Cucumber Recipes?

[sbde]

hi all,

my neighbor planted a vegetable patch earlier this year and has been kind enough to share the harvest with us

he dropped off quite a few cucumbers yesterday, and i''m at a loss about what to do with them. not sure what type of cucumbers they are, but i would like to use them now rather than pickle them for later use.

so lovely PSers, please share your favorite recipes that call for (a lot!) of cucumbers.

thank you!!

 

[Callisto]

I''m the odd ball in my family and hate cucumbers but they all LOVE them so they make lots of stuff. I don''t have the exact recipes right now but could probably get them if you think any of these sound interesting.

My favorites are the cucumber sandwiches (I take off the cucumber). Its little cocktail marble rye bread with a cream cheese mixture on top (im sure you could find soemthing similar if you searched cucumber sandwiches) a big slice of cucumber laid on top and sprinkled with dill seed. The cream cheese mixture is mixed with some seasoning packet and its slightly ranch or italian dressing like (but obviously MUCH thicker made with cream cheese but similar in flavor) this sounds right: cucumber sandwiches

She also makes refrigerator pickles. Not like full out fermented pickles but an easier version where she cuts up the cucumbers and puts them in a mixture of vinegar, onions, sugar and some spices. Something like this: pickles. But if you search refrigerator pickles theres lots of hits. They kind of taste like a hybrid of tastes halfway between a fresh cucumber and a full out pickle. I will even eat some of these even with my cucumber aversion.

Both really yummy options if you like cucumbers.

 

[Callisto]

Oh there also great appeitzers just as a veggie tray, get some carrots and cherry or grape tomatoes and whatever else you like and some ranch dressing and make a plate of it.

 

[VRBeauty]

Here''s one of my favorite cucumber recipes. It''s from Michael Thurmond''s 6 day body makeover book, and I''ll just quote it more or less verbatim and add my notes at the end.

2 Japanese cucumbers, peeled
1/2 cup rice vinegar
2 tsp. sugar substitute
Dash of fresh or dried ginger
Dash of red pepper flakes
1 tsp. sesame seeds
8 lettuce leaves

Slice the cucumbers paper-thin. Japanese cucumbers are the best, but regular can also be used; you may want to seed these.
Combine the vinegar, sugar substitute, ginger, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds in a bowl, mix in cucumber.
This tastes best when prepared and allowed to stand overnight in the refrigerator.
Serve on lettuce leaves. Makes two servings.

My notes -- This recipe couldn''t be easier or more refreshing. I use regular cucumbers, usually seeded but unpeeled. You can cut it paper thin or a little chunkier -- it won''t affect the flavor. I use real sugar -- 2 tsps. won''t kill you! I rarely have fresh ginger on hand, but I always use the red pepper flakes and sesame seeds. I NEVER bother with the lettuce leaves, it''s perfectly yummy without!

 

[Elmorton]

This is the ultimate favorite in my house in the summer - both of my grandmas used to make it when I was little:

Sliced Cucumber Salad

7 thin sliced cucumbers
1 cup sliced onions
2 c sugar (can use splenda, read directions for subbing)
1 c vinegar
1 TBS celery seed
T tsp salt

Boil vinegar, salt, celery seed, and sugar for 3 minutes. While hot, pour over cucumber and onion. Put in fridge overnight (or 4-8 hrs) before serving.

My recipe notes that it will keep for 1 mo, but I really don''t like it after about a week or so.



The other recipe is one I''ve been meaning to try but haven''t yet, found in this month''s Bon Apetit:

Watermelon Gazpacho w/ Herb Oil

Gazpacho -
1/4 c red onion
4 1/2 c seeded watermelon chunks
3 c seeded, chopped tomatoes (or 6 med)
juice from 1 lime
2 med cucumbers seeded
1/4 c evoo
3 TBS sherry or fruit vinegar
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp cayenne

Herb Oil -
1/2 c evoo
1/2 c chopped mint, chives, and parsley

Dice 1/2c total of onion, melon, cucumber and tomato for garnish. Set aside.

Place remaining onion, watermelon, tomatoes and cucumber in food processor with remaining ingredients. Process until smooth.

To prepare oil, chill oil at least 30 minutes. Add herbs and puree in blender until smooth.

To serve, place gazpacho in bowls and garnish with reserve melon mixture. Drizzle with oil, Will be oil leftover.

1 c= 200 cal, 16 fat cal, 3 fiber. Serves 7.

 

[monarch64]

I have a ton of cucumber/red onion marinated in rice vinegar/water and salt and pepper in my fridge. I''m actually kind of excited to go home and eat some. It''s hot outside!!! I don''t follow a recipe, I just throw in whatever.

 

[DiamanteBlu]

I love this stuff on a hot summer day! [Or with very spicy food]

Indian Cucumber Salad [Raita]

3 medium cucumbers
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried mint leaves

Peel cucumber, cut in half, discard seeds and thinly slice or dice.
Mix remaining ingredients together, add cucumbers and stir together.

 

[neatfreak]

There is a fabulous Japanese version of the cucumber salads that people are posting here that is yummy. Sounds similar to VR Beauty''s recipe. Yum!

 

[tlh]

I LOVE CUCUMBER SALADS, thanks for the recipes ladies!

 

[zoebartlett]

The only thing I can think of now is something my mom eats occasionally. She takes cream cheese (plain) and sprinkles in a little seasoned salt and then mixes them together. She slices up cucumbers and spreads the mixture on them. Sometimes she eats them like crackers and sometimes she makes cucumber sandwiches.

 

[sbde]

oh wow, thank you all for these amazing ideas! i was literally at a loss as to what to do with them beyond cutting them into a salad

callisto - those sandwiches sound yummy, i''m definitely going to try that recipe. thank you!

vrbeauty - thank you! such interesting flavors in that recipe, must go get the ingredients to try it out!

elmorton - watermelon is my absolute fave, it was literally all i could eat last summer during the first tri of my pregnancy. thank you for this recipe it sounds so good.

monarch64 - thanks! easy peasy ingredients i could probably whip this up right now

diamanteblu - how could i forget raita?! i love it over biryani rice and any other spicy indian dishes. thanks!

neatfreak - thanks, i agree vr''s recipe sounds so great.

zoebartlett - sounds easy enough - thank you, i''ll give it a try!

 

[VRBeauty]

Date: 8/14/2009 4:19:31 PM
Author: Elmorton

Gazpacho -

Oh my, I''ve forgotten all about gazpacho! How could I possibly forget about gazpacho??? I used to live on this stuff in the summer!

No watermelon in mine, just cukes, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lemon juice, spices, and a little tomato juice if needed. I''d sometimes add some canned garbanzo beans to "bulk it up," and amost always add chunks or slices of avocado for added contrast and yumminess.

Hmm... I think I have a lot of those ingredients in-house!

 

[jewelerman]

I love em chilled,sliced, and sprinkled with a little italian dressing and gruond pepper or dipped in ranch with a sprinkle of dill.