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Hi There 

I am the proud owner of a 1kg pack of cucumbers saved from the supermarket... Only after Covid my system refuses to digest them raw (tried with one)? Any ideas? I think in some Asian dishes they are cooked - i have a recipe i tried once but that is all?

Thanks!

Agnes

Guess you tried doing a search through the online recipes in the library or your own bookshelf...? But Huff Post  has some ideas! (Click hyperlink) Happy cucumber cooking!

Not a cooking suggestion, but peeling and seeding cucumbers will take care of a lot of the digestion problems. Seeding is very easily done - cut in half lengthwise, then scrape the seeds out by running a spoon down the cut side. This eliminates the bitterness and most of the stomach gas. Cut cucumber also keeps longer with the seeds removed (trick I learned from woriking in a pizza parlor with a salad bar).

Originally Posted by: debkellie

Guess you tried doing a search through the online recipes in the library or your own bookshelf...? But Huff Post  has some ideas! (Click hyperlink) Happy cucumber cooking!

Great link! Thank you :) I may actually try the Julia Child one today!

Originally Posted by: Fyretigger

Not a cooking suggestion, but peeling and seeding cucumbers will take care of a lot of the digestion problems. Seeding is very easily done - cut in half lengthwise, then scrape the seeds out by running a spoon down the cut side. This eliminates the bitterness and most of the stomach gas. Cut cucumber also keeps longer with the seeds removed (trick I learned from woriking in a pizza parlor with a salad bar).

I may try but I am a little scared :) Yesterday when I tried a classic cucumber salad I had quite bad stomach cramps - It does that with almost any raw vegetable (but not salad, anything like cucumber, tomato, peppers, onions). I never had any problems but I think the virus has thrown my stomach balance a bit and it takes some time to resolve, but it will eventually.

Doing a search for recipes with "cucumbers NOT salad" I was surprised how many things came up in my own collection - as well as stir fries (I enjoyed this Ken Hom one with pork), there are recipes for them sauteed or steamed, and lots of soups. Searching for "cucumber cream" brings up lots of things.

I also found a Jane Grigson recipe for a "cucumber ragout", a Madhur Jaffrey curry with prawns (looks like a substitute for a summer squash) and a New York Times vegetable risotto that used the juice of many cucumbers.

Originally Posted by: RogerP

Doing a search for recipes with "cucumbers NOT salad" I was surprised how many things came up in my own collection - as well as stir fries (I enjoyed this Ken Hom one with pork), there are recipes for them sauteed or steamed, and lots of soups. Searching for "cucumber cream" brings up lots of things.

Really good idea using cucumbers in soups.  Maybe sub cucumbers for winter melon to make  Chinese winter melon soup.   

Or add cucumbers in any light soups such as consomme.   

Originally Posted by: RogerP

Doing a search for recipes with "cucumbers NOT salad" I was surprised how many things came up in my own collection - as well as stir fries (I enjoyed this Ken Hom one with pork), there are recipes for them sauteed or steamed, and lots of soups. Searching for "cucumber cream" brings up lots of things.

I also found a Jane Grigson recipe for a "cucumber ragout", a Madhur Jaffrey curry with prawns (looks like a substitute for a summer squash) and a New York Times vegetable risotto that used the juice of many cucumbers.

So intriguing! Great I might try the curry / stir fry / ragoût :)

For the soup unfortunately, it is frequently raw like cucumber based gazpacho and then I will have the same problem (this is the first thing I tried when I first could see people again and my sister came over, and I couldn't eat it)

Juice might work though, but I do not have a juicer so might be a bit cumbersome

I can't seem to find them online, but some of my soup recipes do involve cooking the cucumbers. For example, a Frances Bissell one asks you to cook a sliced onion in a little stock, then add a chopped cucumber, more stock and herbs, then cook for 10 minutes. Put in a blender, add some dairy and chill until you serve.

For winter melon soups, the squash are very, very soft and cooked through.  For soups I prefer veg cooked quite well and not left crisp as in gazapacho. For chilled soups, I do like crispy texture in soups. Have you tried steaming cucumbers and see if that bothers your digestion?

I think steaming would work -> I think anything cooked would work actually!

I found the spicy cucumber surprise : Jeffrey Alford & Naomi Duguid's Spicy Cucumber Salad Recipe on Food52

And I also found : Cucumber and egg soup recipe | Eat Your Books

And also : Best Cucumber Jelly Recipe - How to Make Jelly with Cucumbers (food52.com) -> cucumber jelly! 

I think I don't have enough cucumbers now :) :) :)

Originally Posted by: Rinshin

For winter melon soups, the squash are very, very soft and cooked through.  For soups I prefer veg cooked quite well and not left crisp as in gazapacho. For chilled soups, I do like crispy texture in soups. Have you tried steaming cucumbers and see if that bothers your digestion?

Indeed -> thank you Rinshin! I see how cucumbers could really work here!

Chinese Winter Melon Soup Recipe (thespruceeats.com)

I am not sure if you have access to Madhur Jaffrey's books, but she has a beautiful recipe for Olan or Cucumber Cooked with Lentils.

Originally Posted by: eliza

The book Seductions of Rice by Alford and Duguid has a dish called spicy cucumber surprise. Basically the peeled and deseeded cukes are sautéed in oil with garlic and ginger, then tossed in a soy sauce and chili paste mixture. I don’t think I’ve ever made it myself though.

I was going to suggest this one as well.  It's delicious.

I had a Hong Kong Chinese flatmate  who put half moons of peeled cucumber in stir fry dishes, I sometimes do to use up a spare cucumber

I put grated or diced cucumber, squeezed dry, into hollandaise from a jar and heat gently to make a cheat sauce for salmon or trout, I add a little dill if I have any.