We know the struggles of finding a great raw vegetable recipe can be difficult, so we’ve put together a list of our favorite 15 delicious raw cucumber recipes.
Though commonly considered a vegetable, the cucumber is a fruit packed with phytonutrients, antioxidants, and has a hydrating juicy flavor. It’s also super low in calories and a staple for refreshing salads and delicious smoothies, as a 300-gram serving containing 2 grams of fiber. Here are our picks that include salads, appetizers, main courses, and soups.
Salads
1. Fresh Cucumber Salad
Making a salad doesn’t mean that it has to have a lot of fancy ingredients. Making it as simple as possible goes a lot further than becoming flustered by a complicated instructions manual. As long as it tastes good, who’s keeping score? This fresh cucumber salad takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and can serve up to 10 people, which is perfect for family gatherings, picnics, or summer barbecues.
You’re only going to need four ingredients to make this delicious salad: cucumbers, sugar, white vinegar, and fresh dill or parsley. Keep it in the fridge when not in use, and for the best result let it sit overnight. You can also add some other ingredients like onion or carrot to increase the flavor and enhance the nutritional goodness of this salad, which is always encouraged here.
2. Super Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad
Take a different spin on this classic salad pairing. We found that the aroma and taste were exceptional and this would make a great standalone meal or starter, to the main course. It’s crunchy, juicy, and full of flavor.
The great news is that this recipe can be made from ingredients that are probably already in your refrigerator and kitchen cupboards. For the red wine vinaigrette, you’ll need olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, with salt and pepper to taste. The salad goes delightfully with Roma tomatoes, red onion, a green bell pepper, and parsley.
3. Fresh Cucumber Carrot Salad
This cucumber and carrot is a super healthy powerhouse. Packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, it’s perfect for anyone trying to lose a bit of weight. The crunchy texture and colorful presentation are perfect to enjoy as a meal or side dish, so don’t feel bottlenecked with this recipe.
Other than cucumber and carrots, all you’ll need is fresh dill, garlic, west corn, lemon juice, hemp seed, and salt to taste. You can also enjoy this with a vegan cheese alternative sprinkled over the top, like parmesan. A simple vegan lunch that will be ready in 10 minutes or less.
4. Asian Cucumber Salad
Asian foods are delicious and packed full of interesting flavors, herbs and spices. This Asian cucumber salad is a gluten-free option that you’ll fall in love with the second you take your first bite.
You’ll need a lot of traditional Asian cooking ingredients like sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and chili paste for a gentle kick. A quick-cooking tip for this recipe: score the cucumber with a fork before slicing, allowing the dressing to soak into the cucumber, adding to the already excellent taste.
Soups
1. Chilled Avocado And Cucumber Soup
Making tasty soup doesn’t need to be overly complicated. As long as you have the right mindset, even a simple recipe has the potential to become a staple in your weekly meal plan. No better way than this chilled avocado soup, which is creamy and not too heavy.
You’ll only need five ingredients so it’s super simple. Along with water and salt, simply combine avocado, cucumber, cumin, garlic, and lemon, blend it in a blender, and serve garnished with optional diced tomatoes and red onions. This is the perfect storage food and can be left in the freezer for up to 2 months.
2. Easy vegan gazpacho soup
This lean cuisine is a vegan take on the Spanish soup, perfect for trying on a hot summer’s day when a heavy meal isn’t that tempting. You can pair this recipe with croutons, or add a dollop of hot sauce to give this cool soup a spicy kick.
The ingredients list is longer than some of the other soups on our list, but don’t let that put you off, as it only takes 20 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to chill. You’ll need ripe tomatoes, bell pepper, garlic, celery, lemon juice, onion, and red wine vinegar, to name a few ingredients.
3. Raw spicy vegan avocado-jalapeño soup
This photo we saw for this recipe looked so delicious we had to include it on our list. There’s just something desirable about avocado and cucumber soups. This refreshing soup is an excellent choice for taking into the office or enjoying on a warm weekend in the middle of summer. The creaminess of the avocado and the sweetness of the carrot are the perfect soup-making duo.
You’ll also need to grab some spinach, lemon, tahini, and the jalapeño for that hot tingle. This recipe will take less than 5 minutes to prepare, blend, and serve.
