Cucumber Recipes

Relishing a juicy, cool cucumber sprinkled with salt from a street vendor signal fun during hot summer days. In fact, many of us still indulge in this little memory from our childhood days. Cucumbers are hydrating, flush out toxins from the body, help reduce cholesterol & are full of good health. In fact, there is much more that can be done with the versatile cucumbers apart from placing thin cucumber slices while resting in a spa.

If you have bought a basket full of cucumbers or are lured by the juicy appeal of fresh cucumbers this summer, here are a few delicious recipes that can be made with the cool cucumber.

Cucumber Shorba - Nothing feels better than a delicious light lunch during hot summer days. Cucumber has a good amount of water content & lesser calories, hence its consumption helps us feel satiated & aids in weight loss. To make cucumber shorba (soup), finely some garlic. Take 1 tsp ghee in a kadhai & saute garlic till light brown. Add 1/2 cup chopped celery & saute for 5 minutes. Let it cool & add 2 cups cucumber to the mix & blend well till smooth. Chill the soup & serve garnished with some fresh cream & fresh mint leaves.

Cucumber Peanut Salad - To make a fuss free salad is a dream in the summers as it helps avoid long spells in the hot kitchen. Peel & chop 2 cucumbers into cubes. Roast handful of peanuts, coarsely grind & add to the cucumbers. Grind one green chili with 1/2 tap cumin. Make a dressing with a little olive oil, lime juice, sugar & salt to taste. Add the dressing & cumin- chili mix to the salad. Mix well & serve.

Cucumber Ghassi - Make a delicious curry recipe with Madras cucumbers (oval sized with green-yellow stripes). An excellent source of fiber, this cucumber dish is great with hot rotis or rice. Cook one peeled & chopped Madras cucumber till soft taking care that its not too mushy. Separately cook 1/2 cup sprouted green grams & reserve. Dry roast 4-5 red chilies, 1/2 tsp coriander seeds & 1 tsp cumin seeds. Grind along with 1/2 cup coconut, little jaggery & tamarind to taste. Take 1 tsp oil (preferably coconut) in a kadhai & add some mustard seeds. Let it splutter & then add some curry leaves & 1-2 red chilies. Add the cooked cucumber & green gram, ground masala, enough water, turmeric powder & salt to taste. Give it a good mix & let it cook for a few minutes. Serve garnished with chopped coriander.

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Cucumber-Celery-Apple Juice - To make a healthy start to your day, juice one peeled cucumber, one cored apple, little celery & little ginger separately. Add a little ginger juice & lemon juice to taste. Drink up. Hello, Good health!

Cucumber Pachadi - Made across the Kerala region during the Onam Sadhya feast, Cucumber Pachadi is usually served with rice. Chop peeled madras cucumber into cubes & cook in little water along with salt. Grind 1/2 cup coconut with some green chilies, mustard seeds & 2-3 pearl onions. Add to the cooked cucumber & fry for couple of minutes. Switch off the flame & let it cool. Add 3/4 th cup yogurt to the mix. Temper the pachadi mix with 1 tsp oil, mustard seeds, red chilies & some curry leaves. Adjust salt if required. Serve with rice.

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