Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat (2024)

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Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat (1)

by: Gerhild Fulson / Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!

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This northern German cucumber salad recipe, akaNorddeutscher 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 change the recipe for.

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

Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat (4)This 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!

Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat (5)

  • 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, including the cucumber juices. 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 in a bowl covered with plastic wrap 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?

Go to recipe >

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 dill salad!

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

Making this traditional 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 herSummer Salads e-Cookbook.

Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat (7)

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

Hummus?

Yep. Hummus. Sylvie, my daughter-in-law, shares thathummus is delicious with this. Her easy hummus recipeis 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 for the best flavor, 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 simple side dish is one of the TOP 10 traditional side dishes to serve with Rouladen? Really.

Looking for more recipes for German salads?

  • Oma's German Meat Salads
  • Oma's German Potato Salad Recipes
  • Oma's German Tomato Salad Recipe
  • Oma's German Sauerkraut Salad Recipe
  • Oma's German Asparagus Salad Recipe
  • Oma's Salad with Sour Cream Dressing
  • Mutti's Fennel Salad

Ready to make the best German cucumber salad?

Is the recipe below locked?Here'swhy.

Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat (9)

Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat

This refreshing summer salad, the creamy cucumber salad that's popular in northern Germany, is made with simple ingredients. It's a great way to use up fresh cucumbers from the garden. It's also a perfect salad to bring along to a summer cookout since it's a perfect accompaniment to grilled meats. Have I mentioned that it's perfect? ;)

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 the dressing ingredients: sour cream, dill, lemon juice, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate.
  3. Just before serving, pour the creamy dressing over the thinly sliced 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 by draining the slices in a sieve. Add the sour cream mixture to the drained cucumbers and mix.
  • Use regular cucumbers or seedless cucumbers; if you use English cucumbers, there's no need to peel.
  • 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. Use vegan yogurt for a vegan version.
  • My personal preference is to leave the salad as is, however any of the following would make a great addition: thinly sliced raw onions, such as red onion, white onion, sweet onion, or green onions. Fresh chives are also delicious.
  • Make variations of this recipe by experimenting with any of your favorite fresh herbs for a different taste.
  • There are non-creamy versions of this delicious side dish that are popular in Southern Germany. Check out my version of a southernGerman cucumber salad.

* * * * *

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

04.21.2023 revision update

Below isKaren's recipe (from Lethbridge, AB Canada)that she sent into our 2012Quick 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 teaspoonchopped fresh parsley
  • ½ teaspoonchopped dill
  • ½cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoongranulated 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 German recipe for corn salad is easy. Colourful and quick, a great addition to a summer buffet. Add fresh green peppers and bright red tomatoes, and this salad is a feast for the eyes as well.

  • German Tomato Salad Recipe – Oma's Tomatensalat

    Oma's Tomatensalat is an easy German tomato salad that's such a great way to use the bounty of your fresh garden tomatoes. It's summer in a bowl. So lecker!

  • Southern German Cucumber Salad – Oma's süddeutscher Gurkensalat

    Oma's German cucumber salad is so delightfully refreshing, especially in the summer. Since it's from the south, it’s without sour cream & without yogurt which makes it a perfect picnic side!

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Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat (13)

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Meet with us around Oma's table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

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Oma's German Cucumber Salad Recipe ~ Northern Gurkensalat

By Oma Gerhild Fulson
Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat (22)
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)

Top of German Cucumber Salad Recipe

Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat (2024)

FAQs

Creamy German Cucumber Salad Recipe – Oma's Norddeutscher Gurkensalat? ›

When you salt cucumber pieces or slices and let them sit for 30 minutes in a colander, the salt draws out excess moisture which then drains away. This means that the cucumber will release less water into whatever dish you're adding it to, such as tzatziki, tabbouleh, Greek salad, or potato salad.

How do you keep cucumber salad from getting watery? ›

When you salt cucumber pieces or slices and let them sit for 30 minutes in a colander, the salt draws out excess moisture which then drains away. This means that the cucumber will release less water into whatever dish you're adding it to, such as tzatziki, tabbouleh, Greek salad, or potato salad.

