Exquisite Travel Adventures Worldwide LTD

Austria has given the world Mozart, Freud, and the Gurkensalat. Of these contributions, the Gurkensalat requires the least explanation and the fewest ingredients. It is sliced cucumbers dressed with vinegar. It appears alongside schnitzel, beside dumplings, on every table of consequence in Vienna. It is, in the end, a cucumber salad. And it is enough.

Ingredients

• 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons sour cream or neutral oil
• Fresh dill, chopped (optional)

Method

Slice the cucumber as thinly as possible — a mandoline is ideal. Toss with the salt and let sit for 15 minutes to draw out excess water. Squeeze gently or pat dry. Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, and sour cream or oil. Toss with the cucumber slices. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add dill if using. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Thin slices. Good vinegar. That is all that stands between you and Austria.