Cucumbers in the Kitchen

Cucumbers (aka cukes) are a wonderfully refreshing low-carb “vegetable” and an obvious choice for inclusion in salads—whether on their own as in my Simple Cucumber Salad recipe (topped with a dressing of green onions, cilantro, lemon juice, and olive oil), in a classic cucumber and tomato salad, or mixed with other fruits and veggies in a Mediterranean-style Greek salad with classically consisting of tomatoes, red onion, green bell peppers, olives, feta, and a red wine vinegar vinaigrette. Or why not try a creamy cucumber salad made with sour cream, Greek yogurt, or mayo and a splash of apple cider vinegar for tang? Not a fan of salads? No worries—there are plenty of other delicious ways to enjoy cucumbers!

Cucumber slices are a wonderful addition to appetizer platters and make a great vehicle for dips and spreads like tahini or hummus. (You can even turn them into little boats for the kiddos!) They are also a great portable snack and an ideal way to boost your daily serving of veggies.  Peel them lengthwise with a mandolin slicer and use them as wraps, or spiralize into cucumber noodles.  You can add them to salsas, dips (like in tzatziki or guacamole) and smoothies or cucumber soups—they are great in gazpacho!  You can even stuff them as in my Asian-Inspired Stuffed Cucumber recipe.  If you’re looking for an alternative, simple way to prepare cucumbers, try sautéing them for a simple summer-time side dish.  Cucumber and avocado sushi rolls are also delicious as are cucumber sandwiches, whether you have them with tea or on their own!

Another favorite of mine is cacik (pronounced “JAH-Jik”), which is a traditional Turkish cucumber yogurt dish made with plain yogurt, cucumber and mint.  It can come in a variety of consistencies, from thick and dip-like to thinned to soup consistency.  It is sometimes made with large pieces of cucumber and served like a salad and sometimes made with finely diced or pureed cucumber and served like a dip or soup.  I love it as a side salad! Cucumber raita is a popular condiment or side dish in Indian cuisine made of cucumbers, yogurt, and cumin. Cucumber is also a popular ingredient in Korean kimchi. Another Korean favorite is oi muchim—a spicy cucumber salad prepared from English cucumbers, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds as the main ingredients. Let’s just say cucumbers are popular all around the world!

Cucumber-infused water is also refreshing and a great way to use up cucumbers that may have lost some of their crunch.  And, the added flavor might just be the incentive you need to up your water intake. And if you want to make it look extra fancy try using cucumber ribbons, created with a vegetable peeler or mandolin slicer, as garnish!

When it comes down to it, there are just so many ways to enjoy fresh cucumbers when they are in season but please, don’t forget about pickled cucumbers which are a delicious snack any time of the year—plus naturally fermented pickles are a boon for gut health!