Nana's Cucumbers with Sour Cream ♥

Saturday, June 4, 2005

Today's old-fashioned recipe: Cucumbers sliced thin, salted, then tossed with sour cream and fresh chives. Low carb. Weight Watchers 2 points.

~ recipe updated 2008 ~

This is a reprise of Nana's Cucumbers, the classic summer dish of sliced cucumbers in sour cream. Back on Day 45 I made them with non-fat yogurt, a health- and calorie-conscious choice -- and they were good, decent, in fact.

With sour cream on hand and the chive needing a good clip, tonight was the night for the real thing, cucumbers with real sour cream. And oh my -- ever ever so good, so simple, so simply perfect on a hot summer night.

Surprise: For an easy, unusual appetizer, place a slice or two of sour cream-drenched cucumber on a bit of bread with butter or goat cheese. Even after dessert tonight, this is what people wanted 'just one more, please'.

VEGETABLE RECIPES from the ARCHIVES
~ more cucumber recipes ~
~ more family recipes ~
~ more vegetables with sour cream, all worth the calories! ~

NANA's CUCUMBERS with SOUR CREAM

Active time: 10 minutes
Time to table: Just over an hour
Serves 4

1 English cucumber, tips sliced off
1 tablespoon sea salt or kosher salt

1/2 cup sour cream
Generous bunch of fresh chive, snipped with scissors (See ALANNA's TIPS)
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt & pepper to taste

Slice the cucumber in thin rounds. Combine with salt and let rest for an hour in a colander. Rinse well in water and let drain. Combine with remaining ingredients and serve.

NUTRITION ESTIMATE
Made with non-fat yogurt, Per Serving: 25 Cal (3% from Fat, 24% from Protein, 73% from Carb); 2 g Protein; 0 g Tot Fat; 0 g Sat Fat; 5 g Carb; 0 g Fiber; NetCarb5; 13 mg Calcium; 0 mg Iron; 19 mg Sodium; 1 mg Cholesterol, Weight Watchers 0 points

Made with sour cream, Per Serving: 75 Cal (70% from Fat, 7% from Protein, 23% from Carb); 1 g Protein; 6 g Tot Fat; 4 g Sat Fat; 5 g Carb; 0 g Fiber; NetCarb5; 47 mg Calcium; 0 mg Iron; 17 mg Sodium; 13 mg Cholesterol, Weight Watchers 2 points and worth it!

KITCHEN NOTES

Green onion might work as a substitute for fresh chive.

If the cucumber is thick at one end, consider cutting just the end in halves or even quarters before slicing thin.

I am much-attached to a 2007 acquisition, a Japanese mandoline, a device that makes creating thin, perfect slices a breeze.

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Comments:

Danielle on June 02, 2007

Psst. I made this, and my grandmother's very different cucumber salad, too. The post is here.

Anonymous on June 19, 2007

Why not just use Greek Yogurt (full fat) instead? I do that all the time--it's like a chunkier tzatziki--and serve it on it's own or with grilled salmon. Less fat than sour cream, better tasting than no fat, and acidophilous to boot.

Alanna on June 19, 2007

Greek yogurt would be great (not sure I'd discovered it yet when making this in 2005) though of course then it wouldn't be "Nana's Cucumbers". Thanks for visiting and the suggestion!

Anonymous on November 13, 2007

fresh or even dried dill weed is great with this also.

Anonymous on November 25, 2007

I grew up with my mom teaching me her german russian version, which included cream, vinegar, salt, and pepper. I love chives though, and think that they would be great in a cucumber salad. Can't wait to try it!

Alanna on November 25, 2007

Hi Anonymous ~ What a treat, your message. Nana's parents were German Russians ... not so many know about that group of people!

Anonymous on December 03, 2007

I make this salad also,,it was my nana's,,she was german russian,,,we make it a little different,,we soak the cucumbers overnight and then squeeze them out in the morning by hand then add onions, tbspn vinegar, sour cream and pepper,,,we love it,,,thank you for posting it,,nice to know others make it as well.