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Swedish Cucumber Salad (Pressgurka)

January 7, 2021 By Darlene at International Cuisine

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a plateful of thinly sliced pickled cucumbers called pressgurka in Sweden.

Swedish cucumber salad called pressgurka is a must-have side dish alongside Swedish Meatballs.  This easy to make little side dish adds a sweet and sour balance to the plate that is perfect.  The cucumbers are thinly sliced on a mandolin which is perfect for this task.  In Swedish, gurka means cucumber and press means to press or squeeze. 

a plateful of thinly sliced pickled cucumbers called pressgurka in Sweden.

After you slice and press the cucumbers to remove the excess liquid, you put them in a sweet and sour mixture. By pressing the cucumbers, you remove excess liquid in the cucumber that then better absorbs the flavors of the pickling juice and is a crispier bite.  In Sweden, they use a much more potent vinegar called Attika.   You can get the more potent vinegar on-line here.  Typically, white vinegar in the states is only 5% whereas the attika pickling vinegar is 24% adding much more acidity. 

This Swedish cucumber salad is a crisp and refreshing bite that would be wonderful as a side dish for just about any meal. Recipes differ with what seasonings are added to the pickling juice.  The common choices are parsley, caraway seeds, dill, and white peppercorns.  I used caraway seeds, and parsley,  it was lovely.

Make sure to plan ahead as you will need at least an hour for the cucumbers to sit in the pickling solution before serving.

Did you know that the capital of Sweden, Stockholm is often referred to as “the Venice of the North”?  This is because the city is built around water with 12 islands and 42 bridges.  Some say it is the most beautiful capital city in the world!

If you would like to learn more about this intriguing nation, be sure to check out “Our Journey to Sweden”.  There you can also find more authentic recipes like toast skagen, swedish meatballs and the best gooey chocolate cake called kladdkaka that I have ever had.

Craving even more?  Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world, so you don’t miss a thing,  it’s free,  You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook ,  Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.

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a plateful of thinly sliced pickled cucumbers called pressgurka in Sweden.
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5 from 1 vote

Swedish Cucumber Salad

A delcious sweet and sour salad that is always served with their famous meatballs
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Swedish
Prep Time 10 minutes
pickling time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 48kcal
Author Darlene at International Cuisine

Ingredients

  • 1 large cucumber
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 Tbsp vinegar white
  • 3 Tbsp Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp parsley chopped
  • 1 tsp caraway seeds optional
  • 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Wash and slice the cucumber as thinly as you can or use a mandolin
  • Put the cucumber slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt and place a plate with something heavy on it to press the cucumbers. Let sit for about 10 minutes.
  • While the cucumbers are sitting you can whip up the pickling sauce.
  • In a sauce pan put all the remaining ingredients except the parsley into the pan and warm up until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from stove and stir in the parsley.
  • Squeeze or press out any excess liquid from the cucumbers and put the cucumbers in a shallow dish or jar.
  • Pour over the pickling sauce and put in refrigerator for at least one hour before serving
  • These will last several days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 48kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 585mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

 

 

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Filed Under: Recipes, Salad, Side Dish, Sweden, Vegetarian

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I am cooking a meal from every country in the world. I do extensive research and choose a menu that I feel best represents the country and their cuisine. Of course that also includes the authentic, delicious recipes. Simply click on the link or the photo in the journey by country posts to get them. I also share important information about the country as well.

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