Mizeria (Polish Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream and Dill)
In short: Paper-thin cucumbers dressed in sour cream, lemon and fresh dill, the cool, creamy Polish summer salad served beside cutlets and new potatoes. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 120 kcal
Mizeria is the cucumber salad Poles eat all summer, usually next to a breaded cutlet and boiled new potatoes. The cucumbers are sliced paper-thin and folded into sour cream with lemon, a little sugar and plenty of dill. It takes ten minutes, tastes cool and clean, and the creamy dressing that collects at the bottom of the bowl is meant to be spooned over the potatoes.
Instructions
- Peel the cucumbers, or leave a few lengthwise stripes of skin for color. Slice them as thinly as you can, about 2 mm (1/16 in) thick, with a mandoline or a sharp knife.
- Toss the slices with 1 tsp of the salt in a colander and leave them for 10 minutes. Gently squeeze out the liquid with your hands, without crushing the slices.
- In a large bowl, whisk the sour cream with the lemon juice, sugar, the remaining salt, the white pepper and the garlic, if using, until smooth.
- Fold the cucumbers and dill into the dressing. Taste and adjust the salt, lemon and sugar. Chill for 10 to 15 minutes and serve cold the same day.
Tips
- A mandoline gives even, paper-thin slices that soak up the dressing and stay crisp. Thick slices taste watery.
- Dress the salad shortly before serving. After an hour the cucumbers release more water and thin the dressing, though the leftover liquid is good over potatoes.
Questions and answers
What do you serve mizeria with?
Boiled new potatoes with dill, breaded cutlets, grilled meat and fried fish are all common. The salad's cool creaminess balances rich and fried food.
Can I use yogurt instead of sour cream?
Yes. Thick plain yogurt makes a lighter, tangier salad. If it is very thick, thin it with a tablespoon of cold water.
Do I need to salt the cucumbers?
Not strictly. Salting and squeezing gives a thicker dressing. Skipping it makes a looser, more watery salad, which some Poles prefer for spooning over potatoes.
How long does it take to make Mizeria (Polish Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream and Dill)?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mizeria (Polish Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream and Dill)?
About 120 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 120 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
