Sunday, June 5, 2011

What to do with cucumbers?



Last night I saw that there were three big old cucumbers in my backyard garden.  I'm afraid of delicious produce rotting on the vine, so I picked two of them and mixed them up with some sour cream, lemon juice, paprika, and parsley (plus salt and pepper).  Meh.

What do you do with this staple of summer?  I need ideas.  If you have any, please share them in the comments!

4 comments:

Cari said...

Cucumber Agua Fresca

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups Sugar
2 1/2 cups Water plus 8 cups
2 1/2 pounds Cucumbers peeled, coarsely chopped; plus 8 cucumber slices for garnish
1 cup Fresh lime juice plus 8 lime slices for garnish
1 Serrano chiles seeded, chopped
1 teaspoon Salt
6 sprigs Mint for garnish
Ice cubes



Instructions
Stir sugar and 2 1/2 cups water in large saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Pour simple syrup into bowl and chill.
Working inbatches, puree 2 1/2 pounds cucumbers, lime juice, chile, salt, and 2 cups simple syrup in blender until smooth. Strain puree into large pitcher or bowl. Mix in 8 cups water. Cover and chill.
Add cucumber slices, lime slices, and mint sprigs to pitcher of chilled agua fresca. Place ice cubes in each glass. Fill with agua fresca and serve.

Yields: 1 Pitcher

beckim82 said...

Wow, Cari, I've never heard of such a thing! Can't wait to try it.

Jenny said...

I was hoping you were going to tell us :-) My husband puts vinegar on them, and they don't go to waste usually, but I'm sure there are some more creative uses.

beckim82 said...

My main uses for cucumbers are in salads and grated into peanut noodles or tzatziki sauce. I also really like a slice of cucumber, instead of a lemon, in my glass of water. The internets tell me that there are all kinds of beauty/household uses for cucumbers as well (shining shoes? eliminating cellulite?), but I'm not sure what to believe.