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Hi! I'm Rose

Ever since I can remember, a passion of mine has been to continue our family legacy through sharing our family Hungarian recipes. You will find many wholesome, authentic and flavorful recipes for the everyday cook. :)

Hi! I'm Rose

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Hungarian Cucumber Dill Salad (Tejfeles Uborkasalata)

Name: Hungarian Cucumber Dill Salad (Tejfeles Uborkasalata)
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 English cucumbers, thinly sliced; 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt; 1/4 white or sweet onion, thinly sliced; 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped plus extra for garnishing; 1/4 tsp Hungarian sweet paprika, garnishing; dollop of sour cream; 4 tbsp white vinegar; 4 tbsp water; 1/2 tsp raw sugar; 1/4 tsp black pepper

This traditional Hungarian dill cucumber salad is light, refreshing, slightly tangy and simply delicious! This beautiful salad is served with a dollop of sour cream fresh dill and sprinkle of paprika. Enjoy!

This Hungarian salad has a tangy taste with a hint of sweetness that pairs nicely with any of the Hungarian paprika meat dishes, sausages, fish and grilled meats. When cucumbers were in season, Mom would often make it with our meals since it was often replaced for a green salad. If you are familiar with Hungarian cooking, sour cream is often added to mix into the salad. The dill is always added and gives it that summertime fresh minty flavour.

I have always known to slice the cucumbers very thinly to create a delicate salad. Slicing the cucumber this thin further brings out the flavour of the cucumber and it absorbs the dressing nicely.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS

Cucumbers: I used English cucumbers for this salad although slicing cucumbers can be used is what they refer to is the slicer, they tend to have larger seeds, and they should be peeled with seeds removed. Also perisan or mini cucumbers can be used in place of the English cucumbers.

Onion: a sweet or white onion is the best for this salad

Dill: is the star of this salad, it adds so much flavour and a wonderful fresh citrus taste

Sour cream: is a traditional Hungarian garnish for this salad

Dressing: A simple, straight-forward dressing that this salad only requires is a tangy, fresh flavour, and the ingredients are: white vinegar, water, sugar, salt, pepper and Hungarian paprika

DID YOU KNOW?

Cucumbers are high in vitamins and minerals, and high in antioxidants. Since it has a high water content, it great for hydration, and excellent source of fiber. Great for gut and bone health and they are known to prevent diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

HOW TO MAKE THIS DELICIOUS SALAD

Slicing the cucumbers: This salad requires the cucumbers to be thinly sliced. Recommend to use a mandoline slicer and it worked out perfectly. If you don’t have one, a food processor with the slice attachment would work too. I tried using a grater with slice option but I found the slices weren’t as thin.

I sliced these English cucumbers without peeling them. It adds colour and texture to this salad, however, if you use the large slicing cucumbers, they need to be peeled since the skin isn’t edible. It is optional to remove the seeds. Slice the cucumbers into a large bowl.

Rest for 45 minutes: Once the cucumbers are sliced, then add salt and set aside for 45 minutes to an hour to allow the water to release. Then remove the liquid from the cucumbers by gently squeezing. Then add onion and dill, and pour the vinaigrette dressing over the cucumbers, and gently toss. Refrigerator form about an hour or two before serving and give it a gently toss. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and garnish with Hungarian paprika and fresh dill.

SERVING THIS DELICIOUS SALAD

Dill and cucumber pair beautifully in this salad with a hint of onion. The vinaigrette is simple and yet it adds a bold tangy flavour to the salad with a hint of sugar and salt. The Hungarian would use sour cream as a condiment and the creaminess mellows the tanginess.Cucumber salad is normally sliced or quartered into larger pieces or thicker slices. If you haven’t made a cucumber salad like this before I highly recommend. It is a lovely and delicious salad that would compliment your next meal or gathering.

What to serve with this delicious salad?

FAQ

Can I use other types of cucumbers for this salad? Yes you can, I would suggest those mini or persian cucumbers. I would avoid those large slicing cucumbers but if you do use them, I would peel them and remove the seeds.

Can I make this salad ahead? Yes, once sliced and it has had a chance to rest with the salt to remove the liquid, then I would prep the remaining ingredients and pour the viniagrette about 30 minutes before serving.

How to store this salad? If there are any leftovers, please store in an airtight container with some of the viniagrette. It should last up to a day or two.

DID YOU MAKE THIS DELICIOUS HUNGARIAN RECIPE? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK WITH A COMMENT AND RATING. 🙂