In a video shared on social media a while back, @wevaper_us demonstrated a cucumber-slicing technique that allows you to end up with heart-shaped cucumber slices. Sounds great? It looks even better.

To make heart-shaped cucumber slices, cut the end of the cucumber around a fourth of its length while placing your knife diagonally. Then, split the cucumber end down the middle, place the two pieces you got skin-way up on the cutting board, and join them together to form a heart.

Next, slice the cucumber lengthwise to get heart-shaped slices. The number of slices will depend on the thickness of the cucumber. Repeat the same with the other end of the cucumber.

These love(ly) cucumber slices are not just perfect for salad. You can also use them to visually improve all sorts of other dishes, and they are an amazing addition to the charcuterie board.

To make sure you are doing everything right and get the best results, check out the video from @wevaper_us with full instructions below.

The post Check Out This Love(ly) Technique for Cutting Cucumbers appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

Edible Skin

Some people peel their cucumbers because they simply don’t like the taste, while others do it because they’re not sure if they’re edible this way. The good news is that you can safely eat cucumber skin because it’s 100% edible—and that’s not even the best thing about it!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sandra Öz (@sandraozzz)

Nutritious Qualities

The main reason why you should eat cucumbers without peeling them is the many healthy properties hiding inside their skin. As a matter of fact, the skin is actually the most nutritious part of the entire cucumber because it contains vitamins A, B, C, and K, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.

Proper Wash

If we convinced you that cucumbers with skin on them are worth a shot, there’s just one thing you should do first—give them a good wash. It’s important to wash off the dirt and pesticides they might be covered with, in addition to getting rid of a thin waxy layer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yarrow Avenue Collection (@yarrowavenuecollection)

The post 3 Things You Should Probably Consider Before Peeling Your Cucumbers appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

Cucumbers come from a plant that is a member of the gourd family, a group that includes other vegetables such as squash, pumpkin, zucchini, and even watermelon. They grow on vines and are even easily to cultivate at home if you’re thinking about setting up your own home garden.

Outside of more technical characteristics, it’s important to remember just how versatile cucumbers are and how many recipes they can be used in. In fact, using them in recipes goes past one way that they can be enjoyed. There’s nothing more that I enjoy on a summer day than a simple sliced cucumber with a bit of salt and pepper!

But if you don’t want to be simple, it’s definitely worth remembering that cucumbers can be used in recipes as varied as gazpacho to salads. Its bright green skin can turn a salad from dull to exciting, and it’s great with onions, sour cream and white wine vinegar in a simple summer salad.

In short, cucumbers allow for all kinds of improvisation and they’re a great ingredient to get to know if you’re a home cook. Dive into the world of cucumbers and find out just how exciting they can be!

The post Cucumbers are a Chef’s Best Friend appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

It’s important to pair heavier dishes like grilled meat or burgers with light side dishes, and that’s why this light summer salad is a perfect option.

Ingredients

• 1 large cucumber
• 2 Roma tomatoes
• ½ red onion
• White wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Instructions

Start off the preparation of your salad by washing the tomatoes and the cucumber. Since you’ll leave the skins of these veggies on, it’s important to be sure that they’re clean!

After you’ve done this, dice the cucumber and the Roma tomatoes into relatively small chunks. Set aside.

Next, peel the red onion and then cut it in half. You’ll want to slice the red onion into thin pieces that are small enough to be bite-sized.

Add the diced and sliced vegetables into a bowl and then add about 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil, or to taste. Make sure that the veggies are coated.

Next, add enough white wine vinegar to cover all of the vegetables as well. The vinegar and olive oil will combine to make the “dressing.”

Once you’ve finished, sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper. Place in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes, and then it’ll be ready to serve.

The post This Light Summer Salad is a Perfect Side Dish appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

A lemon cucumber actually has nothing to do with lemons at all, except for the shape and the color of the skin. This vegetable is just another type of cucumber, and you might find that after you taste it, you have a new favorite addition to your salads!

A lemon cucumber is a round, yellow cucumber that grows with a lot of spikes on it. It is especially good if grown in a cooler temperature, and it doesn’t take up much space in a garden. Before you eat it though, you do have to take a cloth and rub the spikes off, or it won’t be a pleasant bite.

The taste of a lemon cucumber is milder but has a generally agreed upon better flavor than a regular cucumber. With these guys, you can actually bite into it just like an apple, chop it up and add it to salads, or pickle it! Another way a lot of people eat it is with a sprinkling of tajin seasonings, which gives it a really zesty and slightly spicy taste.

The post Have You Ever Heard of a Lemon Cucumber? appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

It’s not a coincidence that countries like Spain and Italy have some of the healthiest populations and highest life expectancies on Earth.

Here is a recipe for a simple, healthy Mediterranean salad that can be made in under five minutes. It’s the perfect side dish or midday snack.

Ingredients:

• One ripe, medium-sized tomato
• One small cucumber (Half of a large one will work, too)
• 50 g. of chickpeas, or to taste
• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Sea salt
• Black pepper

Method:

First, start by slicing and cutting the tomato into small, bite-sized pieces. Next, do the same with the cucumber, leaving the nutrient-rich skin on, by cutting it into slices and then halving the slices.

