The way my German mother used to make it was slice the cucumber very thin, then sprinkle salt over the slices and let that sit for an hour, then drain of the liquid and rinse of most of the salt, then made the dressing the same way ; either way it's my favorite thing to eat in the summer months
We don't use the creamy dressings. We follow cucumber prep as you do. But then we hand squish the cucumbers, which pulls all the water & most of the seeds out. Then we make apple cider vinegar & oil dressing and pour over the cucumbers. Then we add chopped chives. Then it sits in the refrigerator until dinnertime. As kids we used to sneak cukes out before supper, until we got caught. So good!
Your mother's way is the way my German Aunt made it also and drained after water comes out but used white wine vinegar ,dill weed, pepper and sour cream last.
My mother was German and we grew up on this. Each time the fire or police department had fundraisers, they always asked her to make this for their dinners. We learned to do away with the hand made dressing. Cucumber Ranch dressing with a splash of vinegar and dill seasoning works just as well.
I learned how to make it with a brine of vinegar and salt. You can add garlic and parsley; we only get fresh dill once a year. I don't rinse the cucumbers after, instead I squeeze the excess liquid out. When using vinegar in the brine, it's not necessary to use it again which would only dilute the sour cream.
I would prepare the salad as be scribed but would add the sour cream last after letting the cucumber rest for a while. My opinion is, the cucumbers blending better with the watery ingredients before the fatty cream. Just an opinion. ❤ "En guete mitenand"
My grandma would cut the dill from her garden but she never added as much as he did. That was a crazy amount of dill. I expect it would be very overpowering. My grandma was German and she also added onions to her salad.
@@bluesky7838 Hey if you like the flavor of the dill overpowering everything else then go for it. You're the one who has to eat it so you make it the way you want. I like dill but I want it to enhance the other flavors not overpower them.
On the video he added full fat of sour cream, he first added 1/8 of a cup then added 1/16 of a cup. I watched video again to make sure I got it right. I’m making it tonight. My only thing is he used a seasoned vinegar which is what he says they use in Germany. I just don’t know what it’s equivalent to in the states. Guess I’ll just use white vinegar for now.
@@christinej2358 It's such a small amount of vinegar it doesn't matter what kind you use. I've had it with apple cider and white and I didn't notice a difference. My grandma always added a little condensed milk to the sour cream and I think that's a game changer it really does change the flavor. She also used it in potato salad dressing and tarter sauce.
I have lived in Pennsylvania for the last 32 years and all of the Pennsylvania Dutch (German) and their offspring make ALL of their salads,potato,macaroni,coleslaw,cucumber,etc. with a sugar/vinegar combo and it’s DISGUSTING! It tastes like it’s spoiled. Also,my father was from Germany as were his parents and my grandmother did not use sugar.😵💫 Maybe it’s a regional thing.🤔
Depending on where you grew up, it's called whatever you are used to saying. I just call it a grater or cheese grater, since that's how I use mine most of the time, but mandolin is also another name I have heard it called. I am 67 years old, live in the South in the US, and I have NEVER heard it called a "box grater", but you obviously have, and I am not about to tell someone what they are used to calling it is wrong! A little grace and manners goes a long way, even towards strangers on the internet! 🤷🏻♀️
It drives me crazy when people mix up their dressing in the bowl with the other ingredients. How do you not understand you get a better mixture if you make the dressing in a separate bowl then pour it over the cucumbers. potatoes whatever? Guess what, the dressing is even tastier if you make it the day before and let all those flavors mingle together. Those cucumbers are way too thin, they're going to turn into mush if you don't eat them right away.
@@francesmaurer185 Do you think you're talking to an idiot? I've been eating this salad since the early 60s. Yes sometimes it's eaten right away but sometimes it's made the day before so the flavors mix together.
Grew up on this! Ben making it for over 50 years. My family does it a little different. I agree that the cucumbers are sliced too thin. I slice the cucumbers into a colander and let them sit on the drain board for 2 or 3 hours. The time is not fussy. A lot of liquid will drain off and that’s what we want. Some sliced red onion should be added. Small green onions from the garden. Use the green part too. I have used the same flavored vinegar and it’s great that way, but get adventurous and try rice wine vinegar ( seasoned or not) or white wine vinegar. There are so many different flavored vinegars now. I would not use plain white vinegar. Celery salt may be substituted for the salt. I put the drained cubes in a bowl and sprinkle a little sugar over them with the salt, and fill. I don’t want to use a lot of sour cream but you must let your conscience be your guide. Then sprinkle vinegar to make it as soupy as you’d like. It’s better made ahead and left in the refrigerator for a few hours. My family always liked this with mashed potatoes. Any leftover “juice) can be drizzled over the mashed potatoes. It adds a little flavor to most any cooked vegetable. A Midwestern classic!
I made an error on my above version. Most of the salt should be sprinkled on the cubes while in the colander. Stir. This draws a lot of water out and makes the salad taste like cucumber! More salt can be added with the sour cream, to taste. I forgot the pepper, too. I use white pepper.
That's typical for German vegetable recipes. My father was German and he loved sweet and sour green beans. My mother had to make a few jars just for him when she canned green beans. I tried them and I thought they were gross.
@@sueblankenship9441 My grandma also canned sweet and sour green beans but they were more sour than sweet. My grandma put sugar in a lot of things like red cabbage fried in bacon grease with apples and onions but she was pretty conservative with the sugar.