This refreshing, creamy cucumber salad recipe has been passed down through my family for decades. Hungarian cucumber salad with sour cream is a versatile side that pairs well with just about any main dish!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Grandma's Uborkasaláta
- Hungarian Cucumber Salad Ingredients
- The Spice House Hungarian Sweet Paprika
- Cucumber Salad Variations
- How To Make Cucumber Salad
- How To Make The Sour Cream Salad Dressing
- Versatile Sour Cream Dressing
- Fresh Cucumber Salad Recipe Pairings
- Printable Recipe ↓
- More Authentic Hungarian Recipes
Let me introduce you to what may be my all-time favorite simple side dish - Hungarian cucumber salad!
This light, creamy cucumber salad with sour cream has been a staple at family gatherings, holidays, potlucks/cookouts, and summer parties (and on our dinner table for absolutely no special reason at all) for as long as I can remember.
What makes this easy cucumber salad recipe so special? It's hard to put a finger on just ONE thing.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- A tangy sour cream dressing perfectly complements the cool and crisp cucumbers and onions.
- The creamy sour cream cucumbers combo gets deliciously frothy and foamy when whisked together.
- Top it off with a generous sprinkle of authentic Hungarian sweet paprika, and it's a total. flavor. explosion.
- Added bonus? It's a low carb cucumber salad!
Traditionally, cucumber salad was served as a summer side dish. Aside from being a light and cooling side, this was mainly because fresh cucumbers were only available between May and August.
But these days, grocery stores carry cucumbers year-round. Which means we can enjoy them any time of the year!
Fun Fact
Grandma's Uborkasaláta
My Hungarian grandmother always referred to this dish as simply uborkasaláta. Which translates to "cucumber salad" in Hungarian, so she wasn't WRONG... But it's also not technically right, either.
Because there ARE traditional Hungarian cucumber salad recipes without sour cream. Since this creamy salad is made with tejföl (sour cream), tejfölös uborkasaláta would be a more appropriate name for it.
Hungarian Cucumber Salad Ingredients
This creamy cucumber and onion salad uses just 5 simple ingredients. Starting with fresh, crisp cucumbers, of course!
- 🥒 Cucumbers: For the most authentic flavor, choose regular slicing cucumbers. However, I prefer to use English cucumbers since they're nearly seedless. In either case, look for firm cucumbers with a rich, medium-to-dark green color. Avoid any with wrinkles, blemishes, soft spots, or yellow spots.
Additional Key Ingredients
- 🧅 Yellow onions: Raw onion provides a savory bite that contrasts nicely with the delicate cucumber flavor. Feel free to adjust the amount based on your tolerance. I prefer to use only half a small onion and slice it *very* thinly. You can substitute a white onion, but I don't recommend using red onion in this recipe.
- 🥛 Sour cream: For the most traditional flavor, choose a high-quality, full-fat sour cream. My fave? I always use the Daisy brand. I love the extra-creamy, smooth consistency it gives the sour cream dressing!
- 🍎 Apple cider vinegar: White vinegar or white wine vinegar may be substituted in a pinch, but I recommend ACV. The less-sour flavor profile perfectly complements the cucumbers and sour cream.
- 🧂 Hungarian sweet paprika: Sweet paprika's rich, earthy flavor is essential in this and many other Hungarian recipes. For the most authentic taste, look for a high-quality imported brand. I like this single-ingredient Hungarian sweet paprika from The Spice House.
TOP PICK
The Spice House Hungarian Sweet Paprika
My favorite Hungarian sweet paprika comes from The Spice House. Its complex, bright, and bold profile takes my favorite Hungarian dishes to a whole new flavor-packed level. The difference is truly shocking!
Cucumber Salad Variations
It's typical to find many ingredient variations in heirloom recipes that have been handed down for generations. This Hungarian cucumber salad is authentic to how my family has always prepared it.
But it's possible your family's cucumber onion salad recipe is quite different. And if so, I'd love for you to share it in the comments. I'm always open to trying new versions!