Appetizers
1. Raw vegan cucumber rolls with peanut sauce
This is a delightful little appetizer perfect for a summertime gathering, and the peanut sauce completes the dish. The roll-ups are sweet, salty, and taste fantastic. They also take our pick for the cutest presentation and would make great finger food at a wedding or summer event.
Only taking around 20 minutes to prepare, this recipe will show you how to make 15-20 rolls that can serve up to 4. Feel free to double the ingredients of carrot, avocado, sesame seeds, and make more.
2. Smoky vegan cucumber bites
If you’re in a pinch and require an appetizer that’s quick and easy to make, smoky vegan cucumber bites are a perfect choice. They have a big flavor and look extremely edible on any serving tray. We would describe the taste as a mixture of tangy, smoky, exquisite, and different. Make sure to give these a try, and serve at your next plush event.
You’ll need the following items: cucumber, vegan cream cheese, smoked paprika, and sesame seeds. Also, homemade cheese works just as well as vegan cream cheese. The biggest win of all is that each appetizer is only 95 calories per serving. Delicious, and great for the waistline!
3. Cucumber Slices with Smoky Sunflower Seed Pâté
This is a fresh and creamy appetizer, suitable for any season, is gluten-free, dairy-free, and suitable for vegans. Sunflower seeds make this cuisine extra special and you’ll receive full instructions on how to make the pâté from scratch.
All you’ll need are sunflower seeds, garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika, and fresh dill. You can also swap out borage for cherry tomatoes, which look very seasonal and would be perfect to serve at Christmas time.
4. Cucumber-hummus boats
Unlock your inner child with this fancy appetizer, which is a great snack or main course option when paired with a bowl of salad greens. If you need to prepare something in a pinch, cucumber-hummus boats only take 1 minute to prepare. They’re dairy-free and a great food choice for kids looking for something interesting to enjoy.
All you’ll need is 1 cucumber, hummus, paprika, tomato, and a pinch of salt. You could even add some jalapeños for something a bit spicier, and vegan cream cheese if you fancy a creamier texture.
Main courses
1. Savory vegan cucumber pancakes
You would never expect cucumber to be part of a pancake recipe but we’ve discovered a spin on the classic dish, you wouldn’t even notice them. These meals are traditional in India, typically made with rice flour and spices. This recipe goes for an adapted version for western audiences. They taste exceptional and you won’t want to miss out.
The main ingredients are chickpea flour, ginger, serrano, mint, and rice flour. One serving will net you around 145 calories, 5 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fiber. If you want to indulge and make these a more traditional option then serving with chutney is a must. Ketchup also works well, if you enjoy the classic condiment!
2. The ultimate vegan sandwich
Who doesn’t love to tuck into a hearty sandwich? The problem is that vegan sandwiches often miss the mark, and overuse certain ingredients like lettuce and tomato. However, this ultimate vegan sandwich takes the boring away from vegan sandwiches and has many layers of creamy, crunchy, goodness layers inside encased in a seeded bagel bun.
For the filling, it requires avocado, lemon, spinach, tomato, vegan cheese, and cress sprouts. The cucumber adds to the crunchiness and makes this a superstar sandwich that is healthy and nutritious. Perfect for lunches and can be served with hummus, falafel, tofu, or mashed black beans. The possibilities are endless.
3. Cucumber curry
This dish is a must-have for Asian cuisine enthusiasts looking to enjoy a healthy, hearty curry that is creamy, crunchy, and perfect to cook for guests. Take your time with this one, and enjoy the cooking process as this will take you roughly 50 minutes total, and serves up to 4 people, ideal for a classy double date.
You’ll find a lot of typical Asian ingredients are used like ginger, garlic, turmeric, coconut milk, and onion. You can also add more chili sauce if you like curries hot and spicy. Serve with rice, and vegan-friendly naan, and stay warm this winter.
4. Ragu chunk skewers
Organic kofu ragu is one of our favorite meat replacements and combines nicely with vegetables. These Bonsan ragu chunk skewer recipes will be great summer food that can be served for everybody to enjoy.
What we like about these is the effortless preparation, in that there’s barely anything to do. Other than sourcing the Kofu, cucumber, sesame seeds, and garlic oil, the fiddly but is cutting up the cucumber into slices and placing the ingredients on the skewer. After 5 minutes they’ll be ready to enjoy themselves.
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