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What’s an English cucumber and how is it different from the standard variety? Here’s what you need to know.
What’s an English cucumber? Why buy it versus a standard slicing cucumber? It’s not secret: we much prefer the English cucumber to the standard variety. It’s got a better flavor and is easier to work with than the standard. Why? Here’s what you need to know about this variety, and a few recipes where the English cucumber shines.
What’s an English cucumber?
The English cucumber is also known as a European cucumber, hothouse cucumber, or seedless cucumber. They’re long, thin cucumbers sold covered in plastic at the store. Here’s what to know about this variety, and how it’s different from the standard variety:
- English cucumbers are long and straight, with a thin skin with ridges. The seeds are so small they are almost imperceptible. The flavor of an English cucumber is sweeter than the standard cucumber, and it doesn’t need to be peeled or seeded before eating! Because the thin skin is so fragile, it’s sold with a plastic covering in the grocery store.
- Standard slicing cucumbers are shorter, with thick, dark green skin and very large seeds. The thick skin and seeds can be bitter, so they’re often removed when cooking.
How to store it
It might seem odd that the English cucumber is sold in plastic wrap, but it’s necessary because of its very delicate skin. When you’re at the store, grab a cucumber that feels firm to the touch along its entire length. Store it in the produce drawer in your refrigerator with the plastic wrap on. It stays good for about 1 week refrigerated in the plastic wrap.
English cucumber calories
Cucumbers are very low in calories. One English cucumber has about 50 calories, depending on the exact size. This equates to about 2 cups of sliced cucumbers. The low calories are in part due to the water content: a cucumber is 96% water!
Cucumber also includes a large amount of nutrients, most of which are contained in the peel (source). This makes English cucumbers a good choice: because they don’t need to be peeled before eating!
English cucumber recipes
English cucumber is our preferred variety to use in recipes because of its sweet flavor: and because you don’t need to peel it or remove its seeds! Here are a few ways to use English cucumbers in recipes:
English Cucumber Salad
English cucumbers are perfect for cucumber salad! Adding a bit of sour cream makes an irresistibly creamy sauce. The silky sauce also features dill and shallots. While it has a summery vibe, this tasty salad works any time of the year.
Cucumber Juice
Here’s a great way to use E:nglish cucumbers: in cooling cucumber juice! This tasty vegetable juice is hydrating and full of spa-like flavor. Combine it with green apple for a tasty natural juice that’s ultra refreshing. Throw in the entire English cucumber with no need to peel.
Cucumber Dill Sandwiches
English cucumbers are great for sandwiches as well! These are a bit of a retro snack, served in the 1950's on those little cocktail breads slathered with cream cheese. But they go back even further than that: cucumber sandwiches come from Britain and were served as tea sandwiches.
Quick Cucumber Sauce
English cucumbers are also fantastic in sauces. Stir together shredded cucumber with Greek yogurt, lemon, garlic, and dill, and it’s nothing short of a revelation. It works on falafel, sandwiches, burgers, or even grilled veggie platter.
Easy Cucumber Smoothie
Cucumber isn’t the most likely ingredient in a smoothie. But it adds an intriguing, spa-like flavor to the puree! This tasty ingredient is full of nutrients and water to make your smoothie taste even better. It’s perfectly creamy and a great way to load up on nutrients as a healthy snack or breakfast.
Greek Salad with English Cucumber
Another great way to use English cucumbers? Greek salad! There’s not much that tastes more refreshing than the combination of juicy tomatoes, cool cucumbers, red onion, Kalamata olives, and salty feta. This salad is the traditional Greek way (no lettuce!) and relies on juicy cucumber for its hydrating crunch.
English Cucumber Salad
Here’s an ultra refreshing side dish: English cucumber salad with sour cream! The silky sauce with dill and shallots brings an irresistible flavor.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: Salad
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 medium shallots
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 3 tablespoons chopped fresh)
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for sprinkling
- Fresh ground black pepper
- 2 large English cucumbers (2 pounds), or peeled standard cucumbers
Instructions
- Thinly slice the shallots (separate them into rings with your fingers). In a small container, stir together the shallots with the sour cream, white vinegar, dried dill, grated garlic clove, kosher salt, and black pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, thinly slice cucumbers and place them in a colander (if using standard cucumber, peel them first; English cucumbers don’t need to be peeled). Toss the slices with several larger pinches of kosher salt and rest 45 minutes. Remove them from the colander and pat them dry.
- When ready to serve, gently stir together the cucumbers and dressing (don’t stir too vigorously or it will cause bubbles). Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours; it gets watery if you refrigerate for too long with the sauce. If you’d like to prepare it in advance, refrigerate the components separately until serving.
Love the smoothie recipe and helpful info about the English cuke !
Thank you I’m making the cucumber salad today your recipe thank you again
You’re welcome! :)