A few variations I've come across:
- garlic or shallots - minced garlic cloves or shallots are often added with or in place of the onion
- sugar - Hungarians are known for adding a pinch of sugar savory dishes to impart a unique touch of sweetness
- olive oil - some recipes add olive oil to the cucumber salad dressing
- Hungarian wax peppers - adding chopped wax peppers sounds like a delicious way to add a spicy kick!
- dill - many recipes include fresh dill or dried dill weed
Dill seems to be a more common addition in Polish cucumber salad recipes. My Polish mother-in-law's sour cream cucumber salad definitely includes it.
I've noticed a lot of overlap between Polish and Hungarian cuisines. Like Haluski vs. Haluska, as I mentioned in my cabbage and noodles recipe.
How To Make Cucumber Salad
Step one in this creamed cucumber recipe is to extract the excess water from the cucumbers. DON'T SKIP THIS!!
Cucumbers contain a LOT of water. Removing as much water as possible is essential to keep the sour cream dressing from becoming watery.
Sprinkling the sliced cucumbers and onions with salt helps soften them and draws out excess water. Then you can squeeze as much liquid as possible from the mixture.
Here's the step-by-step process:
- Start by peeling the cucumbers. Then slice both the cucumbers and the onion very thinly.
I use a knife to trim the tops off the cucumbers and then make paper-thin slices by hand. Just like my grandma did! My husband prefers to use this vegetable chopper/slicer. You can also use a mandoline or a food processor if you prefer. - Place the sliced cucumbers and onions in a bowl. Toss the cucumber/onion medley with a generous sprinkle of kosher salt.
- Set the bowl aside to allow the mixture to marinate for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. I use this downtime to prepare the simple sour cream salad dressing.
- After about 30 minutes have passed, squeeze as much water as possible out of the cucumber onion mixture.
I find it's easiest to dump the mixture into a colander set in the kitchen sink. Reach in and grab large handfuls of cucumber and onion. Squeeze hard with both hands to wring out as much liquid as you can. - Place the squeezed cucumbers and onions back in the mixing bowl to be combined with the dressing.
Following these steps should keep your cuke salad creamy and delicious!
How To Make The Sour Cream Salad Dressing
This tangy sour cream dressing is shockingly delicious for having so few ingredients. AND it's ridiculously easy to make!
Start by stirring the sour cream and apple cider vinegar together. Then whisk a couple of tablespoons of water into the sour cream and vinegar mixture. Finally, season the dressing with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
That's all there is to it! Then I pop it in the fridge until the cucumbers and onions are ready to go.
Use a fork to vigorously stir the sour cream dressing into the cucumber-onion mixture. Once well mixed, the dressing should look frothy and foamy. Transfer the creamy cucumbers to an airtight container and chill for at least two hours.
QUICK TIP
Versatile Sour Cream Dressing
This light and tangy sour cream dressing recipe is super versatile. If you thin it down with some milk or a little water, it becomes a great all-purpose creamy salad dressing.
It's my favorite way to dress a simple green salad in the summertime. Especially one made with fresh greens picked straight from the garden... SO GOOD!!
Fresh Cucumber Salad Recipe Pairings
This creamy cucumber recipe is a perfect side dish for any meaty main dish. But thanks to the combination of cool cucumbers and sour cream, it pairs especially well with spicy dishes.
It's best served well-chilled, preferably with plenty of additional Hungarian paprika sprinkled over the top. At least that's MY preference - my kids prefer only a little paprika. But at least they're a fan of cucumber salads!
Printable Recipe ↓
Hungarian Cucumber Salad With Sour Cream
Ingredients
- 3 English cucumbers, peeled and sliced very thin
- ½ small yellow onion, sliced very thin
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
For the sour cream dressing:
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Hungarian sweet paprika, to taste
Instructions
- Peel cucumbers. Slice into very thin rounds, and slice onions thinly across the grain.