After you’re finished slicing, add these two vegetables and the chickpeas to a bowl.

The next step is to add the olive oil. You just need enough to coat the three vegetables, but don’t overdo it. Next, emulsify the olive oil and create a delicious, light dressing by adding a similar amount of lemon juice. This will give your salad a pleasant citrus touch.

Finally, add salt and black pepper to taste on top of the salad, mixing it around to combine all of the ingredients and put the finishing touches on your salad.

Wasn’t that easy? 

The post Five-Minute Mediterranean Salad appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

View this post on Instagram

Helloooo GREEK CHICKPEA SALAD! .. . This is literally the salad of my dreams. Chickpeas, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, yellow pepper, kalamata olives, creamy feta and fresh parsley in a Lemony Vinaigrette. All my favorite flavors, fresh, light and SO YUMMY!. . Super easy to make, this is a great Spring and Summer Salad, perfect for an everyday meal, BBQ or brunch. Recipe on the website, link in bio .. . Hope everyone had a great day! It was nearly 90 degrees here today and felt like Summer! .. . . . . . . #glutenfree #wholefoods #eattherainbow #vegetarian #EEEEEATS . #eatwell #eatpretty #eatgoodfeelgood #eatyourveggies #chickpeas #cucumber #greeksalad #veggies #droolclub #realfood #wholefoods #nourish #healthyrecipes

A post shared by Healthy Gluten-Free Family (@healthygffamily) on May 2, 2018 at 6:02pm PDT

When it starts getting hot outside, having a crisp cold salad is sometimes the best way to keep you cool from the inside. Using cucumber as the star of these salads will keep you hydrated because they have an extremely high water content, and have nutrients that also help regulate body temperature. Whether you’re planning a big get together or just getting things together for the week, look to these salads for inspiration.  

Cucumber and Radish

Cucumbers and radishes are such a fun, crunchy duo. The green of the cucumber and the reddish pink of the radish are also aesthetically pleasing. To make this salad, simply cut up these two vegetables, pour over lime juice vinaigrette, and you’re done! To add another cooling factor to this salad, chiffonade some mint and add it as well. This also helps cool down the body and gives it a great flavor.

Israeli Salad

Making Israeli salad only involves dicing up cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion. Add in a good amount of chopped parsley along with whatever other herbs you have on hand, like dill, mint, or cilantro. Pour over lemon juice, a touch of olive oil, season with salt and pepper and you’re ready to serve!

The post Cucumber Salads To Try This Summer! appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

In a video shared on social media a while back, @wevaper_us demonstrated a cucumber-slicing technique that allows you to end up with heart-shaped cucumber slices. Sounds great? It looks even better.

To make heart-shaped cucumber slices, cut the end of the cucumber around a fourth of its length while placing your knife diagonally. Then, split the cucumber end down the middle, place the two pieces you got skin-way up on the cutting board, and join them together to form a heart.

Next, slice the cucumber lengthwise to get heart-shaped slices. The number of slices will depend on the thickness of the cucumber. Repeat the same with the other end of the cucumber.

These love(ly) cucumber slices are not just perfect for salad. You can also use them to visually improve all sorts of other dishes, and they are an amazing addition to the charcuterie board.

To make sure you are doing everything right and get the best results, check out the video from @wevaper_us with full instructions below.

The post Check Out This Love(ly) Technique for Cutting Cucumbers appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

Edible Skin

Some people peel their cucumbers because they simply don’t like the taste, while others do it because they’re not sure if they’re edible this way. The good news is that you can safely eat cucumber skin because it’s 100% edible—and that’s not even the best thing about it!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sandra Öz (@sandraozzz)

Nutritious Qualities

The main reason why you should eat cucumbers without peeling them is the many healthy properties hiding inside their skin. As a matter of fact, the skin is actually the most nutritious part of the entire cucumber because it contains vitamins A, B, C, and K, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc.

Proper Wash

If we convinced you that cucumbers with skin on them are worth a shot, there’s just one thing you should do first—give them a good wash. It’s important to wash off the dirt and pesticides they might be covered with, in addition to getting rid of a thin waxy layer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yarrow Avenue Collection (@yarrowavenuecollection)

The post 3 Things You Should Probably Consider Before Peeling Your Cucumbers appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

Cucumbers come from a plant that is a member of the gourd family, a group that includes other vegetables such as squash, pumpkin, zucchini, and even watermelon. They grow on vines and are even easily to cultivate at home if you’re thinking about setting up your own home garden.

Outside of more technical characteristics, it’s important to remember just how versatile cucumbers are and how many recipes they can be used in. In fact, using them in recipes goes past one way that they can be enjoyed. There’s nothing more that I enjoy on a summer day than a simple sliced cucumber with a bit of salt and pepper!

But if you don’t want to be simple, it’s definitely worth remembering that cucumbers can be used in recipes as varied as gazpacho to salads. Its bright green skin can turn a salad from dull to exciting, and it’s great with onions, sour cream and white wine vinegar in a simple summer salad.

