Sunday, October 3, 2021

My Oma's Gurkensalat

Photo: Allrecipes

Whenever I see cucumbers I think of my Bavarian grandmother, who was the only person I know to make gurkensalat (or cucumber salad). My mother, an excellent home cook and her daughter, didn't make it. Mom always used cucumbers in a green salad to serve as a side with whatever dinner she prepared for us. I have memories of my Oma visiting us and making her gurkensalat in our kitchen. We liked it, but none of us have her recipe. As an adult, I had to try to figure it out from memories of eating it as well as seeing her make it:

Oma's Gurkensalat

2 cucumbers, peeled - (I don't peel them. Oma did.)
1 small yellow onion - sliced thin (or green onions when available)
1/2 cup of sour cream (or mayonnaise as a substitute)
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
3 tablespoons of cider vinegar
1 teaspoon of dried dill
Sprinkle of garlic
Sprinkle of paprika
Sprinkle of nutmeg 
Sprinkle of dried parsley
1 teaspoon of sugar, or to taste.

Optional: If the vinegar is too sharp, dilute it with 1 - 3 tablespoons of water ... but wait 30 minutes since cucumbers are largely water.

Directions:

1) Slice the cucumbers as thin as possible. Oma used a mandoline, but it can be done with a sharp knife.

2) Slice the onions thin too and toss them in with the cucumbers.

3) Add the sour cream (or mayonnaise). Oma loved sour cream.

4) Add the seasonings, and taste the salad. Adjust. Oma would sprinkle in a little sugar to balance the sour vinegar. 

She let the flavors marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before serving it. The water from the cucumbers will draw out, so don't add tablespoons of water to counter the sharpness of the vinegar right away. Let the salad settle first. 

After chilling, it is ready to put on the table. Gurkensalat is a refreshing, light side dish with a crunch. Enjoy!


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6 comments:

  1. My husband's grandmother made a similar salad. She would thinly slice two cucumbers, salt them and set them aside to drain. Then she would mix 3/4 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup cider , salt, pepper and half a minced onion. Then she would drain the cucumbers and add them to the marinade, chill for several hours and then serve. The marinade left after serving was good for one more batch before it got too watered down.
    Theresa in Tucson

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    1. Hi Theresa, good to know. Sounds similar and delicious! Makes me want some!

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    2. Oops, the cider was supposed to say "cider vinegar". Just cider would be way, way too sweet. Sorry for the error.
      Theresa in Tucson

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    3. No worries, we knew what you meant! :)

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  2. Our German Oma made this very same thing! OMG .. the best ever, now I'm gonna go make some!

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    1. Welcome here, HappyHome43! A delicious way to eat cucumbers, I agree.

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