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

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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)

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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!

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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

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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.

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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

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

FAQs

How do you keep cucumber salad from getting soggy? ›

These vegetables are usually cooked before eating, and salting helps prevent them from getting mushy and bland. According to America's Test Kitchen, "Salting these watery vegetables draws out extra water and flavor molecules.

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 foamy? ›

As the cucumbers release their moisture, you may find that there are a few bubbles in your salad as well. Don't worry, that is totally normal.

How to stop cucumber from getting soggy? ›

One of the best ways to prevent spoilage is with proper storage. Ideally, store cucumbers in the crisper drawer in the fridge. They should be kept between 50°F to 54°F and about 90% to 95% humidity.

Why does my salad get soggy? ›

As mentioned, moisture tends to make salads go soggier even faster. That said, it's even quicker when the dressing is made up of acidic ingredients like vinegar or citrus—which, in most cases, they are. The acid in these ingredients can break down the cell structure of tender greens leading to their demise even faster.

What is a cucumber in vinegar called? ›

A pickled cucumber – commonly known as a pickle in the United States and Canada and a gherkin (/ɡərkɪn/) in Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand – is a usually small or miniature cucumber that has been pickled in a brine, vinegar, or other solution and left to ferment.

Why is it called Russian salad? ›

Russian salad was originally called Oliver salad based on the Moscow-based Belgian chef who invented it. During the 20th century, the dish spread throughout Europe and adopted the name Russian salad.

What kind of cucumber is best for salads? ›

Persian Cucumbers

They have a mild flavor and thin skins, so they're great sliced or chopped for salads and snacking, or even tossed in the blender to make a Spicy Cucumber Margarita. And because they're available year-round, Persian cukes are another good choice for pickling.

Why is my cucumber salad bitter? ›

Cucumbers—and other members of the pumpkin and gourd family—produce a compound called cucurbitacins that can impart a bitter taste. The amount of cucurbitacins a cucumber contains is increased when the plant faces adverse growing conditions, like a lack of water or excessive heat.

What does a cucumber salad contain? ›

Ingredients
  • 1 to 2 large cucumbers (or 4 to 5 smaller cucumbers)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, basil, or Thai basil (see Recipe Note)
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar.
  • Salt and pepper to taste.

How to make ovcharska salad? ›

Ovcharska salata is a simple variation of the famous Shopska salata. Essentially, it is Shopska salata (cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cheese) with the addition of mushrooms, eggs, and ham. The salad is typically tossed with vegetable oil, left to rest for a few minutes, and it is then ready for consumption.

What is the main ingredient in cucumber? ›

A serving of cucumber -- one-half a cup -- is about 8 calories. They have small amounts of vitamin K and vitamin A and are about 95% water. They also have several phytonutrients (plant chemicals) called lignans.

Is eating cucumber salad healthy? ›

In addition to containing several vitamins and nutrients essential to your diet, one cup of cucumber provides 11% of your daily requirement for vitamin K, essential in building healthy bones. Cucumbers also contain lignans, which research shows may decrease the risk of heart disease as well as several types of cancer.

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