Berliner Schmorgurken

Berliner schmorgurken is a traditional dish originating from Berlin. The dish is usually made with a combination of cucumbers, white wine vinegar, bacon, shallots, sour cream, dill, sugar, salt, and pepper. The cucumbers are peeled, cut in half lengthwise, and the seeds are removed. They're cut into pieces and tossed with sugar, salt, pepper, and vinegar, and then left to stand for an hour. The bacon and shallots are sautéed over medium heat, and the drained cucumbers are added to the pan. The mixture is covered with water and simmered over low heat. Sour cream is stirred in when the pan is removed from the heat, and the dish is then reheated, but not boiled. Before serving, schmorgurken are seasoned with salt and pepper and sprinkled with finely chopped fresh dill.