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Polish Cucumber Salad with Yogurt & Dill

A fresh, cool cucumber salad recipe made healthier by replacing sour cream with yogurt.  This Polish favorite is a great way to use up those extra garden cucumbers you have been gifted and a perfect accompaniment to spicy dishes and BBQ.  Onions, herbs and lemon juice makes this salad recipe a refreshing snack or perfect side.

Sliced cucumber on a red cooling rack.

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Sometimes you just need some back-pocket recipes for cucumbers.  Whether you grow your own cucumbers and need to come up with creative ideas on how to eat them or you are gifted a bushel over the backyard fence.

This cucumber recipe is easy to remember and easy to make, I’m looking at you Bianca.  It is also known as a ‘cooling salad’ or a salad that is used to compliment a spicy dish, especially if it’s a fiery one.  Thai Cucumber Salad is famous for this.  These cooling salads can also be used as a palate cleanser.  Something that gets you ready for the next spicy dish.

Another reason to make this salad is that cucumbers a really good for you.  Scroll to the bottom for some tips and info on amazing benefits of cucumber.

What is Polish Cucumber Salad?

Polish Cucumber Salad is a quick, no fuss dish, traditionally made with dill, sour cream and fresh herbs, usually dill.  Frequently salt, sugar and an acid is added.  It is also known as Mizeria, the Polish name for misery.

The story of Mizeria is a legend of Queen Bon Sforza, an Italian princess that was betrothed to King Sigismund I of Poland in the 16th century.  It is believed the homesick Italian Queen would cry whenever she ate cucumbers as it reminded her of her homeland where cucumbers were plenty.

How do you make Cucumber Salad?

This easy recipe for Mizeria can be broken down into three steps.

  1. Extract the water from the cucumber – This can be achieved through salting and either blotting or wrapping the cucumber slices in a dish towel and squeeze the water out.
  2. Mix the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl.
  3. Add the cucumbers to the dressing and toss.

Tips for a better Polish Cucumber Salad

Choose smaller cucumbers, they are sweeter.  Also

choose cucumbers that are seedless or have very

small seeds such as a hothouse cucumber.  Use only a

touch of acid such as lemon juice or vinegar.  Make

with yogurt instead of sour cream for a healthier version.


Ideas for serving.

Cucumber salad goes great with:

Other Cucumber Salads From Around the World

  1. German – With chopped or sliced cucumbers add onion, tomatoes, sour cream, mustard, vinegar, herbs and sugar.
  2. Japanese – A simple salad with cucumber, rice vinegar, sugar and sesame seeds.
  3. Thai – A popular cooling salad using cucumbers mixed with rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, green onions and sprinkled with chopped peanuts.
  4. Mediterranean – Cucumber, feta cheese, kalamata olives, tomatoes and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
  5. Hungarian – Also known as Uborkasaláta, very similar to Polish cucumber salad except they add paprika, of course!
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Diced red onion on a cutting board.
Yogurt, dill, onions and lemon juice in a mixing bowl.
A bowl of cucumber salad in a white bowl.

Benefits of Cucumbers

  • Huffington Poste has this article on 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Cucumbers.  Have you ever heard of fisetin?  Me neither.  Apparently it may protect your brain from neurological diseases.
  • Live Strong shares Health Benefit of Eating Cucumbers and breaks down the nutritional information.
  • Blend up cucumber and plain yogurt and apply to face.  Leave on 15 minutes before washing off.  Cucumbers contain Vitamin C and caffeic acid, two antioxidants which help fend off wrinkles.  Paired with the exfoliating properties of yogurt and you have yourself a cheap, natural do-it-yourself facial mask.

Do you have any favorite cucumber recipes?  Please share in the comments below, just in case our neighbors decide to plant 10 cucumber plants this year.  Yikes!

If you do make this salad, snap a pic and post on Instagram with #FusionCraftiness so we can see.  Let’s make this a good ole cucumber salad virtual par-tay…

A bowl of cucumber salad in a white bowl.

Polish Cucumber Salad with Yogurt & Dill

Yield: 8 sides
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

A fresh, cool cucumber salad recipe made healthier by replacing sour cream with yogurt.  This Polish favorite is a great way to use up those extra garden cucumbers you have been gifted and a perfect accompaniment to spicy dishes and BBQ.  Onions, herbs and lemon juice makes this salad recipe a refreshing snack or perfect side.

Ingredients

  • 1 english cucumber
  • salt
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 Tbs dried dill
  • 2 Tbs chives, fresh or dried
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1 tsp sugar

Instructions

  1. Slice cucumber very thin.  Sprinkle with salt and set aside.  If you have a cooling rack, use it and let the extra water drain off.  If you don't have one, simply blot with a clean towel or paper towel.
  2. Place the rest of the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl, mix well.  Add cucumbers.
  3. Serve and garnish with more dill.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1/2 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 21Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 85mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g

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Dana

Monday 23rd of April 2018

I am such a sucker for salads like this. Especially living in NC. It gets SO hot in the summer that sometimes it's too hot to eat! In those cases, my husband and I *always* go for something with cucumbers. They're just so cooling. Adding this to my list!

Tina

Tuesday 24th of April 2018

Cucumbers are really amazing and versatile. I only really know them as a salad ingredient but there are soup recipes and actually really good for your skin. Let me know if you come across any good cucumber recipes Dana.

Sarah

Sunday 22nd of April 2018

My mother in law gives us bags and bags of cucumbers each summer, and I'm never sure what to do with them all. This looks delicious! I love the creamy dressing- and my cucumber loving hubs would devour this!

Tina

Tuesday 24th of April 2018

I can relate to having too many cucumbers. Ever year something goes wild in my garden, I still remember the year cucumbers did.

Megan Marlowe

Sunday 22nd of April 2018

This cucumber salad looks fresh and delicious. It will be perfect and come in handy this summer when my garden is bursting with cucumbers. I also have dill and chives in my garden so this will be perfect for easy summertime salads!

Tina

Tuesday 24th of April 2018

I am always on the lookout for cucumber recipes, let me know if you try any that you really like.

Carmy @ carmyy.com

Saturday 21st of April 2018

I've got yogurt, dill, AND chives in my kitchen! Guess this means I'm potentially making this polish cucumber salad once I get some cucumbers! I love that you shared the different types of cucumber salads too since I can make a couple for the week.

Tina

Tuesday 24th of April 2018

I'm glad that was helpful Carmy, enjoy!

Marisa Franca

Saturday 21st of April 2018

Our kitchen is never without cucumbers. We buy the English cucumbers (3 pack) at the big box store. We eat it every day in our salad. I've made special cucumber salads only I used Greek Yogurt. I'm going to have to try some of your varieties.

Tina

Tuesday 24th of April 2018

Have fun Marisa, Gloria has a Ukranian version which is almost identical to the Polish version. You'll have to try both!

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