In short, cucumbers allow for all kinds of improvisation and they’re a great ingredient to get to know if you’re a home cook. Dive into the world of cucumbers and find out just how exciting they can be!

The post Cucumbers are a Chef’s Best Friend appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

It’s important to pair heavier dishes like grilled meat or burgers with light side dishes, and that’s why this light summer salad is a perfect option.

Ingredients

• 1 large cucumber
• 2 Roma tomatoes
• ½ red onion
• White wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Instructions

Start off the preparation of your salad by washing the tomatoes and the cucumber. Since you’ll leave the skins of these veggies on, it’s important to be sure that they’re clean!

After you’ve done this, dice the cucumber and the Roma tomatoes into relatively small chunks. Set aside.

Next, peel the red onion and then cut it in half. You’ll want to slice the red onion into thin pieces that are small enough to be bite-sized.

Add the diced and sliced vegetables into a bowl and then add about 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil, or to taste. Make sure that the veggies are coated.

Next, add enough white wine vinegar to cover all of the vegetables as well. The vinegar and olive oil will combine to make the “dressing.”

Once you’ve finished, sprinkle with kosher salt and black pepper. Place in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes, and then it’ll be ready to serve.

The post This Light Summer Salad is a Perfect Side Dish appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

A lemon cucumber actually has nothing to do with lemons at all, except for the shape and the color of the skin. This vegetable is just another type of cucumber, and you might find that after you taste it, you have a new favorite addition to your salads!

A lemon cucumber is a round, yellow cucumber that grows with a lot of spikes on it. It is especially good if grown in a cooler temperature, and it doesn’t take up much space in a garden. Before you eat it though, you do have to take a cloth and rub the spikes off, or it won’t be a pleasant bite.

The taste of a lemon cucumber is milder but has a generally agreed upon better flavor than a regular cucumber. With these guys, you can actually bite into it just like an apple, chop it up and add it to salads, or pickle it! Another way a lot of people eat it is with a sprinkling of tajin seasonings, which gives it a really zesty and slightly spicy taste.

The post Have You Ever Heard of a Lemon Cucumber? appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

It’s not a coincidence that countries like Spain and Italy have some of the healthiest populations and highest life expectancies on Earth.

Here is a recipe for a simple, healthy Mediterranean salad that can be made in under five minutes. It’s the perfect side dish or midday snack.

Ingredients:

• One ripe, medium-sized tomato
• One small cucumber (Half of a large one will work, too)
• 50 g. of chickpeas, or to taste
• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Sea salt
• Black pepper

Method:

First, start by slicing and cutting the tomato into small, bite-sized pieces. Next, do the same with the cucumber, leaving the nutrient-rich skin on, by cutting it into slices and then halving the slices.

After you’re finished slicing, add these two vegetables and the chickpeas to a bowl.

The next step is to add the olive oil. You just need enough to coat the three vegetables, but don’t overdo it. Next, emulsify the olive oil and create a delicious, light dressing by adding a similar amount of lemon juice. This will give your salad a pleasant citrus touch.

Finally, add salt and black pepper to taste on top of the salad, mixing it around to combine all of the ingredients and put the finishing touches on your salad.

Wasn’t that easy? 

The post Five-Minute Mediterranean Salad appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

View this post on Instagram

Helloooo GREEK CHICKPEA SALAD! .. . This is literally the salad of my dreams. Chickpeas, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, yellow pepper, kalamata olives, creamy feta and fresh parsley in a Lemony Vinaigrette. All my favorite flavors, fresh, light and SO YUMMY!. . Super easy to make, this is a great Spring and Summer Salad, perfect for an everyday meal, BBQ or brunch. Recipe on the website, link in bio .. . Hope everyone had a great day! It was nearly 90 degrees here today and felt like Summer! .. . . . . . . #glutenfree #wholefoods #eattherainbow #vegetarian #EEEEEATS . #eatwell #eatpretty #eatgoodfeelgood #eatyourveggies #chickpeas #cucumber #greeksalad #veggies #droolclub #realfood #wholefoods #nourish #healthyrecipes

A post shared by Healthy Gluten-Free Family (@healthygffamily) on May 2, 2018 at 6:02pm PDT

When it starts getting hot outside, having a crisp cold salad is sometimes the best way to keep you cool from the inside. Using cucumber as the star of these salads will keep you hydrated because they have an extremely high water content, and have nutrients that also help regulate body temperature. Whether you’re planning a big get together or just getting things together for the week, look to these salads for inspiration.  

Cucumber and Radish

Cucumbers and radishes are such a fun, crunchy duo. The green of the cucumber and the reddish pink of the radish are also aesthetically pleasing. To make this salad, simply cut up these two vegetables, pour over lime juice vinaigrette, and you’re done! To add another cooling factor to this salad, chiffonade some mint and add it as well. This also helps cool down the body and gives it a great flavor.

Israeli Salad

Making Israeli salad only involves dicing up cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion. Add in a good amount of chopped parsley along with whatever other herbs you have on hand, like dill, mint, or cilantro. Pour over lemon juice, a touch of olive oil, season with salt and pepper and you’re ready to serve!

The post Cucumber Salads To Try This Summer! appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.