One week’s harvest in late August. From two plants. Zero exaggeration.
Apparently, if you turn your attention away from your small patch of garden in the heat of August, cucumbers will appear as if out of thin air. We’re not upset about this in the least. Cucumbers are portable, self contained healthful snacks easily transported to the beach or for a drive in the car. One whole cucumber simply rinsed under cool water passes as a vegetable side dish for lunch or dinner. And if you ascribe to anything in Ayurveda, you know that a bitter easily-overheated Pitta like me should consume at least one per day to simply cool off! So, we’re not sweating this big pile of cucumbers.
But in case you are suddenly finding yourself with more cukes than you know how to chill out with, this round up blog is for you. It’s a brainstorm of cucumber uses along with links to a few good recipes and resources. What are your favorite uses for cucumbers? What am I missing?
Chill out with your cucumbers:
Pickles: Here’s a quick refrigerator pickle recipe for radishes. For pickled cucumbers, use the same preparation and measurements. Swap any vinegar or spices you choose, and add dill or whole garlic cloves. Need more coaching? We offer a preserving class, and there is sure to be pickles involved.
Juice: Drink cucumber juice on its own or blend it with other fruits and veggies. Some of my favorite combinations:
Cucumber + watermelon + mint
Cucumber + kale + parsley + lemon
Cucumber + apple [+ginger]
Cocktails: Who are we kidding? You need a cocktail right about now, so after you juice those cucumbers, make yourself a Thai Chili Cucumber Vodka Lemonade.
Sichuan Smashed Cucumber Salad: You can attempt mimicking the dish from your favorite Sichuan restaurant or find many recipes for this online. I’m forever grateful to my Brooklyn Brainery colleague Diana Kuan for breaking the elusive dish down for me. Her version is in Red Hot Kitchen.
Banh Mi Sandwich toppers [or any sandwich topper]: Slice those cukes. Put on sandwich. Enough said. If you have a good Banh Mi recipe, I’m in the market.
Popsicles: We generally need a reminder that cucumbers are fruits too. Enter, popsicles. If you like recipes, the People’s Pops cookbook is my go to for seasonal ice pops!
Raita: This refreshing yogurt and cucumber condiment is studded with toasted cumin seeds and brightened with cilantro. It’s the perfect accompaniment for cooling your palate while enjoying fiery Indian curries.
Tzatziki: Not all that different from raita, tzatziki is a cucumber and yogurt condiment that also includes lemon juice, olive oil, dill and sometimes garlic.
Tartar Sauce: Freshly made with some minced up cukes, capers, a little vinegar (or the brine from those capers), all stirred into some mayonnaise.
Salad toppers: too obvious? I aim to be thorough.
Spa day any day: Just drop some cucumber slices in your water for a refreshing and truly rejuvenating experience. Or skip the digestive system and place directly on your eyelids while napping in a hammock.