Cucumber time
Post date: 13-Dec-2014 15:37:32
Miraculously, my cucumber plants have escaped the slugs, earwigs and other pesky pests that inhabit my veggie patch and I am actually getting some cucumbers!
However, I'm finding that some of the cucumbers are bitter at one end. Not a problem. In Fiji, the variety of cucumbers most readily available was often bitter and had a thicker skin. So my mother would remove the bitterness (see below), peel and wash the cucumber and run a fork down its sides before slicing.
How to remove the bitterness sometimes found in cucumbers
Take a thin slice off the stem end of the cucumber and rub the cut side with the slice in a circular motion. A milky foam-like substance will be extracted from the cucumber. Keep rubbing until no more foamy substance comes out. Trim the end. Do the same at the other end and rinse the cucumber.
What causes cucumber to be bitter?
See this article by Heather Rhoades on the Gardening Know How website.
Cucumber and yoghurt
Cucumbers can be eaten raw or cooked and go exceptionally well with yoghurt. They can be made into dips (tzatziki), raita (cucumber salad with yoghurt), pachadi (a warm yoghurt-based side dish from South India), and added to moru kulambu, a spicy yoghurt curry.
Suggestions for eating cucumber with curries
Slices of raw cucumbers (au naturel) go really well with fish curryand ghotal bhaji (amaranth).
For meat curries and palau, try a cucumber salad dressed with lemon or lime juice, salt and a pinch of sugar; or with some yoghurt dressing. Add yoghurt to sliced, diced or grated cucumber and season with salt. Other optional ingredients that can be added to this salad include a small grated carrot, some diced tomato, a sliced fresh chilli (if you want a bit of zing), and some finely chopped fresh coriander or mint.
Pickling cucumbers
Cucumbers have high water content. When pickling cucumbers, it is best to salt the cucumbers to draw out this water. I sprinkle the sliced cucumbers liberally with salt, cover with a plate and put something heavy on the plate to weigh it down and leave it for a few hours. Drain, rinse (to remove the salt), squeeze to remove as much water as possible and pat dry on a clean tea towel or paper towel. Warm some vinegar (white, spiced or cider) with sugar, salt and freshly ground pepper until the sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature and pour over the cucumber. Not sure if this is a true pickle or more a Norwegian style salad (I learnt this dish from a friend may years ago) but it will last for several weeks in the fridge and handy to have over the summer months.
Cucumbers for beauty
Thin, cool slices cucumber sooth tired eyes, cucumber juice can be used as a skin toner, and a refreshing face mask can be made from pureed cucumber.