22 Fresh Cucumber Recipes to Feast on All Summer (2024)

FAQs

How to make tastier cucumbers? ›

Cut the cucumber in quarters lengthwise, and then run your knife down the middle of the slice to remove the seeds. Your salad, dip, or veggie tray will be drier, crunchier, and tastier—and soon you'll never want to do it any other way.

"Cucumbers are loaded with minerals that aid in keeping you hydrated, but they also have a feature that interferes with the absorption of Vitamin C," says Tanya S. Kapoor, nutritionist, and dietitian, Wellness by Tanya. Therefore, most of the time, the combination of cucumber and tomato is advised to be avoided.

Cucumbers are often soaked in salt water to remove some of the naturally high water content. Cucumbers will otherwise give up water and dilute the salad dressing. Unpeeled cucumbers are higher in nutritional value as fiber and vitamin A are lost by peeling.

Even though cucumbers are prone to chilling injury, the fridge is still the best place to store them. At room temperature, cucumbers will only last for about two days. So, what's the solution? Store cucumbers in the warmest part of the fridge — towards the front, furthest from the cooling elements.

Yes, you can freeze cucumbers, but there's a catch. Frozen cucumbers will never have the same crisp snap as fresh cucumbers. Here's why. Cucumbers are about 95% water, so freezing and thawing will affect their cell structure, resulting in a mushy texture.

All that water in cucumbers can help keep you hydrated. Plus, the fiber boost they give you helps you stay regular and avoid constipation. The vitamin K helps blood clot and keep your bones healthy. Vitamin A has many jobs, like helping with vision, the immune system, and reproduction.

"Peeling of the skin may lead to loss of most of its nutrients and health benefits. So to maximise their nutritional benefits they should be consumed unpeeled." says Sandhya. If you are not removing the peel, wash the cucumber thoroughly with running water.

By crushing our cucumber before we cut it, we produce flavors that un-smashed cukes can't. When you crush the cells in a vegetable, as opposed to cutting cleanly through them, certain compounds get mixed together, which can result in a significantly different flavor.

The flavor of cooked cucumbers is best described as that of raw cucumbers … except, well, cooked. They're still mild and slightly sweet, but the biggest difference between the two is texture (no surprise). Cooking cucumbers will minimize their trademark crunch, but we promise that's not a bad thing.

Spices: Cucumbers pair well with spices such as black pepper, cumin, and coriander. Fruits: Cucumbers pair well with fruits such as tomatoes, watermelon, and berries. Meats: Cucumbers pair well with meats such as chicken, salmon, and tuna. Seafood: Cucumbers pair well with seafood such as shrimp, crab, and oysters.

What is the best thing to eat with cucumber? ›

Spices: Cucumbers pair well with spices such as black pepper, cumin, and coriander. Fruits: Cucumbers pair well with fruits such as tomatoes, watermelon, and berries. Meats: Cucumbers pair well with meats such as chicken, salmon, and tuna. Seafood: Cucumbers pair well with seafood such as shrimp, crab, and oysters.

One of the most common reasons why a cucumber is bitter is due to heat stress. If a plant is stressed due to heat, it may start producing bitter cucumbers.

Red onion – For savory bite. White wine vinegar – It gives the salad a delicious tangy kick. Rice vinegar works here too! Honey – Its sweetness balances the tangy vinegar.

Therefore, cutting off the end of a cucumber and stimulating the cut side draws out the cucurbitacin and cuts down on the bitterness. If you really hate bitter flavors, then you can also peel off the dark green skin. However, you'll lose a lot of the veggie's key nutrients.