German Cucumber Salad Recipe - Gurkensalat (2024)

FAQs

Why is it called Mizeria? ›

The name of the salad comes from the French word misère (poverty, squalor) and most likely expresses the disdainful attitude of the Polish aristocracy towards this traditional peasant dish. Mizeria is also customarily made in the Hungarian-American community in Toledo, Ohio.

Emergence of Gurkensalat: The specific dish known as Gurkensalat, or cucumber salad, likely developed in Germany and other parts of Central Europe. Cucumber salads gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries as a refreshing Side Dish, particularly during the warm summer months.

Salt: The secret to the best cucumber salad is to salt your cucumbers. The salt makes the cucumbers taste better and removes excess water, diluting the dressing. I use sea salt, but any salt will do. Vinegar: I love apple cider vinegar in this dressing, but distilled or white wine vinegar also works nicely.

As the cucumbers release their moisture, you may find that there are a few bubbles in your salad as well. Don't worry, that is totally normal.

It was adopted by Jewish immigrants to the Levant in the late 19th century, who found the locally grown Kirby cucumbers and tomatoes in popular local salad. It was popularized in the kibbutzim, where the Jewish farmers had local fresh produce at hand. The name Israeli Salad is used mainly outside of Israel.

What Makes Cucumbers Bitter? A specific compound called cucurbitacin is responsible for the bitter flavor. "Cucurbitacin is generally more concentrated in the skin and towards the stem end of the fruit," says Tucker Taylor, director of culinary gardens at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Sonoma County.

But even cucumbers can be elevated to greater deliciousness and versatility with a clever kitchen tip that you may not be aware of—salting. When you salt cucumber pieces or slices and let them sit for 30 minutes in a colander, the salt draws out excess moisture which then drains away.

Why Are My Cucumbers Slimy? The light-white or clear coating of slime you may find on your cucumbers is a sign that the rotting process has begun, and it's just matter of time before they totally spoil.

You've probably noticed that cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) sometimes make you burp. This is due to the presence of cucurbitacin in the fruit, one of the bitterest substances known to humans.

In Latin, the crunchy vegetable was known as the cucumerem, which then either passed up through Old French as cocombre, and then to English, or was just pulled straight from the Roman root in Wycliffe's first English-language translation of the Bible (which does mention the veggie by name a few times).

What is a Spanish cucumber? ›

Small fruit, it has a green skin with yellow or white grooves. They normally never grow bigger than15 cm in length. A thorny fruit with an intense flavour. Caliber: Between 10 and 15 cm.

In America, popular brands of salad cream or similar dressings include Miracle Whip, Kraft Salad Dressing, and Hellmann's Salad Dressing. These dressings are commonly used as a creamy and tangy alternative to traditional mayonnaise.