German Cucumber Salad (Gerken Salat)

INGREDIENTS
2 English cucumbers
1/4 red onion
1/4 cup fresh dill
1/2 - 2/3 cup white distilled vinegar
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Start in the morning or night before

Scrub and wash the cucumbers.

English cucumbers are very long and come wrapped individually.  I bought these at Meijers.

With a potato peeler, peel off the skin leaving some on to give it a striped effect

Slice the cucumbers very thin.  If I had a mandolin the cucumbers would have been sliced evenly so I tried as best as I could without chopping off any fingers

Do the same with the red onions, slice very thinly then add to the cucumbers

Roughly chop the fresh dill and add to the cucumbers and onion

Add the vinegar to the cucumbers, onion and fresh dill

Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.  Combine and refrigerate to at least 4 hours.

Enjoy!

This was one of my favorite salads that I ate when we lived in Germany.  Tart and delicious, just the way I liked it and I was so impressed with how thin the cucumbers were sliced.  Soon after arriving in the states I developed a reaction to cucumbers to where I wasn't able to eat them any more and that made me very sad. I loved them but they didn't love me.  Fast forward about 30 years to last weekend.  I told my sister who had been staying with us before their big summer long visit to Texas, that I would make her and her hubby a German meal.  Homemade Schnitzel and Spaetzle (German breaded fried pork loin chop and noodles).  I mentioned to her how much I loved the German Cucumber Salad and she said she could make it as she had the recipe.  Sis also lived in Germany but not at the same time I was there.  When she was making it I decided then and there that I was going to try some even if it meant suffering through it later.  It just smelled so good while she was making it.  I had a plate full and guess what?  I did not get that knot in my stomach that evening nor the following day.  I was thrilled and I realized it must have been because of those type of cucumbers.  I Googled them and found out they are called English Cucumbers and aren't as strong as regular cucumbers. Found out these other facts about them too:  Nearly seedless | Cost a little more but worth it | Have a greater texture - don't get as mush and soggy | Burpless :)

This is a refreshing summer salad and will go with almost anything you cook on the grill.  It's SO simple to make.

Hope you're having a great start to your summer!  Until next time,