Adapted from the New York Times. AThey suggest making your own ricotta – which is probably not in the cards for me so I will use some really good cream cheese or queso fresco. I’m finding sometimes cucumbers are bitter – so before you make this, cut a bit of peel and taste it. If it’s bitter, peel the cucumber before slicing.
Cucumbers
(2021) Melon, Cucumber and Cherry Tomato Salad
I haven’t cut into those melons yet. They’re in the refrigerator chilling. But I’m sharing a recipe I saw in the New York Times for a melon, cherry tomato and cucumber salad. Nothing particularly unusual in it, except for the concept. I just wouldn’t have thought to add melon to a tomato and cucumber salad. That’s the great thing about looking for and sharing recipes. It’s always fun for me to look for things that sounds intriguing and just a bit different from what I’d traditionally make.
(2021) Watermelon-Tomato Cooler
This recipe for Okra Cornbread Fritters is a decade old, but it’s still delicious.
(2021) Cucumber Basil Gazpacho
I think it was last week I shared a quick tomato gazpacho recipe. Here’s one from Aluma Farm that’s a cucumber version. I’m going to use yogurt and I’m sure it will remind me of tzatziki sauce. I love the combination of yogurt and cucumbers, but had never considered making it into a soup. Farmers do the smartest things with their produce.
(2021) Speedy Summer Gazpacho
For a recipe that won’t heat up the kitchen, I’m considering this easy gazpacho published in a story called “Eat to Beat Illness” by Rupy Aujla. It calls for a few more tomatoes that were in the box, but …. you could use some cherry tomatoes, you could just cut down on tomatoes, or maybe just like me, you bought some tomatoes last weekend at a farmers market and have a few to spare. The proportion of ingredients is totally up to you and what’s sitting on your counter. The recipe calls for serving right from the food processor, but I’m going to chill mine before serving. Which I guess defeats the “speedy” of the title, but I just like my gazpacho cold!
(2021) Kachumber Cooler
This one from Smittn Kitchen. We were away at the beach last week so missed the late June box, but I’ve enjoyed the cucumber lemonade recipe I shared two weeks ago over and over again.
To make simple syrup, heat 1 tablespoon water with 2 tablespoons sugar, stirring, just until the sugar dissolves. Pour into cup or bowl and 1 tablespoon ice-cold water to cool it somewhat, then chill in the fridge until needed. Scale up as needed. Leftovers keep in fridge.
(2021) Cucumber Lemonade
I just found this recipe but didn’t make a note of the source. So sorry not to be giving it proper attribution.
(2021) Salt-and-Squeeze Slaw
That bok choy may be stumping you. For some of us, it’s a challenge to come up ideas several weeks in a row. I dug out this old recipe from Bon Appetit – a salt-and-squeeze slaw. You could use almost anything in today’s box. The recipe is down below.
(2020) Smacked Cucumber ‘Quick Kimchi’
From the New York Times
(2020) Sichuan-Style Smashed Cucumber Salad
from Serious Eats