Cucumber Salad

I have been trying to duplicate the S&S Cafeteria's cucumber salad. I ain't been successful. I have been thin sliceing cucumbers, slicing onions and adding a touch of ranch dressing, but it ain't close. Any ideas from the culinary experts from the roadfood gang?


Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

After you slice them, soak them in cold salted water for about an hour. Then grab a handful and squeeze all the moisture out and proceed with the dressing.

That Dressing should be plain yorgurt, and a scant amount of sour cream
http://www.recipesource.com/ethnic/europe/greek/cucumber-salad.html

Thanks to the above. I am cooking for three mothers this Sunday and cucumber sald is on the menu.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

We pull ours from the garden, slice thin and just soak them in rice wine vinegar for an hour. Instant pickle.

quote:

Originally posted by RubyRose

After you slice them, soak them in cold salted water for about an hour. Then grab a handful and squeeze all the moisture out and proceed with the dressing.

This is the way I remember my mother making both styles of her cucumber salad -- vinegar and creamy. It really enhances the crispness and flavor.

I've done the sour cream and plain yogurt also with the addition of garlic powder. I make sure the onions are very very thinly sliced.
I don't do anything special with the cukes and try to remember that they do give off moisture, so, when I add the sour cream and yogurt, I don't add too much and keep them kind of "dry' at the beginning.

Sundancer, my dad used to make cucumber salad. I don't know if this is the same one as S&S, but we loved it. He was from New York...maybe that has something to do with the way he made it. Lots of salt and pepper, sour cream, sliced cucumbers, sliced radishes, lots of green onion.....it is yummy.

Anybody have any thoughts on a Thai version of a cucumber salad? I tried making one this evening and it did not come out as I expected, it was more heat then sweet.

Also does anybody have any good recipes for Nam Sod? I have been scouring the internet and haven't come up with a respectable version.

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by mousec

Anybody have any thoughts on a Thai version of a cucumber salad? I tried making one this evening and it did not come out as I expected, it was more heat then sweet.

Also does anybody have any good recipes for Nam Sod? I have been scouring the internet and haven't come up with a respectable version.

This one looks pretty good, and the show is going to be repeated on September 10th. I'd leave out the mint leaves, though:

http://www.turnersouth.com/network/shows/home-plate/recipes/article/0,,4602,00.html

quote:

http://www.turnersouth.com/network/shows/home-plate/recipes/article/0,,4602,00.html

That recipe is very similar to mine but in the interest of a little healthy eating we substitute ground turkey for the pork. The other flavors are substantial enough the taste difference is minimal. Not to mention frozen ground turkey is less than 75¢/lb.

I've never had or heard of S&S pickle salad. Though I'd like to share what our family and relatives have as a standard dish during all our dinners. Pretty simple actually, just peel a cucumber or two (Slice them up), add a couple (or more as needed) tablespoons of sour cream and some fresh dill to the mix. Stir well and let it set in the fridge for a couple hours. Extremely refreshing and goes real quick! It's an extremely popular dish in Latvian cooking, and Americans never have complained!

Just yesterday we had cucumber salad made with plain yogurt, minced garlic and fresh from the garden dill; nothing finer but I'm all ears.