Cucumber Bonanza

Cucumber Bonanza

Recently, I developed an unusual craving for cucumbers. But, normally, all I do with cucumbers is slice them and add the slices to this and that or just eat them plain.

In a search for cucumber recipes, Simply Recipes came to the rescue with enough cucumber recipes to keep me busy for awhile.

Part of my craving for cucumbers is my desire to manage my weight and health. While I had sufficient "healthy" recipes for breakfast and Lupper, my snack repertoire was lacking. I kept drifting toward cake.

Suggestion: When preparing the following recipes, reduce the water content of the cucumber slices or cubes prior to adding to mixture. Place slices or cubes into a colander, sprinkle with salt, toss, then let it sit to drain.

Cucumbers and Sesame cream

(Adapted from: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cucumber_salad_with_tahini_dressing/)

Ingredients:

1 or 2 Cucumbers, washed, peeled, sliced or cubed

3 TBspns Tahini (or sesame cream)

Warm water (optional)

1 capful lime juice concentrate

1 Tspn garlic powder

1 Tspn onion powder

1 palmful basil, dry, crushed

1 palmful parsley, dry, crushed

s/p to taste

Process:

Peel and slice the cucumber(s) or to cube the cucumber(s), cut lengthwise, scoop out soft center and seeds. Cut remaining cucumber into small cubes.

In a bowl, add remaining ingredients. Mix thoroughly.

If sesame cream is too thick, add a bit of warm water and stir.

Add cubed cucumber(s), toss mixture.

Season with s/p to taste.

Cucumbers and Yogurt

(Adapted from: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cucumber_yogurt_salad/)

Ingredients:

2 Cucumbers, washed, sliced (peeled, optional)

1 cup yogurt, plain

2 Tspns parsley, dry, crushed

s/p to taste

Process:

Add cucumber slices to a container with a lid.

Add yogurt and parsley.

Close lid. Shake thoroughly to mix ingredients.

Add s/p to taste.

Close lid and shake again.

Cucumber Salad with Sesame Seeds

(Adapted from: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/sesame_cucumber_salad/)

Ingredients:

2 Cucumbers, washed, sliced or cubed

2 Tspns sesame oil or cream

2 TBspns rice vinegar

Warm water (optional)

1 palmful basil, dry, crushed

1-5 dashes red pepper sauce, to taste

2 Tspns sesame seeds (optional)

Process:

Add sesame cream to a container with a lid.

Add vinegar. Stir.

If mixture is thick, add a bit of warm water to dilute.

Add basil and hot pepper sauce.

Stir thoroughly.

Add cucumbers.

Close lid.

Shake thoroughly to mix ingredients and coat cucumber slices.

Open lid, add sesame seeds and season with s/p to taste.

Close lid and shake again.

Cucumber Salad with Almond Slivers and Grapes

(Adapted from: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cucumber_salad_with_grapes_and_almonds/ )

Ingredients:

2 Cucumbers, washed, sliced

1/4 Cup almond slivers

20 green grapes, halved

2 TBspns olive oil

1 Tspn wine vinegar

1-2 Tspns onion powder or diced scallions

s/p to taste

Process:

Add ingredients to a container with a lid.

Close lid.

Shake to mix ingredients thoroughly.

Cucumber Salad

(Adapted from: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cucumber_salad/)

Ingredients:

2 Cucumbers, washed, sliced (peeled, optional)

2/3 TBspns vinegar, rice or basic

1 Palmful Basil, dry, crushed

1-3 TBspns grated mozzarella cheese (optional)

s/p to taste

Process:

In a container with a lid, add ingredients.

Put lid on container, shake ingredients to mix thoroughly.

Chill if desired.

There are numerous varieties of cucumbers, the two I am familiar with are:

Cucumis sativus

Pepino Blanco

I was unable to find suficient information on "pepino blanco", most articles claim the two cucumbers are from the same genus, Cucumis.

More information on cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and more:
  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumber

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitaceae

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zucchini

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