - Oma's Recipe (5)

Variations

VINEGAR. - In Germany, most of the time, we use fresh lemon. But sometimes, we used a German vinegar, Kühne Zitronen Essig. It is a lemon-infused vinegar. Although you'll find it in every German grocery store, I haven't been able to source it in the US.

Some people seem to use Apple Cider Vinegar, and as far as I can remember, this wasn't even a thing growing up. But if that's your personal preference, there is nothing wrong with it.

Because we used fresh lemons, you'll have to make some adjustments. I'd probably start with a ¼ cup of vinegar. If that's not tangy enough, increase it to ⅓ cup.

And if you'll find it too tangy, add more sugar. This is a fool-proof, very forgiving recipe.

You'll have to experiment to find that perfect balance for yourself. Just remember the dressing will taste more intense than what you might be used to from other salads.

FUN FACT: Cucumbers are made up of over 95% of water!

ONION. - I've seen German Cucumber Salad recipes in the US using raw onions, sweet onions, red onions, and sometimes even green onions. And there is nothing wrong with it. If you like onions, add them. But if you want to create an authentic German cucumber salad, skip the onion.

I will say that this applies to the kind of clear-dressing German cucumber salad I am writing about today.

That's how it works with traditional recipes. Regional differences are very common.

How To Make This German Cucumber Salad Recipe

German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat) - Oma's Recipe (6)
  1. CUCUMBER AND DILL - Peel and slice the cucumbers into thin slices. Mince the fresh dill. Combine sliced cucumbers and the fresh dill in a large group and toss until well combined.
  2. DRESSING - In a small bowl, combine oil, lemon juice, salt, sugar, and juice and whisk until the sugar has dissolved.
  3. REST - Allow the salad to rest for 15-30 minutes in the fridge.

Recipe Success Tips

MANDOLINE SLICER - You can use a sharp kitchen knife to slice the peeled cucumber. Or, if you are like me, use a mandoline slicer. I have this adjustable mandoline; it's perfect, and I use it all the time. I use the number 2 setting for cucumbers.

More Easy German Salad Recipes

Tomato Salad

Warm German Potato Salad

Cold German Potato Salad

Leftovers

STORE - Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. You might find that the salad tastes best on the second day.

TIP - When it's time to enjoy the leftover salad, remove it from the fridge about 15-30 minutes before serving. You can also add a dash of salt to liven the flavors.

FREEZE - Don't freeze a cucumber salad.

📌 Save Oma's Cucumber Recipe!

German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat) - Oma's Recipe (10)

More Simple Salad Recipes

TUNA SALAD - This sweet and savory salad is perfect for sandwiches and wraps.

EGG SALAD - Perfectly cooked eggs are tossed in a savory, lightly tangy, creamy dressing.

SHRIMP SALAD - This classic creamy salad can be served as a delicious salad for lunch or dinner or made into a delicious sandwich.

Please take a moment torate our German Cucumber Salad recipebelow!

Click stars to rate now

Oma's German Cucumber Salad

Oma's sweet and tart German cucumber salad with just 5 ingredients!

Servings: 6 servings

PREP TIME: 5 minutes minutes

Resting 30 minutes minutes

TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes minutes

Pin Print Rate Save

Ingredients

  • 2 large cucumbers peel, slice
  • 1-2 whole lemon juiced, about ½ cup lemon juice
  • ¼ cup dill fresh, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil alternatively use olive oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil
  • ¼ cup sugar granulated
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Peel and slice the cucumbers. Place cucumber slices into a large bowl and combine with chopped dill.

  • In a small bowl, combine oil, lemon juice, sugar, and salt and whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the dressing over cucumbers and combine well.

  • Cover the bowl with a lid of plastic foil and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Click stars to rate now

To Leave A Comment, Click Here!

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 197mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 218IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Author: Maike Corbett

EMAIL FRIENDSGet Our Latest Recipes Straight To Your Inbox

PINTEREST FRIENDSLet's Be Friends on Pinterest @cheerfulcook!

German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat) - Oma's Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep cucumbers crisp in cucumber salad? ›

How to Crisp Cucumbers
  1. Cut the cucumbers.
  2. Place the slides in a colander.
  3. Put the colander into a bowl.
  4. Add salt and ice to the cucumbers.
  5. Place the bowl and colander into the refrigerator.
  6. Remove the cucumber from the refrigerator and pat dry.

How do you keep cucumber salad from getting watery? ›

The solution: The standard recommendation for ridding watery vegetable such as cucumbers of unwanted moisture is to salt them. The salt draws out the liquid from the vegetable because of the natural tendency of salt water solutions to equalize when mixed together.

What is the history of Gurkensalat? ›

Emergence of Gurkensalat: The specific dish known as Gurkensalat, or cucumber salad, likely developed in Germany and other parts of Central Europe. Cucumber salads gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries as a refreshing Side Dish, particularly during the warm summer months.

Why is my cucumber salad bubbly? ›

Why is my cucumber salad frothy? This happens when the cucumbers release the moisture within them. It's completely normal and doesn't change the taste of the salad. Stir the salad, and if desired, add in more sour cream to thicken it up.

Why soak cucumbers in salt water before making cucumber salad? ›

The extra step allows them to release some of their water — keeping them extra crisp even when they get tossed with the dressing. It also ensures the dressing doesn't become watered-down, which is especially useful in creamy mayo-based cucumber salads.

How long will cucumbers last in vinegar in the fridge? ›

They are basically vegetables that are pickled and stored in the fridge in a brine of salt, vinegar, and water (sometimes sugar). The process takes a few minutes (my recipe takes 40 minutes), and once refrigerated, you can enjoy the tangy cukes the next day! And they will last in the fridge for up to 2 months.

How to make cucumbers extra crispy? ›

Add 1 Tbsp of sugar and 1 tsp of salt to the cut-up cucumber. Mix and let it sit aside for 30 minutes; this will help the cucumber stay nice and crunchy. After 30 minutes, dump out all the excess liquid.

Why tomato and cucumber Cannot be eaten together? ›

Tomatoes and cucumbers have different digestion time and mixing them can cause health complications. The bad food combination can trigger digestive problems such as stomach ache, gas, nausea and bloating. ... So it is more beneficial to our health to eat cucumbers without any additions.”

Can you eat old cucumbers? ›

Applications. Old cucumbers contain thick, firm flesh best suited for cooked applications such as boiling, simmering, braising, and stir-frying. In Asia, Old cucumbers are traditionally incorporated into soups, and the skin is scrubbed and left intact to keep the flesh from turning to mush during the cooking process.

Why do my cucumbers taste like vinegar? ›

It All Comes Down to Cucurbitacin

Since cucurbitacin tends to be concentrated in the stem end of a cucumber and just under the skin, Ian Beger, resident agronomist of Castle Hot Springs in Morristown, Arizona, recommends cutting off the stem end and peeling the cucumber to eliminate most of the bitterness.

Why does my cucumber taste weird? ›

Usually, cucurbitacin stays in the stem and leaves, but it can work its way into the fruit, causing bitter cucumbers. Cucumbers tend to grow bitter when the plant is under stress from inconsistent water, fluctuating temperatures or poor soil. The higher the level of the compound, the more bitter the fruit.

How to keep cucumber crispy? ›

To keep cucumber slices fresh after cutting, put them in an airtight container with a dry paper towel at the bottom. Arrange the slices in a single layer and seal the container tightly. Store it in the refrigerator's crisper drawer, away from direct sunlight.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 5852

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.