What is German salad made of? ›

This German Pasta Salad – known in German as Nudelsalat – is a slightly creamy and filling salad. We make ours with short pasta, sliced ham, peppers, tomatoes, and chopped pickles – but there are many variations. It's no wonder it looks so colorful on the table (especially in the summer).

Why is my cucumber salad foamy? ›

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.

Do you peel cucumbers for salad? ›

Should you peel your cucumbers for cucumber salad? Again, it depends on the variety and maturity of the cucumber. English or Persian cucumbers have thin skins which you do not need to peel. Regular market cucumbers may have thicker peels that can be tough and bitter, so it's best to peel those.

Why soak cucumbers in salt water? ›

Cucumbers are often soaked in salt water to remove some of the naturally high water content. Cucumbers will otherwise give up water and dilute the salad dressing. Unpeeled cucumbers are higher in nutritional value as fiber and vitamin A are lost by peeling.

How do you squeeze moisture out of cucumbers? ›

The solution: The standard recommendation for ridding watery vegetable such as cucumbers of unwanted moisture is to salt them.

What is German raclette? ›

Raclette (/rəˈklɛt/, French: [ʁaklɛt]) is a dish of Swiss origin, also popular in the other Alpine countries (France, Germany, Austria), based on heating cheese and scraping off the melted part, then typically served with boiled potatoes.

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 is German field salad? ›

Field salad (Valerianella locusta), known as feldsalat in German, is used like lettuce in salad.

What is the white stuff that comes out of cucumbers? ›

The light-white or clear coating of slime you may find on your cucumbers is a sign that the rotting process has begun, and it's just matter of time before they totally spoil.

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.

Can I wash mold off cucumbers? ›

Cucumbers and Peaches: Discard

If mold is found on soft fruit like strawberries, peaches, cucumbers, and tomatoes the food should be discarded. Because these fruits and vegetables are high in moisture, the mold can exist deep into it.

What should not be mixed with cucumber? ›

Cucumber and tomato are both eaten together in salads. But this is not the right food combination in terms of health. Actually, the way these two are digested is completely different, so eating them together should be avoided.

Which cucumber is best for salad? ›

Long English Cucumbers have a good crunch with thin, delicate skin that's easy to digest. The best part: you don't even need to peel them—just slice 'em up and eat them as the perfect quick snack. This type of Cucumber is great in salads as well as a ton of other things, too!

Can dogs have cucumbers? ›

Can Dogs Have Cucumbers? Cucumbers are perfectly safe for dogs to eat, and offer a low-calorie, crunchy snack that many dogs love. Cucumbers only contain about 8 calories per one-half cup of slices, compared to the 40 calories in a single medium dog biscuit. Cucumbers are also very low in sodium and fat-free.

How to stop cucumber from going soggy in salad? ›

If the cucumbers still seem to have too much moisture after you've removed the seeds, salt them and let them sit for around 30 minutes. This will draw out any residual water that can be patted dry with a clean towel before tossing the cucumbers into the salad.

How do I stop my salad from being watery? ›

The emulsified vinaigrette works the best at keeping the salad crisp because in this state the vinegar surrounds droplets of oil, keeping them trapped and preventing contact with the greens. Tossing a salad with a fully emulsified vinaigrette (bottom) is the only way to ensure that greens keep their crisp texture.

How do you keep cucumbers fresh and firm? ›

Here are steps you can take to maintain a cucumber's freshness:
  1. Rinse and dry the cucumbers. ...
  2. Wrap the cucumbers in a paper towel or tea towel. ...
  3. Place the wrapped cucumbers in a plastic bag. ...
  4. Store cucumbers in the refrigerator door. ...
  5. Keep cucumbers away from other fruits and vegetables.
Oct 29, 2021

Why does my cucumber go soggy in the fridge? ›

Storing cucumbers below fifty degrees Fahrenheit can cause chilling injuries, such as mushy spots and faster spoilage. If you cannot store cucumbers in the crisper drawer, store them in the warmest part of the fridge, toward the front.

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