People often forgo cucumbers for the more tasty watermelons during warm weather.
Who can blame them?
While both are refreshing and hydrating, only the watermelon has any real flavor.
Between the ever-dull cucumber and the sweet watermelon, the choice is obvious.
However, cucumbers come in quite handy if you’re trying to manage your weight. Having barely any calories or sugar, this tube-looking veggie makes the perfect food to snack on.
In addition, the skin of cucumbers contain silica, a trace mineral that contributes greatly to strengthening our connective tissues, which can help heal many skin problems, under eye swelling and sunburn. (1)
The challenge is figuring out how to make it enjoyable. Here are 20 creative ways to add cucumbers to your diet.
Healthy Substitutions
The following are healthy substitutes you can use for some of the ingredients found in these recipes:
- Plain, raw organic yogurt or plain greek yogurt instead of any yogurt
- Pink Himalayan salt instead of table salt
- Grapeseed oil instead of canola oil
- Soy-free fish sauce instead of regular fish sauce
- Fermented tofu instead of regular tofu
- Stevia instead of sugar (consult conversion charts! Stevia is very sweet so you won’t need as much stevia as you would sugar!). You can also use coconut sugar. You can substitute icing sugar for these alternatives as well.
- Raw, organic butter instead of margarine or regular store butter
- Coconut flour instead of white flour
- Raw milk instead of your average store-bought milk
Click on the name of the recipe to get instructions on how to make these!
1. Cucumber Mint Noodles With Ginger Dressing
It’s no secret that wheat isn’t exactly a health food. High carb pasta and breads may be hard to resist, but they’re easy to replace with more nutrient-dense, low carb options like fresh cucumber or spiralized zucchini.
2. Creamy Cucumber Soup
Contrary to popular belief, soup doesn’t always have to be served hot! Think of this cool soup as an elevated gaspacho with a hint of avocado to give it a creamy texture.
3. Veggie Crab Cubes
There’s nothing like crab to make you feel like summer’s finally arrived! Serve this simple recipe at your next family barbeque or birthday party to keep your guests refreshed and satisfied..
4. Cucumber, Watermelon and Mango Salad
When you think of cucumbers in salad, you probably think of a plain old garden salad of Greek salad, but there are so many other ways to serve this delicious vegetable. For one, combining it with other high water content foods like watermelon and mango is a sure-fire way to serve up a crowd-pleaser.
5. Watermelon-Mint Cucumber Cooler
Stay refreshed with this crisp summer smoothie. Mint gives this drink a kick of flavour while watermelon adds a touch of sweetness to make you enjoy every sip.
6. Cucumber Cups With Spicy Tapenade
These bite-sized appetizers bring the spiciness and saltiness of antipasto to the crunch and freshness of cucumber. Plus, these little snacks are low in calories, you can indulge without a worry.
7. Cucumber Tofu Rolls
This creative vegan twist on “pigs in a blanket” is packed with protein to fill you up without making you feel bloated. Serve them to your kids as an afternoon snack or pack them with your lunch to fight mid-morning hunger.
8. Detox Flavored Water
Lemon water is a great way to make your body more alkaline, but lemon peel can make your water a bit too bitter to really enjoy. Just add a few slices of cucumber into the mix to cancel out this bitterness and make staying hydrated a breeze.
9. Tzatziki Cucumber Sauce
Forget ranch, this simple dip is perfect to compliment a spicy dish or for dipping fresh vegetables. Keep a bit on hand to use as a spread on your favourite sandwiches and wraps.
10. Cucumber Sub
If you’re hungry for a sandwich but you want to skip out on the carbs, replace the bread with cucumber. This also transforms even the most classic sandwiches into gluten-free alternatives. Plus, they’re easy to pack, so simply make one in the morning and take it with you to work.
11. Cucumber-Honeydew Smoothie
Although snacking can be a wonderful way to eat your greens, combining the right veggies and fruit in a juice can be just as delicious. This simple tropical recipe is faster and more portable than most of the items on this list, so don’t knock it ‘till you try it!
12. Pickled Ginger Cucumber Salad
Fresh and spicy, this low-calorie salad makes a great filling for salad rolls. You can also use it as a palate cleanser before your meal.
13. Crisp Cucumber Salsa
Tomatoes may be the classic base vegetables for salsa, but cucumbers work too. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how creamy and fresh this easy salsa can be.
14. Creamy Cucumber Dressing
Dip your cucumbers in a cucumber-based dressing to work through an exceptionally bountiful harvest. Although it works wonderfully on any salad, you can also use it as a dip or sauce. This recipe is so good, you’ll want to make a large batch and share it with your friends and family!
15. Cucumber Mint Cupcakes
Cupcakes don’t typically contain veggies, but this recipe will defy all your expectations. Eat them fresh or frozen and top with a creamy frosting for an extra-special treat!
16. Cucumber Popsicles
If you’re having a hard time keeping your fluids up in the summer time, these popsicles may just keep you on track!
17. Greek Cucumber Boats
Instead of combining yogurt with fruits and oats, pour a bit in a hollowed-out cucumber and sprinkle with toasted nuts or seeds. Better yet, serve it as a side dish on curry night to give your mouth a break from the heat.
18. Breadless Tuna Salad Sandwich
This sub-like sandwich is the perfect picnic meal to get your dose of omega-3 fatty acids and protein. For a special touch, add a few sprouts.
19. Cucumber-Shrimp Soup
Make your next dinner party memorable by adding a few shrimp to the cucumber soup mentioned above. Plus, the combination looks amazing and tastes even better!
20. Smoked Salmon Cucumbers Wrap
If sushi isn’t quite your thing, skip the rice and seaweed by wrapping thinly sliced smoked salmon and cucumber together in these minimalist rolls.