A Few Cool Cucumbers

Jul 10

photography by Talitha Schroeder

When the temperature rises, so does our determination to seek out tasty dishes that don't require turning on the stove or lighting a grill. Cucumbers are coming on strong at the farmers market right now; grab a few and try something new. While you’re at it, experiment with different types and different ways to cut them up. Nothing says chill like a cucumber!

Asian-style

1-2 small pickling cucumbers
Cucumber prep – peel if skin is thick. Slice in half long ways, remove the seeds then cut in preferred pieces.

Mix remaining ingredients
2 T sesame oil
2 T rice vinegar
1 T sugar
1t white miso
grated garlic, optional
1T toasted sesame seeds

Combine sauce with prepared cucumbers

Raita

1 large cucumber (about ½ pound)
Cucumber prep – peeled if waxy, seeds removed if you can’t get a seedless cucumber. Cut the cucumber into very small dice or grate on the large holes of a grater. Sprinkle with a generous amount of salt, toss and let sit in a colander in the sink for 15 minutes. Rinse briefly and squeeze dry in a kitchen towel. Transfer to a bowl.

Mix remaining ingredients together.
1 cup plain Greek style yogurt
⅛ teaspoon cayenne (more to taste)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
½ teaspoon garam masala (more to taste)
1 small serrano or Thai chile, minced (optional)

Combine sauce with prepared cucumbers

Dilly Cukes
aka Thunder and Lightning

1 large cucumber
cucumber prep – peel it if the skin is tough or bitter. Then cut into large bite sized chunks

tomatoes (if fresh & in season!), cut into chunks the same size as the cucumbers
half an onion, thin sliced
1 T sugar
1 T salt
¼ cup white wine vinegar
1T fresh chopped dill
½ t red chili flakes

Mix it all up & let sit as long as you can

Sorta Kimchi

1# Persian cucumbers
Cut cucumbers into 1-inch pieces, then crush with the flat side of your knife or the bottom of a glass. Add to a bowl along with 1t of salt, toss then dump into a colander and let sit for 30 minutes.

Mix the vinegar and garlic and let that sit for 30 minutes, too.
2 T white distilled vinegar
½ t grated garlic

Add remaining ingredients to the vinegar/garlic mixture.
2 t sesame oil
1T gochugaru (Korean chili powder)
1T gochujang (fermented Korean chili paste)
2 t fish sauce
1 t sugar
Chives, cut into pieces the length of your cucumbers

Lightly rinse and pat cucumber pieces dry. Add to the dressing and toss. Let sit for as long as you can wait!