Tips And Recipes

Classic Cucumber Sandwiches

Add salmon or ham and cream cheese. Makes a nice inclusion with a High Tea (crusts off and cut into wide finger-shaped sizes). You may also add lettuce, tomato, cheese...any fillings to your liking

Salads

Add the cucumbers to any salad. Can be chopped into chunks and tossed carefully through or sliced into rounds to decorate to top of your salad (placed flat) or as an edging around the bowl. Any salad looks and tastes great with finely chopped chives, parsley, red or spring onions sprinkled on top; or toasted pine-nuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, pumpkin or sunflower seeds

Sushi & Sushimi

Very popular when used in sushi or cubed finely along with tomato and capsicum and sprinkled on a sashimi platter.
For a low carb option - here's how you make cucumber sushi. Slice thick cucumber rounds, keeping the skin on. Then scrape out middle seed area. Pack full with a combination of the following: Rice, cottage or cream cheese, pineapple, gherkin, capsicum, carrot, avocado, tomato, cooked aubergine, sprouts or salmon.

Wraps

Add cucumber to lettuce or spinach, cream cheese or feta and a meat of your choice (shredded chicken is a favourite). Flavour with mayonnaise and sweet chili sauce. Wrap and lightly toast on a sandwich grill-press for a few minutes until slightly golden.

Canapes (Hors d'œuvres)

as a snack before your main meal. Slice the cucumber into a round and use as a healthy base. Top with smoked salmon or a prawn, half a cherry tomato, dill or chopped red capsicum. Add a small dollop of seafood sauce or cream cheese spread onto the base.

Dips - Tzatziki

Greek yoghurt, mixed with with finely chopped cucumber, garlic, salt, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, mint or dill. Raita is popular with Indian cuisine and naan bread. Raita is made with yoghurt, cucumber, cumin, chili powder and coriander.

Flavoured Water

Made with cucumber ribbons. Use a vegetable peeler to slice a long strip lengthways. Place in a large jug or carafe of iced water. For an extra twist, add sprigs of fresh washed mint and lemon slices.

Vegetable Juice

Adding cucumbers, beetroot, ginger, oranges and any health shop powders i.e. spirulina, chlorella, barley, wheatgrass, broccoli, alfalfa sprouts, watercress, parsley and kale and other plant superfoods. It's good for detox.

Vegetable Medleys

Stir-fry cucumbers with various kinds of vegetables i.e. carrots, capsicums, red onions, and baby corns. Add oyster sauce for flavours.

Simply As A Decoration

Slice into thin pieces to decorate any cocktails or simply in iced tea drinks. Great refreshment on a sunny day.