Cucumber ideas please?

[mandyballantyne]

Hi All,

Made the mistake of planting 4 cucumbers as I thought I would loose some, nope they just kept growing and growing..

I have now too many what can I do with them other than various salads...

Any help appreciated.

Mandy

[Silverfox]

Lon onto Food down under http://fooddownunder.com/ they have loads of good ideas on there. The baked cucumber with stuffed pork looks good

[Filbert]

If you put cucumber into the search on the bbc recipe site there are a few interesting ideas including a curry with cucumber.

[Lozzie]

You could try making dips such as Tzatziki or Raita. They make perfect accompaniments for Greek or Indian meals.

[Emma]

Has anyone got a recipe for a cucumber relish. I have a simular problem only I planted 6 and now am inundated with very large cucumbers!

[sewer rat]

Emma
Bet you won't plant six again next year ! I only plant three and tend to start getting over-run with them about now - picked four yesterday and another three today - all my neighbours cross the road when they see me wandering towards them with trug in hand !
Type Cucumber Relish into Google and you'll get loads of recipes, including a Thai cucumber relish which sounds pretty good.

[JennieAtkinson]

I've got eight plants and have got one cucumber about 2" long so far.

[sewer rat]

As I've said before Jennie, give it a fortnight and you'll be where I am now !
What variety / varieties are you growing ?

[25cowlane]

Made my first batch of cucumber jam on Sunday, using some of the glut of marketmores and crystal apples. Not made it before but the spoon tasted alright! Apparently very good with Pate, cold meats and a good breakfast preserve.

I got the recipe from The Basic Basics Jams, Preserves and Chutneys by Marguerite Patten.

[blossom]

I remember my Mum making cucumber soup when I was little and it being lovely. The only recipe I have seen recently for it said to serve it cold though, I'm sure we used to eat it hot.

[JennieAtkinson]

As I've said before Jennie, give it a fortnight and you'll be where I am now !
What variety / varieties are you growing ?

Tasty Burpless. I think they are an outside cucumber, so thought I might get away with them up here. Lots of flowers and small cucumbers looking as though they might develop into something.

Its kinda interesting that a number of my veg are 2 weeks behind you - beans and tomatoes too.

[sewer rat]

Maybe I should charge for being a veg timer for you ?

[JazzDuke]

Chop cucumber into 1cm dice (removing seeds is best, peel if necessary), sprinkle with salt leave in a colander to remove excess water, dress with cream (or cremefraiche) and a nice mild vinegar (raspberry would be good), about three parts cream to one vinegar. Add some nice herbs - mint or tarragon or dill would all be good.

Makes a nice accompaniment to a plate of salmon or smoked salmon.

[JennieAtkinson]

Mmm nice recipe Jazzduke. Harvested my first cuke tonight. Painfully small but very tasty Also got one tomato with a faint tinge of red on it At long last !

[sewer rat]

Recipe for Cream of Cucumber Soup

Made some cream of cucumber soup today - and though I say so myself, it was bloody good. Before i put the recipe to you, I will say that it says 4 oz of cucumber - bollox, I put a whole 1lb cuke in !

Melt 2oz butter in pan.
Cut and finely dice cucumber (washed but not peeled) and put in pan with butter. Cook for two mins ensuring cuke is coated with butter. Add 1oz of plain flour and cook for further two minutes. Then remove from heat and stir in half pint of stock (chicken or veggie - you choose) and 1pt whole milk - add these gradually and alternate between the two, stirring all the while. Return to heat and bring to boil, still stirring. When soup is boiled and lookin' good and you're gettin' hungry, remove from heat again. In a small bowl mix the yolk of one egg with 2 tablespoons of single cream - add to soup, stir will, ladle into bowl, garnish with some chopped parsley or very thinly sliced cuke, eat and enjoy.