Cucumber Dill Salad or Gurkensalat easy to make and goes perfectly with your favorite barbecues. This light and refreshing salad pairs a sweet and sour combination of vinegar and sugar with cucumbers, onions and dill.
We first had this amazing salad in Hamburg, Germany. After doing some experimentation, I was able to duplicate what we had in Hamburg, and have made it a number of times since. Each time, the salad is outstanding, and reminiscent of our time in Hamburg.
Table of contents
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Ingredients for Cucumber Dill Salad
Cucumber Dill Salad is very easy to make. I use the following ingredients: English or Hot House cucumbers, onion, dill, cider vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. If I have one, I use a red or a Bermuda onion. The reason is that it adds a nice color. In addition, it tends to have a mild flavor.
Making the Cucumber Dill Salad
Time needed: 10 minutes.
This amazing salad is super easy to make, involving only a few simple steps
- Making the Dressing
First, I made the dressing by whisking together the vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Then, I set this aside to move on to the next step.
- Slicing the Cucumber and Onion.
Next, I peeled the cucumbers and the onion. Then, I thinly sliced both with the aid of a food processor and a 3mm slicing blade. You could also use a knife here.
- Transferring Sliced Vegetables to a Bowl
Once the cucumber and onions were sliced, I transferred them to a large bowl. Then, I sprinkled on some chopped dill and poured on the vinegar dressing.
- Combining All Ingredients
Finally, I stirred all of the ingredients together until they were well combined.
I covered the Cucumber Dill Salad and placed it in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This allowed the flavors to meld together.
This is one of the Master Taste Tester’s favorite salads. It’s tasty and refreshing, and totally delicious. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
I wouldn’t recommend substituting regular cucumbers for English cucumbers in this salad. English cucumbers are generally sweeter than regular cucumbers. In addition, they have a minimal number of seeds.
I’ve historically used apple cider vinegar in this salad. The reason is that it has a relatively mild vinegar taste. Other vinegars such as red wine vinegar tend to have a stronger taste that could impact the overall flavor of this salad.
The fresh dill adds to not only the taste of this salad, but also the appearance. I would avoid substituting dried dill.
Sometimes, I like to use sweet onions in this salad. Their taste is milder than the red onions and work well.
You can refrigerate this salad for up to three days. The longer it sits in the refrigerator, the more the flavors blend together.
Other Delicious Salad Recipes
If you’re in the market for other amazing salad recipes, check out these favorites:
Tomato Vidalia Onion Cucumber Salad: Two of the best things about summer (well, almost summer!) are homegrown tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes and Vidalia onions. This summer salad combines the tomatoes and onions with cucumbers and an awesome dressing.
Southern Fried Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard: Southern Fried Chicken Salad is the perfect blend of fresh vegetables, crispy fried chicken strips, hard cooked eggs and shredded cheese topped with yummy honey mustard dressing. It’s the ultimate in southern comfort that will have you coming back for more.
Creamy Southern Coleslaw: Creamy Southern Coleslaw is full of tasty goodness, with the perfect blend of sweet and sour. It’s consistently amazing, and goes well with so many dishes. What’s even better is that the food processor does most of the work.
Classic Southern Seven-Layer Salad: When you’re planning the perfect make-ahead dish for your holiday gathering, look no further than Classic Southern Seven-Layer Salad. It’s as versatile as it is delicious, and always receives rave reviews!
Caesar Salad: You probably think Caesar Salad is an Italian dish. But in fact it was invented in Tijuana, Mexico in the 1920’s. It’s a wonderful dish on its own or paired with any number of toppings or entrees. What makes a Caesar Salad truly great is an outstanding dressing and freshly made croutons, both of which are quick and easy to make.
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Cucumber Dill Salad (Gurkensalat)
Ingredients
- 2 English or Hot House cucumbers peeled and thinly sliced (See Note 1)
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced and broken into pieces (See Note 2)
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place sliced cucumbers and onion in a non-reactive bowl (plastic). Sprinkle dill on top.
- Combine vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl; whisk until sugar dissolves thoroughly. Pour over vegetables. Toss well to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour. Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
Chula’s Expert Tips
- I slice the cucumbers and onion in a food processor with a 3 mm slicing blade.
- Sometimes when I make this salad, I use a sweet yellow onion as opposed to the red onion.
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