Stephanie's Once Only Recipe: Cucumber salad variations

Cukes and onions

This is a lovely, fresh summer salad. Not heavy, very refreshing. It probably won't be enough on its own, so make it a side dish that goes with anything. The secret is in the thin slices and keeping everything cold - and the proportions of spices; you can add almost any kind of herbs and spices, some ideas: mustard seeds, dill seeds or leaves, you name it. Below are a couple more ideas in detail. This will provide between 6 to 8 servings. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 medium cucumbers, washed and pared

2 tsp salt

3 tbsp vinegar

3 tbsp water

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 garlic clove, minced

1/4 tsp paprika

Preparation

1. Slice cukes thinly into bowls

2. Sprinkle salt over cuke slices

3. Mix lightly and set aside for 1 hour

4. Meanwhile, mix vinegar, water, sugar, 1/4 tsp paprika, pepper and garlic together, set aside.

5.After the hour, squeeze liquid from cukes (discard), and place in a bowl. Pour vinegar mixture over cukes and toss lightly. Sprinkle the other 1/4 paprika onto the cucumber.

6. Chill the salad in fridge for 1 to 2 hours.

For something a little more substantive try:

Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream

Follow recipe above but blend in 1 cup sour cream after the vinegar mixture.

Cucumber salad with Onions

Follow recipe for basic salad as above. Omit garlic. Prepare 3 or 4 green onions or scallions: cut off roots and trim green tops down to 2 or three inches; remove bruised parts; peel and rinse. Slice onions thinly; add to cucumber slices before adding vinegar mixture.