Pickled Cucumber Salad

Serves 8

When the cucumber harvest begins, I make a large container of this salad and keep it going all summer, replenishing with new cucumbers as needed, just like my mother always did. My grandmother used to can them to enjoy all year long. This side dish recipe goes with almost any meal and is used often as one of the Pennsylvania Dutch 'sweets and sours' at large family dinners. The dressing is the same recipe used for many sweet and sour dishes, some of which are in the similar and related recipes. I enjoy adding a few slices to tomato sandwiches in place of the usual lettuce. For a tasty variation made with sour cream, see the Creamy Cucumber Salad, also in the similar and related recipes.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup water
• 4 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced (see notes below)
• 2 small onions, thinly sliced

Mix together sugar, salt, vinegar and water until sugar is dissolved. Pour over cucumbers and onions and refrigerate for several hours, preferably overnight.

Notes: Cucumbers that are not waxed do need to be peeled. Use fresh, local cucumbers during the growing season and English or Kirby (pickling) cucumbers any time of year. The cucumbers and onions should be completely covered with dressing. The dressing can be doubled or made in any amount needed. Cucumbers with dressing will keep in refrigerator for three weeks. Dressing can be reused for another batch, adding more vinegar or salt as needed.