The expression “cool as a cucumber” is based on the fact that its inside stays cooler than the air temperature around it — a good reason why cucumber salads, cold soups, pickles, and beverages are so refreshing. Here’s a collection of plant-based cucumber recipes that offer plenty of warm-weather refreshment.
While cucumbers are 90% water, they do supply vitamin C, potassium, and the mineral silica, which is beneficial for the hair and fingernails. Cucumbers have plenty of food value. They come in a number of varieties, which are fairly interchangeable in recipes:
- Common (also known as pole) cucumbers: The most widely sold, there two caveats is that they might come waxed — peel, or avoid altogether; and they can be seedy. If that’s the case, quarter lengthwise and cut away some or most of the seeds.
- Kirby, or pickling cucumbers: These shorter cucumbers are indeed ideal for pickling, but they’re good for any other use as well.
- Hothouse, or English cucumbers: These are grown in greenhouses and are often sold shrink-wrapped in thin plastic — though I’m not sure why that’s needed. These approximately foot-long cukes have a nice crisp texture, and relatively few seeds.
- Less common varieties: Gardeners and farm market shoppers might explore Armenian, Japanese, Persian, or lemon cucumbers.
Cold Cucumber Soups
Vegan Cold Cucumber Yogurt Soup: With lots of fresh herbs in a tangy, creamy base, this no-cook soup is an exceptionally easy and needs no cooking. Quick to make, it’s inspired by the classic recipe for Middle Eastern cucumber soup, and is so refreshing!
Cold Green Pea & Cucumber Soup: This cool soup needs very little prep — everything just gets thrown into the blender. Cold soups aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, so to speak, but if you’re a fan, there are few things more refreshing in the summer.
Cold Tomato Mango Coconut Soup: Summer vegetables, cucumber, and a lush fruit come together in a cold soup with a Thai twist. Think of it as a Thai-flavored gazpacho.
Cucumber Salads & Bowls
Refreshing Pickled Cucumber Salad: A perfect companion with veggie burgers, sandwiches, and wraps, this refreshing pickled cucumber salad can be served with just about anything.
Nori Rice Bowls with Tofu, Cucumber, and Avocado: Simple nori rice bowls are subtly infused with the tasty sea vegetable. Embellished with crispy tofu, cucumber, and avocado, it’s like veggie sushi deconstructed, but chunkier.
Vegetable Sushi Salad: Speaking of sushi, here’s another interpretation of deconstructed sushi. This one is a great way to use up leftover rice and offers an option of using plant-based tuna or baked tofu.
Barley Salad with Red Beans and Cucumber: This simple and flavorful barley salad with red beans is embellished with cucumber, herbs, and sunflower seeds, dressed in vinaigrette.
Spring Barley and Asparagus Salad: Peas, cucumbers and dill give this barley and asparagus salad a spring-y flavor, though you can make it year round if you can find good asparagus.
Pearl Couscous Salad with Cucumber and Fresh Herbs: Here’s a great way to use this tiny, tender pasta (also known as pearl couscous). With plenty of parsley, scallion, and red onion, it’s flavored with lemon and a hint of fresh mint.
Kale and Cucumber Salad with Avocado Tahini Dressing: This easy kale and cucumber salad is bathed in a luscious dressing of avocado and tahini. While this dressing is ideal for this and other kinds of kale salads, it’s great on most any kind of green salad.
Cool Cucumber and Kale Salad with Hot and Spicy Tofu: If you enjoy salads that are both hot and cold, you’ll love this cool and refreshing cucumber and kale salad, topped with sriracha-sautéed tofu.
Vegan Feta and Watermelon Salad: Almost too pretty to eat, this salad is extra refreshing with the addition of cucumber and a hint of mint. It’s one of those combinations that seems odd at first, but is actually genius.
Peanut Satay Soba Noodles with Cucumber: Peanut satay soba noodles is a dish that comes together quickly and is a perfect main dish for a warm weather meal with simply prepared tofu or tempeh. I suppose that technically this is a salad, but we can also call it a cold noodle dish. Either way, it’s delicious and on the table in about 20 minutes.
Vegan Rice Noodle Salad with Plant-Based “Steak”: In this vegan rice noodle salad, strips of beefy-style vegan plant protein, cucumbers, cilantro, and an optional hint of mint star in a Thai-inspired cold dish that’s both hearty and refreshing.
Spring Salad with Oranges & Bok Choy or Belgian Endive: This classy spring salad featuring tender greens and cucumber has a lively citrus flavor provided by fresh oranges and their juice. This is fantastic made with a spring orange like Ojai Pixie tangerines.
Kohlrabi Salad with Carrots & Cucumber: This simple, crunchy salad is enlivened with a dressing that’s citrusy (from lemon or lime), sweet (from maple syrup or agave), and tart (a splash of apple cider vinegar).
Mixed Greens Salad with Cucumber, Radishes & Herbs: The spring garden is the star of this simple mixed greens salad. A tender salad dressed in vinaigrette, it’s a fitting accompaniment to most any kind of spring meal.
Relish-style cucumber salads, salsas & pickles
Simple Asian-Style Sesame Cucumber Salad:Sesame Cucumber Salad is a great accompaniment to stir-fries, noodle dishes, and other Asian-inspired meals.
Japanese-Style Cucumber and Wakame Salad: This traditional Japanese-style cucumber and wakame salad is a type of sunumono — vinegary cold dishes that add savor to the plate. Wakame, is one of the most widely used sea vegetables in Japanese cuisine, surpassed only by nori and kombu.
Cucumber and Kimchi Salad is a fantastic addition to the plate when served with Asian noodle dishes, stir-fries, rice dishes, and Korean specialties.
Cucumber and Pineapple Salsa (no tomatoes): If you’re a fan of salsa but want a change of pace from the usual tomato base, this cucumber and pineapple salsa recipe may be just what you’re looking for.
Quick and Easy Refrigerator Pickles: There’s no need for traditional canning methods and equipment other than a quart jar. The flavor is perfectly half-sour and makes use of apple cider vinegar.
Cucumber Beverages
Cucumber-Ginger Lemonade: If you’re regretting a food blow-out (aka holiday meals), or just want to feel refreshed and hydrated on warm-weather days, this cucumber ginger lemonade is for you.
Watermelon-Cucumber Cooler: What’s more cooling than cucumber? Maybe watermelon. Put the two together and you have an incredibly refreshing watermelon cucumber drink. With a hint of mint and ginger, it’s a blissful way to stay hydrated.
Blended Pineapple Cucumber Juice: Here’s a super-refreshing juice made in a blender. It retains all the fiber and flavor and features a hint of apple cider vinegar. For post-workout or post-“I ate too much” occasions, this is a fantastic beverage.
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