Cucumber recipes

claireychn074

I need recipes for cucumbers! I really like them, and will happily munch them as a snack or in tzatziki, but I’m being overrun from the plants in my greenhouse. I’ve taken to fly- tipping the neighbours in the evening when they can’t say no, but they’re now doing the same to me with courgettes. I’m getting about 5 a day from two plants... give me your recipes please!

SuzySunshine99

Have you ever made pickles? My sister gets overrun with cucumbers, so she makes a variety of pickles and distributes the jars to friends and family. She makes dill, garlic, and spicy pickles that last for years.

tinkerbellang83

Brining is a handy way to deal with them, as they will keep for ages.

I like to do mine in a salty brine (around 3-4 tbsp salt to 500ml water) couple of garlic cloves, mustard seeds and a couple of bay leaves and they are good to go in about 4 days.

Also nice in water/cocktails/smoothies and good for making facemasks (blend with some yoghurt) and body scrub (blend and mix with sugar and a little coconut oil)

PKM0515

I wish I lived near you! I love cucumbers and tend to run out of them.

Greek salad (cucumber, tomato, feta, kalamata olives). You can also stuff it in a pita or naan and/or replace the feta with Greek yogurt.
Cucumber sandwich (I'm thinking pumpernickel, cream cheese, and cucumbers; but lots of possibilities).
Slice thin and add to a regular sandwich or a vegetable sandwich.
Cucumber and dill salad. (I made this once; will see if I can find the recipe.)

Not the salad I made, but similar:
https://www.lemontreedwelling.com/creamy-cucumber-salad/

claireychn074

Right, I am going on a pickling spree this weekend and I’m also going to try the body scrub! Thanks for the ideas ☺️

whoami67

https://www.budgetbytes.com/tag/cucumber/

There's a link to 27 recipes that use cucumber.

Everything from Cucumber and Black Bean Salad to Bibimbap to Summer Gazpacho

wilson10102018

Cold soup is the way I like them. Peel, remove seeds, and make three textures: thin sliced 1/3, finely chopped 1/3, and pureed 1/3. Add as much finely chopped fresh garlic as your GI tract can handle, salt and pepper, vegetable broth (canned) and Better than Bullion Vegetable Base. All to taste. Marinate over night in the fridge.

Garnish with chopped parsley or fresh dill. A little quirt of Balsamic vinegar if you like it.

fitnessinmy30s

Has anyone said salad yet??? Because ummm they go just spectacularly in a delicious salad!!!!

Terytha

I hear this is good: https://youtu.be/0MpL1KfYEJg

But seriously, cucumbers in salad is the best, and so are home made pickles.

kshama2001

My mother gives to a neighbor to bring to an assisted living center

ReenieHJ

Any pickle recipes for 'lazy don't really like to be in the kitchen except to eat' people? DH kinda asked about me making pickles but then my eyes glazed over, telling him(what little I know) about hot water baths and brines, thinking he'd let it go. But he's still harping on it.

acpgee

If you get tired of salads and pickles, the Chinese stir fry cucumbers.
https://www.seriouseats.com/2015/05/how-to-stir-fry-cucumbers.html

Cucumber granita is something you make and keep in the freezer. Here is a savoury version for spooning over oysters or other seafood.
https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/cucumber-granita

And here is a sweeted version to use as a palate cleanser.
https://www.latimes.com/recipe/cucumber-granita

My favourite cucumber salad is this copycat recipe from the ramen chain Ippudo
https://pantryno7.com/ippudo-cucumber-salad/

Szechuan smashed cucumber
https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2015/09/sichuan-style-smashed-cucumber-salad-recipe.html

acpgee

BTW OP, I love the image of neighbours fly tipping cucumbers and courgettes. Another idea is summer smoothies by pureeing a combination of melon and cucumber, both peeled and de-seeded. Might be nice with a shot of vodka and a sprinkle of sugar or sweetener. Maybe the pureed smoothies wouldn't suffer from being frozen.

And here is a dessert cucumber granita that could be made in bulk and frozen. I distinctly remember making a sweet cucumber granita for a dinner party dessert which I served tinned lychees.
https://www.seriouseats.com/2015/05/how-to-stir-fry-cucumbers.html

acpgee

Wrong URL
https://www.cuisine.co.nz/recipe/cucumber-lime-granita/

whoami67

ReenieHJ wrote: »

Any pickle recipes for 'lazy don't really like to be in the kitchen except to eat' people? DH kinda asked about me making pickles but then my eyes glazed over, telling him(what little I know) about hot water baths and brines, thinking he'd let it go. But he's still harping on it.

You're probably looking for something like refrigerator pickles. Most people's grandmothers made those in the summer. You can search for refrigerator pickles recipes or here's a link to 1 recipe
https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/quick-pickled-cucumbers

ReenieHJ

whoami67 wrote: »

ReenieHJ wrote: »

Any pickle recipes for 'lazy don't really like to be in the kitchen except to eat' people? DH kinda asked about me making pickles but then my eyes glazed over, telling him(what little I know) about hot water baths and brines, thinking he'd let it go. But he's still harping on it.

You're probably looking for something like refrigerator pickles. Most people's grandmothers made those in the summer. You can search for refrigerator pickles recipes or here's a link to 1 recipe
https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/quick-pickled-cucumbers

Thanks. I'm going to try refrigerator pickles today, they sound easy enough for me.

ReenieHJ

ReenieHJ wrote: »

whoami67 wrote: »

ReenieHJ wrote: »

Any pickle recipes for 'lazy don't really like to be in the kitchen except to eat' people? DH kinda asked about me making pickles but then my eyes glazed over, telling him(what little I know) about hot water baths and brines, thinking he'd let it go. But he's still harping on it.

You're probably looking for something like refrigerator pickles. Most people's grandmothers made those in the summer. You can search for refrigerator pickles recipes or here's a link to 1 recipe
https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/quick-pickled-cucumbers

Thanks. I'm going to try refrigerator pickles today, they sound easy enough for me.

HHaha well it doesn't take much to change MY mind. There was no dill seed anywhere to be found and looking at the costs of kosher salt, along with other spices, I figure jarred pickles works for this household. I'll take my cucumbers fresh out of the garden please and thank you.

HeidiCooksSupper

Braised cucumbers mak a great hot side dish. There are plenty of recipes online. They end up tasting like a mild sort of summer squash.