My grandmother made a version of Gurkensalat that included onions sliced into paper thin strips and milk she soured for the recipe. I prefer to use buttermilk or plain milk kefir depending on what I have on hand in the refrigerator and a dash of onion powder for flavor. The raw onion tends to overpower the cucumbers for me, but you can certainly add onions to your salad if you prefer.
Course: Side Dish
Author: Jennifer from 1840 Farm
Ingredients
8-16ouncesfresh cucumbers, stem ends removed and sliced very thinly
½cupbuttermilk or plain milk kefir
1Tablespoonsour cream
2Tablespoonsfresh dill, chopped
dash of onion powder
salt and pepper
1teaspoonsugar if needed
1-2teaspoonsapple cider vinegar to balance acidity if needed
Instructions
Prepare the cucumbers by removing the stem ends and peeling if desired. I like to leave the peel on tender young cucumbers or English style cucumbers as I like the texture, but you can peel the cucumbers if you prefer. Using a sharp knife or mandoline, slice the cucumbers very thinly. Place the cucumber slices in a colander and sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt. Gently toss the slices and allow them to drain for at least an hour. This will allow some of the moisture to drain away from the cucumbers.
After an hour has passed, turn the drained cucumber slices out onto a clean kitchen towel or paper towels to gently blot dry. Combine the buttermilk or kefir, sour cream, and dill in a medium bowl. Add the drained cucumbers to the dressing and gently stir to coat each slice. Taste for seasoning onion powder, salt, and pepper if needed. Sugar and a bit of apple cider vinegar can be added if desired.
Transfer the salad to the refrigerator and allow the cucumbers to rest for a few hours or overnight. I find that the flavor is best after at least two hours, but you may prefer a longer length of time. The longer the cucumbers are allowed to marinate, the more flavorful they will become, but they will also soften at the same time. So, take your flavor and texture preference into consideration when deciding how far in advance to prepare the salad.
Serve the salad as a side dish or add a few slices to the top of burgers or sandwiches. This cucumber salad makes a delicious addition to egg salad or an accompaniment to grilled meats. Enjoy!