'Shaking Cucumbers' - Simple Homemade Pickles
- Eric & Ines
- Aug 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Oma's traditional Eastern-German 'Schüttelgurke' recipe
August reveals whether it's been a successful cucumber season or not. At times, cucumbers can be quite finicky. However, when they flourish, they truly excel! Often, you find yourself with an abundance of cucumbers all at once. While cucumbers can't be frozen, there are numerous methods to cook and preserve them.
There's a fantastic German dish known as 'Schmorgurke', which is essentially braised cucumber. It's delicious with fresh dill and potatoes! We'll surely share this recipe in another post.
What do you think of when it comes to preserving cucumbers? Naturally, pickles!
Making pickles can often seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Over the years, we've made various types of pickles. Today, we want to share our absolute favorite recipe: 'Schüttelgurke', which literally translates to 'Shaking Cucumbers' :-)
These pickles are incredibly simple to prepare, and you can begin enjoying them the very same day. There's no need to worry about them spoiling since they are stored in the fridge. Ines' grandmothers used to make them annually, and they were a common preserve in Eastern Germany (formerly DDR).
All you need are some glass jars, cucumbers, onions, spices, vinegar, salt and sugar - and then you shake!!!
Ingredients for 1 big jar:
2 medium sized cucumbers
1 onion
1 tbsp salt
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp black pepper corns
1 tsp mustard seeds
3 twigs of dill
12 tbsp of 5% vinegar (approx. 125ml)
Directions:
Wash and cut cucumbers lengthwise. Now cut them into 1cm thick slices.
Peel and cut the onion into half. Cut these into slices.
Wash the dill twigs. Use the whole plant: leaves, flowers, stems, seeds
Layer cucumbers, onions and dill into the jar.
Add the pepper corns and mustard seeds as well as the sugar and the salt.
Top off with the vinegar.
Now shake the jar very well to move the spices around. Store in the fridge. During the first day, shake the jar every time you open the fridge to emulsify all the cucumbers. If you made your pickles in the morning, you'll be ready to start eating them for dinner!
These pickles last in the fridge for a couple of weeks (we had jars that lasted even over one year!). Enjoy!
This recipe is so simple and fun to make with your kids. The process of creating pickles together can be a delightful bonding experience, filled with laughter and learning. Not only do you get to enjoy the delicious results, but you also have the opportunity to teach your children about the ingredients and the importance of preserving food. There’s no need to wait for fermentation either! This means you can enjoy your crunchy, tangy pickles almost immediately after preparation, which is perfect for those warm summer days when you want a refreshing snack.
Now, what do you think? Will you attempt making pickles this summer? It could be the start of a wonderful family tradition, where each year you try different flavors and varieties, experimenting with spices and vegetables. Imagine the joy of biting into a crisp pickle that you made together, knowing that it was a fun project filled with creativity and teamwork.
Comments