8 Cucumber Recipes: Simple Cucumber Dishes to Try at Home

Cucumbers, or cukes, are crunchy, mild vegetables that are members of the gourd family. You can easily grow them in backyard gardens, and they are readily available in supermarkets. There are several varieties of cucumbers, but they belong to one of two categories: pickling cucumbers or slicing cucumbers. You can eat slicing cucumbers raw. Pickling cucumbers, which are smaller and less juicy than slicing cucumbers, are ideal for making pickles or preserved cucumbers.

You’ll find a variety of cucumbers in grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Choose the type that’s best suited for your cooking or snacking needs.

1. 1. English cucumbers: These long, seedless cucumbers have dark green skin and a mild flavor. English cucumbers have thin skin that does not require peeling. You will often find this variety in cucumber salads or other salads like a Greek salad with feta cheese and pita bread.
2. 2. Garden cucumbers: These fresh cucumbers are widely available in grocery stores and are easy to grow in most gardens. They have thicker, waxy green skin and contain small seeds. They have a fragrant cucumber aroma and flavor.
3. 3. Kirby: Short and thick with bumpy skin, Kirby cucumbers have a crisp texture in comparison to other types and are a common variety for pickled cucumbers.
4. 4. Persian cucumbers: These crunchy cucumbers have a taste similar to English cucumbers. They are small, seedless, and have thin, edible skin. They are ideal for simple salads like a cucumber and tomato salad.

You can use cucumbers for more than just salads. Create creamy dips, make a sandwich, or add them to soups. Here are eight cucumber recipes to try:

1. 1. Creamy cucumber salad: This recipe combines sliced cucumbers and sour cream or Greek yogurt, along with fresh dill, red onion, and a splash of white vinegar. The total prep time is less than fifteen minutes, making this a fast and easy side dish.
2. 2. Cucumber raita: Raita, a condiment, is a staple in Indian cuisine. The tangy sauce uses plain yogurt mixed with cumin, mint, salt, and black pepper. Serve it as a side to sauces, lentils, kebabs, and flatbreads like chapati or naan. The cooling cucumber and yogurt counteract the heat of spicy meals. Try Madhur Jaffrey’s cucumber raita recipe.
3. 3. Cucumber sandwich: Make these bite-sized sandwiches with thinly sliced cucumbers, soft white bread, and a smear of butter. You can also make them with a thin layer of cream cheese or mayonnaise. You’ll most often find them on British afternoon tea menus. Follow this easy cucumber sandwich recipe for high tea or a light lunch.
4. 4. Gazpacho: Traditionally, this cold soup combines tomatoes, cucumbers, red pepper, olive oil, and fresh herbs, making it an ideal summertime dinner. Learn how to make this traditional gazpacho recipe, which comes together in fewer than fifteen minutes.
5. 5. Japanese cucumber salad: Also known as sunomono, this refreshing salad is often a side dish or appetizer in Japanese cuisine. The meal contains thinly sliced and salted Japanese or Persian cucumbers mixed with rice vinegar, soy sauce, dashi, seaweed, sesame oil, and a topping of sesame seeds. Use a mandoline to slice the cucumbers extra thin. Try this sunomono recipe for a quick side dish.
6. 6. Smacked cucumber salad: Break down smashed cucumbers with salt to absorb more flavors from the fresh herbs and spices. Try combining smashed Persian cucumbers with olive oil, salt, black pepper, parsley, and sesame seeds in Yotam Ottolenghi’s smacked cucumber salad recipe for a quick summertime salad or side dish for potlucks.
7. 7. Tomato salad: Toss freshly sliced cucumbers in a bowl along with cherry tomatoes, lemon juice, and olive oil for a quick, summery salad. You can add thinly sliced onion for a tomato, cucumber, and onion salad. Learn how to make Madhur Jaffrey’s cherry tomato and cucumber salad recipe.
8. 8. Tzatziki: This cucumber sauce is a staple of Mediterranean and Greek foods. Serve it alongside grilled meat, as a condiment for gyros, as part of a meze plate, or as a dip for pita bread. The sauce contains Greek yogurt mixed with fresh mint, garlic, olive oil, and fresh herbs such as cilantro, dill, or parsley. Try making this tzatziki recipe.

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