The “Simple Goodness” Salad: The Best-Ever Amish Cucumbers and Onions!

Isn’t there a special kind of magic in those simple, old-fashioned recipes that have been passed down through generations? They are the ones that use just a handful of humble, honest ingredients to create something truly extraordinary. It is a taste of a simpler, more delicious time.

This beautiful Amish Cucumber and Onion Salad is the very definition of that simple perfection. It’s a classic refrigerator pickle, with crisp cucumbers and sweet onions swimming in a beautiful, crystal-clear, sweet and sour brine. Every single bite is a perfect and refreshing balance of tangy, sweet, and crisp.

Today, we are stepping into that world of timeless, homestyle cooking with this beloved recipe. This is a dish that is not only incredibly easy to make but also a fantastic way to preserve the fresh taste of summer produce. Get ready to discover a new family favorite that is steeped in beautiful tradition.

The Ultimate “Sweet & Sour” Treat: Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad

This Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad is a perfect example of balanced, simple flavors. The dressing is a brilliant combination of tangy vinegar and sweet sugar, creating a brine that is completely and utterly addictive. It’s a classic recipe that has been loved for generations for its irresistible taste and refreshing crunch.

A Perfect Easy Refrigerator Pickle for Simple Side Dish Recipes

You will find that this is the perfect easy refrigerator pickle. It requires no complicated canning equipment and comes together with just a few minutes of active prep time. This is also one of the absolute best simple side dish recipes, as it is a light and tangy accompaniment that pairs beautifully with a huge variety of main courses.

Your Guide: How to Make a Clear Sweet and Sour Pickle Brine

For anyone wondering how to make a clear sweet and sour pickle brine, the simple secret is to use a standard white vinegar and regular white granulated sugar. You will want to gently heat your vinegar, water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan just until the sugar and salt have completely dissolved. You do not need to bring the mixture to a rolling boil, which helps to keep the resulting brine beautifully crystal-clear and perfect for showcasing your crisp vegetables.

Why You’ll Love These Amish Cucumbers and Onions

You are going to love this recipe because it has an incredibly refreshing, crisp, and addictive sweet and sour flavor that is the perfect side dish for so many meals. You’ll also adore how unbelievably easy it is to make with just a handful of simple, budget-friendly ingredients. Plus, it’s a wonderful make-ahead side dish that lasts for weeks in the refrigerator, getting even more delicious over time.

Nutritional Benefits

This beautiful and simple salad is a wonderfully light and hydrating side dish. Cucumbers are composed of over 95% water and are a great source of vitamins like K and C. By making your own simple dressing from scratch at home, you also completely avoid the high-fructose corn syrup and preservatives that are often found in many store-bought, bottled dressings.

Full Recipe

Are you ready to create the most refreshing and delicious side dish that will transport you right back to a simpler time? This detailed guide will walk you through the unbelievably simple process for creating this classic and flavour-packed cucumber salad. Get ready to master a new go-to recipe that will be the star of all your summer meals.

Explore the simple, profound flavors of Amish country with this sweet and sour cucumber and onion salad. This beloved refrigerator pickle dish is known for its distinctively sweet yet tangy clear dressing. This is an irresistible and simple recipe.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Marinating Time: 4 hours (minimum) | Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes | Yield: 6-8 servings | Category: Side Dish, Salad | Method: Marinating, No-Cook | Cuisine: American, Amish | Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free

Essential Ingredients for Amish Cucumbers and Onions

This classic and refreshing side dish comes together with just a handful of simple pantry staples.

• Cucumbers: 2 large cucumbers, thinly sliced
• Onion: 1 large sweet onion (like Vidalia), thinly sliced
• For the Sweet and Sour Brine:
  • 1 cup of white vinegar
  • ½ cup of water
  • ¾ cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of salt
• Spices: 1 teaspoon of celery seeds

Ingredients Notes

A little more detail on our key ingredients will ensure your cucumber salad is a spectacular success.

