Spiralized Cucumber Salad (2024)

FAQs

Can you use a Spiralizer for cucumbers? ›

Save time and spiralize crisp cucumber instead of chopping it for this easy, healthy vegetable side inspired by Greek salad. Want to make it a meal? Just add grilled chicken, shrimp or canned chickpeas.

The solution: The standard recommendation for ridding watery vegetable such as cucumbers of unwanted moisture is to salt them. The salt draws out the liquid from the vegetable because of the natural tendency of salt water solutions to equalize when mixed together.

Pickling cucumbers are shorter and bigger around than slicing cucumbers. They are bred to have thinner skins and black spines so the pickled product will look better. Pickling varieties can be eaten fresh and slicing varieties can be pickled, but the differences can be discerned by the average consumer.

They can be swapped for each other in raw dishes—such as using thinly sliced zucchini in lieu of cucumbers in a salad, or shredded cucumber for shredded zucchini in a poke bowl. They'll have slightly different flavors and textures, but the recipe should still be a success.

But even cucumbers can be elevated to greater deliciousness and versatility with a clever kitchen tip that you may not be aware of—salting. When you salt cucumber pieces or slices and let them sit for 30 minutes in a colander, the salt draws out excess moisture which then drains away.

Cucumbers—and other members of the pumpkin and gourd family—produce a compound called cucurbitacins that can impart a bitter taste. The amount of cucurbitacins a cucumber contains is increased when the plant faces adverse growing conditions, like a lack of water or excessive heat.

The light-white or clear coating of slime you may find on your cucumbers is a sign that the rotting process has begun, and it's just matter of time before they totally spoil.

Why can I eat pickles but not cucumbers? This could be due to an oral allergy syndrome, where raw fruits or vegetables cause allergic reactions, but processed versions do not. The pickling process changes the proteins in cucumbers that usually trigger allergic symptoms, making them safe for some individuals to consume.

Long English Cucumber

Long English Cucumbers have a good crunch with thin, delicate skin that's easy to digest. The best part: you don't even need to peel them—just slice 'em up and eat them as the perfect quick snack. This type of Cucumber is great in salads as well as a ton of other things, too!

Can I eat pickling cucumbers raw? ›

Kirby (or Pickling) Cucumbers: Short, oftentimes bumpy, these vary in color from yellow to dark green. They are good to eat raw, but they're especially ideal for pickling. Persian Cucumbers: Similar to English Cucumbers, these are mild in taste. Sometimes bumpy, and with thin skins, they are ideal for eating raw.

When you have a spiralizer handy it's so crazy simple. Slice off the ends of each cucumber (a flat base attaches best) and sandwich it between the blade and the pointy end of the handle. Then crank it and watch as your cucumber turns into tasty veggie noodles!