A cool cucumber is the perfect summer ingredient. Also informally called cukes, cucumbers can be made into everything from soups to appetizers to your Monday-to-Friday lunch. While most of us enjoy raw cucumber, they can also be cooked to add extra flavour to your stir fries or rice dishes. When you're shopping, make sure you stick to cucumbers that are free of soft spots or bruises, and don't keep them in a plastic bag for longer than a week in the fridge (they'll lose their crispiness).
Not only do 100 grams of cucumber have only 16 calories (nice!), they are also low in fat and a great vegetable for keeping you hydrated. And because cukes are so refreshing, there are plenty of beauty uses from eye masks to cucumber creams that smooth out the skin. Some studies have even shown cucumber consumption can reduce the risk of cancer, according to Care2.
And in case you missed it, last week we packed red peppers.
Here's what you need to buy this week, while the other necessary ingredients (like pepper, salt and oils) are likely already in your kitchen.
- Cucumbers
- Avocados
- Capers
- Sea salt
- Lemon juice
- Parsley
- Dill
- Dark rye bread
- Cream cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Yellow onion
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cayenne
- Mustard powder
- Garlic
- Chili
- Greek yogurt
- Lemon
- Mint
- Red onion
- Tomatoes
- Green onion
Pack It: 5 Cucumber Recipes
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