Grow Your Own Magazine

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

__________________
Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday 17th September

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

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

__________________
Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday 17th September

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.

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.

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.

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

__________________
Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday 17th September

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.

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 !

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.

__________________
Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

Blog updated Wednesday 17th September

I say Rat, your quite civilised up there aren't you Cucumber soup!! I stick it in vinigar with oinion & have it on me cheese sarnie !!

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

None of that pickling stuff up here Nick! We are in to the cordon blue stuff up here you know!

Nice recipe Rat - sounds scrummy and if I get some more cukes I may try it. Have a second one, unfortunately it had got stuck between the shelf and the bed and has grown into a complete circle - looks like a huge green caterpiller.
On second thoughts it probably is destined for soup!

An Italian friend made a tortilla with cucumber in my kitchen once. She sprinkled salt on thin slices and let it drain then squeezed them to get the liquid out.
Sauted them very lightly in a small frying pan then stirred in beaten eggs with some salt and pepper. Cook gently then turn over and cook other side. it was delicious. She used one whole large cucumber and about 6 eggs.

Sounds great, just picked 4 large cukes so of to turn them into soup, getting hungry think about it.

Thanks Rat,

Mandy

Hi Rat,

Just had some of your soup for lunch, it is fantastic thanks for the receipe.

Only downside is I thought I had made too much and gave half of it away last night, wish I hadn't now.

Mandy

Always do well here in the North East...had about six cucumbers already off two plants. Much prefer there taste to greenhouse cucumbers even though they are a bit spikey to handle !
I have had good success with apple cucumbers grown outdoors here also..but haven't grown them this season