Favourite Cucumber Recipes

This year, we’ve had a lot of cucumbers.  We use them in salads and give extras to the chickens and these are my favourite cucumber recipes.

Spicy marinaded cucumbers

For two people as a starter:

3 small cucumbers peeled and sliced, 1cm. You can seed them if you want.It’s not necessary for home-grown, as they don’t tend to have the bitter taste of commercial cukes.

Marinade:

• 3 teaspoons soy sauce
• 3 teaspoons vinegar
• 1 garlic glove, finely chopped
• 1 piece of ginger (same size as the garlic, finely chopped)
• Chilli or chilli powder to taste
• Half teaspoon sugar
• Salt

Mix the ingredients and marinade for a minimum of two hours in the fridge.  They are so tasty and crunchy.

Cucumber raita

There are lots of versions of this, which is a great side dish.  This is my favourite version.

• 3 small cucumbers, peeled, seeded and grated.
• 1 small tub, plain organic yoghurt
• half teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons, fresh chopped mint
• Chopped chilli or chilli powder to taste

Mix all the ingredients, except the mint, then sprinkle the mint on top and put in the fridge for two hours.  just before serving, mix in the mint and add salt to taste.  If you put in the salt earlier, it will draw the water out of the cucumber and the dish will become to runny.

Cucumber water

• 4 peeled and chopped cucumbers
• 2 peeled and chopped limes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Sugar to taste
• pinch of cayenne

Blend and leave in the fridge for an hour or so.  Strain and serve over ice with sparkling water.  There are lots of versions of this and they are all refreshing on a hot day.  I especially like the cayenne kick.