Cucumbers are a super healthy vegetable that is often grown in home gardens. Many people think of them as the part of the veggie tray that gets left behind, but when properly prepared, cucumbers have a lot to offer the culinary world. If you’re unsure about this green wonder, here’s how to make cucumbers taste good.
How to Make Cucumbers Taste Good
Dip Them In Something
Cucumbers have many natural flavors, which can be enhanced by utilizing a tasty dip. Chop up your cucumbers in slices or strips, and douse them in one of your favorite dips.
There are tons of different dips that will enhance the flavor of cucumbers, like ranch dressing, hummus, Italian dressing, guacamole, buffalo dip, and more. Pick your favorite dip option and enjoy a healthy snack.
Marinate Them
Don’t be afraid to marinate your cucumbers. Cucumbers are very porous, so they easily take on other flavors, which you can use to your advantage with some tasty marinade.
A classic marinade for cucumbers is sugar and vinegar. Some people like to serve the green veggie in the marinade, while others like to add some onions. Some people like to do both! No matter what, this marinade gives cucumbers a bit of a pickled taste without being too harsh. Plus, there’s a bite of sweetness from the sugar.
If that doesn’t trip your trigger, there are tons of other marinades you can use, too, like Italian dressing. No matter what you choose, marinating your cucumbers will add some flavor while maintaining their crispy texture.
Pickle Them
One of the most obvious ways to change the flavor of a cucumber is by pickling them. This makes a classic pickle, and there are endless ways to adjust this method to suit your flavor preferences. You can go the classic route and pickle your cucumbers with dill or do sweet pickling or bread and butter.
But don’t be afraid to try new ways of pickling. There are tons of recipes available to give you a different pickling experience. You can also pickle your cucumbers along with other vegetables, giving them even more flavor.
Chop Cucumbers Up for a Salad
Cucumbers have a great texture, making them a healthy crisp for a salad. Chop cukes up and improve their taste by using including them alongside other vegetables.
You can chop up cucumbers and pair them with watermelon and feta cheese. You can also make a cucumber-tomato salad or use them in one of the thousands of lettuce salads that they are an ingredient of, like a classic chop salad or a tasty club.
Make Tzatziki
We often like to think of cucumbers as standalone ingredients, but they can also be an ingredient in other dishes. One of those great dishes that use cucumber as an ingredient is tzatziki.
Tzatziki is a Greek sauce that is made with yogurt and strained cucumbers. It has a bright, sour taste and is used in many Greek foods. You can dip your falafel in tzatziki or pour it over a Greek salad as a dressing. It’s also great for pitas and is a great go-with for hummus. You can dip your cucumbers in tzatziki, making for a tasty bite.
Peel Them
Some people don’t like cucumber simply because of the peel. The peel can sometimes be bitter, and not everyone likes its texture. If that’s the case for you, don’t be afraid to peel your cucumber. This will remove the rind and leave you with the bits of the cucumber that you do like.
Remove the Seeds
You might also not like cucumbers because of the seeds. Once again, if you don’t like the seeds, remove them. This can be done simply either by coring the cucumber or just by some simple chopping.
Removing the seeds is also great if you want cucumbers added to something for the texture. If you are adding it to a salad or a dip and want crispiness, remove the seeds, as the center of the cucumber will add a lot more moisture to the dish and is already much less firm than the outer parts.
Put Them On a Sandwich
Cucumbers will also be sublime on a sandwich. This is a great way to mask the flavor of cucumbers if you don’t like them because they will literally be sandwiched in between other ingredients.
A cucumber slice in between stacks of meat, cheese, butter, and vegetables will mask its taste and leave you with a lovely meal. If you do notice the cucumber, it’ll simply be a welcome crunch.
Make Salsa
Cucumber may not be your first thought for a salsa ingredient, but that’ll change once you make a cucumber salsa. Cucumbers have just as much crunch when the seeds are removed as a pepper or an onion.
When properly prepared, cucumber salsa has tons of texture and tons of flavor. Cucumber is very versatile, so it can be added to a sweet or spicy salsa. No matter how you use it, incorporating cucumber into your salsa will be a healthy, welcome addition.
Make Gazpacho
If you’ve never made gazpacho before, it’s time to start. Gazpacho is essentially cold soup, but it’s full of healthy, delicious vegetables, and almost any vegetable can be added to it. If you add cucumbers to your gazpacho, they will just blend right in with the other vegetables.
Gazpacho vegetables are finely chopped, making them all nearly indiscernible from the others. If you want to mask the flavor of cucumber but keep the lovely texture in a fresh bite that can be served with anything from a lavash to a slice of chicken, put them in your gazpacho. Enjoy your cucumbers!
FAQs
Can You Eat Pickling Cucumbers Raw?
Yes, you can eat pickling cucumbers raw. Their firm texture and slightly bitter taste make them a great addition to salads and sandwiches.
Can You Vacuum Seal Cucumbers?
Vacuum-sealing cucumbers can help extend their shelf life and preserve freshness. Follow these steps to vacuum seal cucumbers:
- Wash and dry the cucumbers.
- Place cucumbers in a vacuum seal bag.
- Remove the air and vacuum seal the bag.
- Store the sealed cucumbers in the refrigerator.
How Many Cups Is One Cucumber?
On average, one medium-sized cucumber:
- Whole: 1 to 1.5 cups
- Chopped: 1.5 to 2 cups
- Sliced: 1.5 cups
These measurements are approximate and can vary slightly depending on the cucumber’s size and thickness of the slices or chops.
How To Make Cucumber Chips In Air Fryer?
Cucumber chips are a healthy and delicious snack. Here’s a simple recipe to make cucumber chips in an air fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
- Thinly slice one cucumber, preferably using a mandoline slicer for even thickness.
- Pat dry the cucumber slices with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Toss the cucumber slices with a small amount of olive oil and salt.
- Arrange the cucumber slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to do this in multiple batches.
- Air-fry for 8-10 minutes or until the cucumber chips become crisp. Be sure to shake the basket halfway through the cooking time for even cooking.
