What to Do With Cucumbers from the Garden

Cucumbers are one of the most prolific crops for home gardeners, These vine plants produce an abundance of fruit over their growing season It’s easy to end up with more cucumbers than you know what to do with!

Luckily, there are many delicious ways to use up fresh cucumbers Here are some ideas

Eat Cucumbers Raw

One of the simplest ways to enjoy cucumbers is to eat them raw. Their mild, refreshing flavor makes them perfect for snacking on straight from the vine.

Slice up cucumbers and enjoy them plain or dip them in salad dressing or hummus You can also add raw cucumber slices to sandwiches and wraps or on top of salads,

For an easy appetizer, skew cucumber chunks onto toothpicks along with cheese, olives, cold cuts, or other savory ingredients.

Make Cucumber Salads

Cucumbers are a classic salad vegetable. Their crisp texture and ability to soak up flavors makes them an ideal base for chilled salads.

Some popular cucumber salad recipes include:

• Greek salad with cucumber, tomato, feta, and olives
• Cucumber and onion salad tossed in vinegar
• Cold noodle salad with cucumbers and sesame dressing
• Creamy dill cucumber salad

Get creative with different herbs, spices, oils, vinegars, cheeses, and crunchy toppings like nuts or seeds to make your own signature cucumber salad.

Pickle Cucumbers

Pickling is one of the most common ways to preserve fresh cucumbers. You can pickle cucumbers in vinegar or brine to make everything from refrigerator pickles to long-term preserved versions.

Some classic pickled cucumber recipes are bread-and-butter pickles, dill pickles, and cornichons. You can also experiment with different herbs and spices. Pickled cucumbers make great snacks, sandwich toppings, or additions to salads and charcuterie boards.

Juice Cucumbers

The high water content in cucumbers makes them perfect for juicing. Cucumber juice is refreshing on its own or as the base for smoothies and other blended drinks.

For extra flavor, combine cucumber juice with fruits like lemon, lime, apple or berries. Cucumber juice can also be mixed with leafy greens like kale or spinach for a healthy, hydrating juice blend.

Use Cucumbers in Cold Soups

Chilled cucumber soups are a light and refreshing meal for hot summer days. Blend up peeled, seeded cucumbers with broth, yogurt or sour cream, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon or lime. Garnish bowls of the soup with sliced cucumbers, herbs, or croutons.

Some classic chilled cucumber soup recipes are Greek tzatziki, Spanish gazpacho, and French vichyssoise.

Stuff Cucumber Shells

For an easy appetizer or side, scoop out the inner flesh and seeds from cucumber halves. Stuff the cucumber shells with tuna salad, crab salad, hummus, or savory cream cheese.

You can also cut cucumbers into long thin strips, fill them with cheese or other ingredients, and roll them up into cute bite-sized pieces.

Make Cucumber Salsa

Chopped cucumbers add a refreshing crunch to fresh salsa recipes. Mix diced cucumbers with classic salsa ingredients like tomato, onion, lime juice, cilantro, and chili peppers. Enjoy cucumber salsa with tortilla chips or spooned over tacos, enchiladas, fish, or chicken.

Bake with Cucumbers

Believe it or not, cucumbers can be used in baked goods! Their high water content keeps cucumber breads and cakes moist. Grated cucumber works best for baking.

Some recipes that use cucumbers are cucumber lemon bread, cucumber cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and cucumber mint jam. Cucumber sorbet is also a light and cool dessert perfect for summer.

Grill or Saute Cucumbers

Contrary to popular belief, cucumbers can be cooked! Grilling or pan-frying brings out new flavors and textures in cucumbers.

Grilled cucumbers make a great side dish, or you can slice them up to add to kebabs or top burgers or tacos. Sauteed cucumber pairs well with stir fries and Asian noodle dishes.

Don’t let your homegrown cucumbers go to waste! With this range of recipes, you’ll enjoy making use of your cucumber harvest all season long.