• The Cucumbers: For the best, most crisp result, it is highly recommended to use a firm, crisp variety of cucumber like a Kirby or a pickling cucumber. Their thin skin means that you do not need to peel them, and they have a wonderful, satisfying crunch that holds up well in the brine.
• The Onion: A sweet onion, such as a Vidalia or a Walla Walla, is the classic and perfect choice for this Amish-style salad. Their natural sweetness and lower sulfur content provide a wonderful, mild onion flavor that does not overpower the dish. The key to both is to slice the onion as thinly as you possibly can.
• The Vinegar: A simple, distilled white vinegar is the classic and most traditional choice for this old-fashioned recipe. It provides a clean, sharp, and tangy flavor that is the perfect base for our crystal-clear marinade.
• The Celery Seeds: This is a classic, old-fashioned ingredient that is a secret to an authentic Amish-style pickle or marinade. The celery seeds add a wonderfully unique, slightly savory, and almost celery-like flavor note that is absolutely delicious and distinctive in this salad.

How to Make a Sweet and Sour Refrigerator Dish

Let’s walk through the incredibly simple steps to create this perfect, refreshing side salad.

• Step 1: Prepare the Cucumbers and Onions. Wash your cucumbers well. Using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer, slice your cucumbers and your onion as thinly as you possibly can. Place the sliced cucumbers and onions in a large, non-reactive bowl (like glass or stainless steel).
• Step 2: Create the Sweet and Sour Brine. In a separate medium saucepan, combine the white vinegar, the water, the granulated sugar, the salt, and the celery seeds.
• Step 3: Dissolve the Sugar. Heat the brine mixture over a medium heat, whisking until the sugar and the salt have completely dissolved into the liquid. Remove the pan from the heat and let the brine cool slightly.
• Step 4: Combine and Marinate. Pour the prepared vinegar brine all over the sliced cucumbers and onions in the large bowl.
• Step 5: Chill to Perfection. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to marinate for at least four hours before serving. This crucial step allows the vegetables to absorb the delicious tangy flavor of the dressing and become perfectly crisp-tender.

Storage Options

This classic marinated cucumber salad stores beautifully and, in fact, gets even better with time. You can store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The cucumbers will soften slightly as they continue to marinate, but they will still be incredibly delicious and flavour-packed.

Variations and Substitutions

This incredibly simple recipe is a perfect blank canvas for your own creative additions. You can easily substitute the sweet onion with a red onion for a beautiful pop of purple color. For a bit of a spicy kick, feel free to add a generous pinch of red pepper flakes to your brine. You can also add other fresh, crunchy vegetables to the salad, such as some thinly sliced bell peppers or radishes.

Practical & Valuable Tips

For the absolute best texture, it is highly recommended to use a mandoline slicer to get your cucumbers and onions paper-thin and perfectly uniform. The most important tip for this recipe is to allow the salad to marinate in the refrigerator for at least four full hours, or ideally even longer; this is the key to a truly flavour-packed result. Finally, be sure to give the salad a good stir right before you serve it to redistribute all the delicious brine and seasonings.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to salt and drain the cucumbers first? For this specific marinated style of salad, it is not necessary to salt and drain the cucumbers beforehand. The simple vinegar and salt brine will gently draw out some of the moisture from the cucumbers as they sit, creating a delicious and perfectly balanced final dish.
2. Can I use a different kind of vinegar? Yes, you can. While distilled white vinegar provides the most classic, old-fashioned flavor, this salad would also be fantastic with a slightly sweeter apple cider vinegar or a milder rice wine vinegar.
3. How long does this cucumber salad last in the refrigerator? This is a fantastic make-ahead side dish. When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it will stay fresh and delicious for up to two weeks. The flavor will actually get even better after a day or two.
4. Can I use a sugar substitute to make this recipe sugar-free? Yes, you can certainly experiment with a granulated, cup-for-cup sugar substitute that dissolves well in liquid to make this a sugar-free side dish.
5. What are the best meals to serve with this cucumber salad? This refreshing salad is the perfect accompaniment to a huge variety of rich, savory, or heavy meals. It is fantastic with classic barbecue dishes like pulled pork or ribs, with fried chicken, or alongside a hearty meatloaf. It is also a wonderful and classic side dish for a simple potluck or a summer picnic.

Conclusion

This Amish Cucumbers and Onions salad is the ultimate side dish for a refreshing and delicious bite. It’s a recipe that takes simple, humble ingredients and transforms them into a tangy, crisp, and incredibly satisfying accompaniment to any meal. It is a foolproof, timeless recipe that is guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face and become a staple in your home. This is a true taste of Southern hospitality. If you love this easy and nostalgic recipe, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite side dish board on Pinterest!