- Place cucumbers and onions in a large bowl, sprinkle with kosher salt, and toss to combine. Allow them to marinate for about 30 minutes.
- While the cucumbers set, prepare the sour cream dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, apple cider vinegar, water, salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste. Refrigerate dressing until ready to use.
- After about 30 minutes have passed, spoon the cucumber and onion mixture into a colander set in the kitchen sink to drain. Grab handfuls of it and squeeze as much water out as you can, placing each handful back in the mixing bowl after squeezing.
- Pour the sour cream dressing over the cucumber onion mixture. Using a fork, mix cucumbers and sour cream mixture vigorously until well-combined, frothy, and foamy. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Before serving, season cucumber salad with additional salt and pepper to taste. If desired, transfer the salad to a clean serving bowl. Sprinkle Hungarian sweet paprika over top. Serve well-chilled.
Recipe Notes
Featured Products
More Authentic Hungarian Recipes
If you like this cucumber salad recipe, you might also enjoy these other delicious Hungarian recipes:
- Hungarian Fried Cabbage and Noodles (Haluska)
- Hungarian Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad (Paradicsomsaláta)
- Hungarian Pork Paprikash (Sertés Paprikás)
Did you make this recipe?
I'd love to see how your sour cream cucumber salad turns out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
Wendy All says
This is similar to my Hungarian grandmother's recipe. She used to pride herself on how thin she could slice the cucumbers. I disagree with adding black pepper to the recipe, it can overwhelm the subtlety of the paprika.
I also remember my grandmother using a little fresh dill in the recipe, her family was from the more northern region of Hungary.
Christine says
I really just want to thank you. My mother made this salad when I was growing up and I always loved it. She passed 15 years ago, and for the life of me I couldn't remember this recipe. Thank you for sharing this.
Jim says
loved this recipe, but I added 2 good sized soup spoons of hellmans mayo, yummy!!
Nilufer says
We have an Indian version of this. We use lemon juice instead of vinager, yoghurt in place of sour cream, and finely chopped mint and cilantro. Ours is called "Raita" Then we sprinkle ground cumin. Similar idea, and super refreshing! I'll have to try yours now!
Sarah says
I would like to know if it could be made 3 days earlier since we are going to our Hungarian family reunion and would like to make it ahead of time?
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Sarah, I wouldn't recommend making it more than a day ahead of time. The cucumbers will still let off some water after it's made, which will cause the "sauce" to separate after some time goes by. It's a staple at our reunions!
mkmusicgal says
The first part of this recipe is exactly like my grandfather's recipe for cucumber salad; instead of mixing in sour cream, he added vinegar, oil, and sugar. I've made the sour cream version before without salting and squeezing. Will give it a try. Thanks!
LindaKyle says
I've made a similar Mix but with a Different Vinegar. I cant wait to Use Your Recipe with my Slightly Sweet *RICE WINE VINEGAR* - it's sounding Delicious!
Danielle Turner says
I love that you can make this with just a handful of ingredients. Sounds delicious!
Peboes says
Love the recipe! Been making it for years. Guess where I got the recipe???????
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not sure where it originated! I remember grandma and grandpa both making it, but I'm not sure which side of the family it came from...
Laura says
I have similar cucumber salad that I love but it doesn't have the creamy aspect. Gonna have too try this one.
Elke says
I add to mine Dillweed and then it's the German Version and so good also.
Tara @ Unsophisticook says
That sounds like a tasty variation — will have to try it!
Cindydickerson says
Your making me hungry! It looks so good.
Tiffany says
That sounds like a perfect springtime salad and a nice complement to other Easter dishes.
HoosierHomemade says
Looks yummy! Thanks for sharing Tara!
~Liz
mihla says
I've been making these for years, but never thought of squeezing out excess moisture. I always just sprinkled the cucumbers with salt and let them set for awhile, then pouring off the water. But, they always ended up too watery anyway.
Thanks for the tip!