Cucumber Recipe

Time for a great cucumber recipe! If you’re like me, you believe that there’s no better way to pursue healthy living than to garden. So you’re either beginning to harvest the first cucumbers from your garden, or are looking forward to doing so in the next few weeks.

You may also be like me in that you don’t need any kind of recipe to enjoy your freshly-picked cukes. It’s treat enough to rub off the pricklies and and munch it down!

Even so, it is fun to mix sliced cucumber up with other in-season vegetables, plus it makes for a great side dish when summer company comes along. Besides, eventually you will be so overrun with cucumbers that you will want to figure out a way to make them a little less – shall we say – cucumbery?

To help you (and me!) appreciate this delicious garden crop all season long, here are three easy, cool and tasty cucumber recipes.

Cucumber, tomato and basil salad

Slice two or three small, or one large, cucumber. Slice or dice a ripe tomato. Cut up a few fresh basil leaves. Arrange on a plate and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with a little salt, if you like. Can’t get any easier than that!

Easy Cold Cucumber Soup Recipe

• 3 medium cucumbers
• 3 cups chicken broth, preferably homemade
• 3 cups organic sour cream
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Possible toppings:

• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 3/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

Directions

1. Peel cucumbers; halve lengthwise and remove seeds (unless you have a Vita-Mix; it will blend up the seeds just fine). Cut into chunks.
2. In a blender, cover and puree cucumbers and broth in small batches.
3. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in the sour cream, vinegar, salt if desired and garlic until well blended.
4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Stir before serving. Garnish with tomatoes, almonds, onions and parsley.

Cucumber Salad Recipe

• 2 pounds cucumbers
• 1 small red onion
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
• 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar or raw honey
• 2 teaspoons dried dill or 2 tablespoons fresh

Directions

1. Slice the cucumber lengthwise, remove the seeds, and slice thinly.
2. Thinly slice the onion.
3. In a colander, toss the cucumber and onion with the salt and let it sit and drain for 20 minutes. Press the liquid out of the vegetables and rinse well with cold water.
4. In a medium bowl combine the vinegar and sugar and stir well. Add the cucumber mixture and toss to coat. Stir in the dill.

If you need a cucumber recipe, these three are all worth a try. Enjoy your summer bounty!