German Cucumber and Yogurt Salad – Creamy Gurkensalat Recipe
This is a creamy version of German cucumber salad, this time with yogurt and garlic. It’s a bit similar to Greek tzatziki, but milder and more like a salad. In Germany it’s often served with baked potatoes or pan-fried fish as a light, cooling side dish.
A light, creamy salad that combines the freshness of cucumbers with a tangy yogurt dressing, inspired by traditional German Gurkensalat but with a slightly more salad-like, less garlicky character than tzatziki.
Chef's tips
Slice the cucumbers as thinly and evenly as possible – this helps them soften slightly in the salt and absorb the dressing better. Don’t skip the step of salting and briefly resting the cucumbers; it keeps the salad from becoming too watery later.
How to serve
Serve as a side to baked potatoes, schnitzel, grilled meats or fish. It also works well on a cold buffet or as part of a light summer lunch with bread and other salads.
Ingredients
- cucumber - 2 pieces
- plain yogurt - 200 g
- garlic - 1 piece
- dill - 2 tablespoons
- vinegar - 1 tablespoon
- sugar - 0.5 teaspoons
- salt - 0.5 teaspoons
- pepper - 0.25 teaspoons
Preparation
- Wash the cucumbers and, if needed, peel them thinly. Slice them into very thin rounds or half-moons.
- Transfer the cucumber slices to a bowl, sprinkle with salt, mix and set aside for 10 minutes until they release some juice.
- In a separate small bowl, mix the yogurt, vinegar, sugar, pepper and garlic pressed through a garlic press. The dressing should be slightly sour and gently sweet.
- Lightly squeeze the cucumbers with your hand or a spoon to remove excess liquid. Don’t squeeze them completely dry so they don’t become dry.
- Finely chop the dill. Add it to the cucumbers together with the yogurt dressing and gently mix everything.
- Taste the salad and, if needed, season with extra salt, pepper or a little vinegar. Serve right away or after a short chill.
Storage
Store the salad covered in the fridge and eat within 1 day; over time the cucumbers will release more water and the texture will become softer.
