Swiss Cucumber Salad

This easy Swiss cucumber salad is a refreshing side dish for almost any main course. The yoghurt dressing adds a touch of acid which cuts through the richness of creamy or fried dishes. I love it with Swiss cheese tarts (Chäschueche). A good natural pot-set yoghurt, like the buffalo milk one from Vannella Cheese, makes all the difference to this simple dish. If you prefer, replace the yoghurt with a couple of teaspoons of agrodolce white wine vinegar for a delicious quick pickle (see video below). This cucumber salad is so tasty that I have been known to eat it for lunch with just some toasted sourdough, in which case a glass of Australian sauvignon blanc is a great accompaniment. I especially enjoy the one from Zema Estate in Coonawarra – it’s quite full-bodied with lots of tropical fruit and a good zesty citrus finish to balance the yoghurt dressing.

Serves 2–4 as a side dish

Ingredients

2 Lebanese cucumbers
2 teaspoons salt flakes
2 tablespoons thick natural yoghurt (40ml)
Freshly ground white pepper, to taste

Method

Peel alternate strips of skin off the cucumber to give a striped effect.
Slice it finely using a Japanese mandolin.
Place in a colander and toss with the salt; set aside for about 10 minutes.
Squeeze quite firmly to remove excess moisture without crushing the cucumber.
Toss with yoghurt, cover and refrigerate until needed.
Serve your Swiss cucumber salad with a sprinkling of white pepper.

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Quick Cucumber Pickle

Cucumber Salad FAQ

Why do you salt cucumber before making salad?

Salting draws out excess moisture from the cucumber, which would otherwise dilute the dressing and make the salad watery. After salting, squeeze the cucumber firmly to remove as much liquid as possible before tossing with the dressing.

Can you make cucumber salad ahead of time?

Especially if the cucumber has been salted, cucumber salad is a great do-ahead dish. This Swiss cucumber salad keeps well for days in the fridge, making it a great recipe to prepare ahead of time and keep on hand.

What is the difference between Swiss cucumber salad and regular cucumber salad?

Most cucumber salads use a vinegar-based dressing. This Swiss cucumber salad uses thick natural yoghurt, which gives a creamy texture with a gentle tang. For a quick pickle version, replace the yoghurt with a couple of teaspoons of white wine vinegar.

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