Summer is right around the corner, and we bet that you’ve been invited to at least one picnic or BBQ already. If you’re looking to bring something besides fruit salad (no offense to fruit salad!) to your next occasion, consider one of these refreshing cucumber recipes as your new go-to.
Cucumbers are super-versatile and can be enjoyed as an appetizer, a side dish or a main. They’re also key players in some pretty tasty co*cktails!
So get ready to impress your guests with these delicious, out-of-the-box cucumber recipes.
1. Cucumber Salsa
Add a summer feeling to classic salsa by incorporating diced cucumbers. This is great on its own with chips or as a topping for fish tacos. Find the full recipe at The Weary Chef.
2. Cucumber Hummus
Add the refreshingly subtle taste of cucumber to homemade hummus and be prepared to enjoy it with chips, crackers, celery and other veggies all season long. Get the recipe at Vegan Family Recipes.
3. Cucumber Bruschetta
Family pizza night just got a summery upgrade. Serve up this cucumber bruschetta as an appetizer or entrée and you surely won’t hear any complaints from your dinner guests! Get the recipe at Spend With Pennies.
4. Strawberry, Lime, Cucumber And Mint-Infused Water
It’s important to stay hydrated during the summer months, but plain old water can get a little boring. So, infuse your water with light cucumber flavor and add a burst of fruity taste with this zingy concoction. Get the recipe at Wholefully.
Cucumber, red onion and lemon vinaigrette combine to add delicious flavor to quinoa in a stunning side dish or as a healthy main meal. Get the recipe at Gimme Some Oven.
6. Cucumber Tuna Sandwich
Swap bread for cucumbers with this keto-friendly take on the classic tuna sandwich and enjoy as a lunch or crowd-pleasing appetizer all summer long. Get the recipe at KetoVale.
7. Cucumber Noodles
Move over spaghetti squash — there’s a new spiralized faux-noodle in town! These cucumber noodles are a healthy alternative to actual pasta, and they’re sure to pair well with any entrée. They would also be great on their own with sesame oil and vinegar. Get the recipe at Perry’s Plate.
8. Cucumber And Basil co*cktail
Cucumber and basil come together to make the most refreshing summer spritzer that you’ll want to sip poolside or while grilling. Get the recipe at BS’ In The Kitchen.
9. Blackened Shrimp Avocado Cucumber Bites
This recipe may just inspire you to forget serving appetizers on crackers! Pair slices of avocado and cooked shrimp with cucumbers to mix things up this summer. Get the recipe at Closet Cooking.
10. Cucumber And Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
This isn’t your average fruit salad! This cucumber, strawberry and poppyseed salad is the perfect mix of savory and sweet. Get the recipe atWith Salt & Wit.
11. Watermelon And Cucumber co*cktail
This co*cktail is like summer in a glass. Watermelon and cucumber make for a balanced, fruity beverage that’s not too sweet. Serve it at all of your summer parties! Get the recipe at Creative Culinary.
12. Chicken Skewers With Cucumber And Garlic Yogurt Sauce
If you’re grilling up meats and veggies, you’ll want a delicious sauce to go on top. This cucumber and garlic yogurt sauce will be the perfect thing to serve with chicken, steak, or mushrooms without being too overpowering. Get the recipe at Diethood.
13. Spicy Sriracha Crab And Cucumber Salad
There’s nothing quite like fresh seafood in the summertime, and this recipe offers up the best way to enjoy crab and avocado. Yum! Serve up crab meat on a bed of spiral sliced cucumber noodles for a light, seasonal meal. Get the recipe at Peas and Crayons.
14. Baked Cucumber Chips
These baked cucumber chips will be a healthy alternative for you and the kids to snack on this summer. Besides being crisp and tasty, they’re also super easy to make. Get the recipe at Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen.
15. Mango, Cucumber And Mint Smoothie
This low-calorie smoothie will be a refreshing snack or meal replacement to give you a boost of refreshing mint, cucumber and fruity flavor when you need it most. Get the recipe at Oat & Sesame.
So, who’s ready to add more cucumbers to the mix this summer?
About the Author
Augusta Statz
I have a B.F.A. in Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. I’m an avid writer with a genuine sense of curiosity. I feel the best way to absorb the world around you is through fashion, art and food, so that’s what I spend most of my time writing about.
Enhance the taste of cucumbers by incorporating herbs and spices. Sprinkle freshly chopped mint, basil, cilantro, or dill over sliced cucumbers to add a burst of freshness. Additionally, spices like black pepper, cumin, or paprika can provide a subtle kick to the cucumbers, making them more interesting and flavorful.
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.
Therefore, most of the time, the combination of cucumber and tomato is advised to be avoided. Additionally, they both have a completely different way of digestion, so this combination must be avoided as it can lead to stomach upset."
Because cucumber is so low in calories, it's hard to eat too much when it comes to weight management. However, eating too much of anything can cause discomfort. Eating large amounts of cucumber in one sitting may lead to stomach pain or distress.
If the cucumber tastes a bit bitter, it should be fine (and read the following tips on how to improve the taste). If the cucumber is very bitter and almost inedible, toss it because you may develop uncomfortable indigestion from the larger amount of compounds in the vegetable causing the bitterness.
The refrigerator is the best place to store cucumbers and keep them fresh for longer—but there are some other steps you should take to keep them from expiring quickly. "Cucumbers want to be humid, but not wet," Weinstein says.
Cucumbers have a high water content (they're ninety-five percent water), but they do freeze well. Freezing cucumbers is the best way to preserve and enjoy them all year round. It's advisable to freeze cucumber slices rather than fresh cucumbers; whole cucumbers become soggy and lose their flavor once you defrost them.
The method is simple: Simply slice them lengthwise into wedges and place them in a jar or tall glass standing upwards.Fill the jar with water all the way to the top of the cucumbers and stick the jar in the fridge. After about a day or so, you should notice the cucumber slices have become crisper than before.
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