Czech Cucumber Salad – Okurkový salát

Czech Cucumber Salad – Okurkový salát

This simple cucumber vinegar salad is perfect for warm weather. A favorite in Czech families, its crisp flavor and versatility make it a great side for many dishes.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Czech

Keyword Cucumber recipes, Czech recipes, light side dish

Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 71kcal

Author Petra Kupská

Ingredients

1 large English cucumber peeled and shredded
1 ¾ cups water cold
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
½ Tablespoon salt
¼ cup vinegar 5% acidity (I used apple cider vinegar)
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Cups - Metric

Instructions

Remove the cucumber's outer peel and cut off the ends.
Roughly shred the cucumber using a large-hole hand grater. Alternatively, you can grate thin slices of cucumber for a different texture.
Make the watery salad dressing: In a mixing bowl, combine water, sugar, vinegar, salt, and ground pepper. Whisk well to combine. Adjust the flavor of the dressing to taste.
Place the grated cucumber in a bowl. Pour the dressing mixture over the cucumber.

Notes

The basic recipe makes two portions.
Serve this Czech cucumber salad cold in a small bowl, and add a small spoon.
It's an ideal accompaniment to main courses such as schnitzel, fried cheese, or meatloaf.
Fresh cucumbers from the garden can be grated with the skin on, without peeling them first.
The vinegar commonly used in Czech cuisine has a rather pungent aroma. The amount of vinegar you use depends on its strength; in this recipe, I used apple cider vinegar with 5% acidity. The more pungent the vinegar, the less you need to add to the dressing. It is also a matter of personal taste. Some people prefer a tangier flavor, while others prefer a milder one.
A grated cucumber releases a lot of water. For this type of watery dressing, it doesn't matter, so you don't need to sweat the cucumber to remove the excess liquid.

Nutrition