Marinated cucumbers is a side dish is as basic as they come--the ingredient list is short and unassuming, and the procedure takes all of 10 minutes to complete*. The resulting creation, though, is terrific, and it's absolutely fitting to be served alongside any number of entrees. It's salty, sweet, and sour, and it complements everything from a fat and juicy grilled ribeye to filling and satisfying chicken gyros. You'll almost certainly find this dish at most spring and summer picnics and potlucks, and it always goes fast, at least in my experience.
*This speediness is mostly attributable to my handy dandy handheld slicerfrom OXO.
Most people include onions in their cucumber salads, but since I really, really dislike the taste of raw or even pickled onions (initially and when it's still there
**In sad news, at least two of our zucchini plants have fallen victim to squash vine borers, which I had neither heard of nor thought possible before they afflicted us. Sneaky ne'er-do-wells. :(
Marinated Cukes and Zukes
Ingredients:
- 2 cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1 zucchini, thinly sliced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried dill, or to taste
Place the cucumbers in a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Combine the vinegar, water, and sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, and pour over the cucumbers.
Stir in the dill, cover, and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour (but overnight is better).
Curvaceous--loving that hourglass figure! |
For a little thicker sauce for this salad, you can whisk some mayo into the vinegar. I learned that from my grandmother, and love it.
ReplyDeleteIt looks totally refreshing!
ReplyDeleteYou and I are on the same wavelength! I was just thinking of my mother's 'Dutch Cucumbers,' which is a marinated-in-vinegar salad of sliced cucumbers and onions. Very yummy (I like a few onions, but certainly not an excessive amount). I like your thought of adding in zucchini. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI haven't made cucumber pickles for ages. I put chilli in mine.
ReplyDeleteFresh and delicious!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
A shortened version of this is a staple here when hubby is BBQing. I just slice the cukes place on large plate & cover w salt and pepper and cover w vinegar. They're always gone before the "Q" is ready to serve!
ReplyDeletePerfect summer dish!
ReplyDeleteI like the mix of both cukes & zukes! Makes for a refreshing and tasty summer salad. Sorry to hear about your zucchini plants!
ReplyDeleteMarinated cules and zukes sound good to me! I'd like it to be a litte on the sour side and spicy!
ReplyDeleteI like both cukes & zukes!! Perfect for summer!
ReplyDeleteIt is totally refreshing
ReplyDeleteI think I could eat an entire jar of these all by myself. Nothing beats fresh-made pickles. They have such crunch, still possess the fresh vibrancy of the ingredient.
ReplyDeleteMy extra cucumbers get sliced and pickled as "hamburger dills." My husband loves pickles but the CSAs always give bigger cukes, so he was very happy when I figured out my solution.
ReplyDelete