This humble vegetable will brighten up your meal
Originally grown in India, cucumbers made it to the Americas with the arrival of the Europeans. While julienned, shredded or sliced cucumbers can be a wonderful side dish to a summer meal, adding them to salads amps up their flavor.
Here are our favorite ideas to turn good ol’ cucumbers into delicious salads.
German Cucumber Salad
Also called gurkensalat, this salad is made with sour cream, vinegar, and fresh dill. It must be kept in the fridge for some time to taste better.
Gurkensalat is an excellent option to serve at parties since you can prepare it in advance. Give your salad a protein boost with the addition of fish or meat of your choice.
Asian Cucumber Salad
This appetizer uses pantry ingredients so you can make it in a jiffy. Toss cucumbers with garlic and green onions as the base of the dish. The dressing comprises soy sauce, rice, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, seeds, and chili oil.
Add a protein and greens, and serve with rice or rice noodles for a complete meal.
Easy Cucumber Salad
It is a simple salad that comes together quickly with just a handful of ingredients. Use your favorite vinaigrette and add flavors to make it spicy, tangy, sweet, or all of them! Serve with grilled chicken, meat, or sea food. The vegetarians can add tempeh or tofu instead.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
The dressing for the creamy cucumber salad uses mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, salt and pepper, and a hint of sugar. Add a herby twist with fresh basil or dill leaves.
You can add sliced onions or even bell peppers for some color and texture. This salad is perfect for picnics and summer grills.
Smashed Cucumber Salad
As the name suggests, you smash the cucumber, which brings out different flavors. Then let the cucumber marinate in a dressing of your choice for at least half an hour to heighten the taste.
Tips To Use Cucumber
Remember that some cucumbers usually have a bitter taste that can ruin your salad. In most cases, the older the cucumber, the more bitter it is. The seeds are generally more bitter than the central flesh. Ensure you taste the cucumber immediately after cutting before you add it to your salad.
