Topic: too many cucumbers

[gilly]

Hi
I have a glut of cucumbers and wondered if anybody had any good recipes or preserving ideas - they are standard outdoor variety.  I love indian food and thought about making raita to store but does anybody know how to preserve it?

Thanks

[ruud]

I know somebody who is pickling them,the same way as you dowith gherkins.

[Doris_Pinks]

gilly, I have recipes for cucumber and cherry chutney, cucumber and red pepper relish, and pickled cucumber with dill if you are interested. (also have cucumber jam, cucumber and ginger jam, cucumber jelly, and sweet pickled cucumbers!) DP

[Dorothy]

Hi gilly,

I too have a glut at the moment and all the neighbours have been supplied already  ;D

Doris I love the sound of your recipes for cucumber and red pepper relish and cucumber jam.  I have a lovely recipe for tomato and red pepper chutney if anyone is interested.

[Doris_Pinks]

Dorothy:-

Cucumber Jam

2 Lb cucumber (after peeling)
1/8 pint water
2lb sugar
juice 2 lemons

Simmer the diced cucumber in the water until soft
Add lemon juice and sugar
Stir until sugar has dissolved
Boil rapidly until set.

(this jam tends to be very pale, you may like to add a few drops of green food colouring.

To make cucumber and ginger jam, same as above but add a little powdered ginger to taste.

[Doris_Pinks]

Cucumber and red pepper relish

750g (1 1/2 lb medium cucumbers peeled
2 teaspoons salt
2 large red peppers, cored seeded and thinly sliced
1 Tablespoon lime juice
175 ml (6fl oz) red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons mustard seeds

Cut cucumbers in half lengthways and remove seeds. Mince coarsely into a seive, sprinkle with salt and leave to drain for at least an hour. Squeeze out excess water.
Put peppers and lime juice in a bowl and mix well.
Bring the vinegar to a boil and add the cucumbers, and peppers/lime juice, and mustard seeds. Simmer for 10 mins.
Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal.

Makes about 750g (1 3/4 lb)

[tim]

Raita won't store - shame!

Gazpacho - assuming your peppers are ready too - & freeze it?

Delia's sweet cu pickle is our standby. = Tim

[gilly]

Thanks everyone - will certainly try the cucumber and ginger jam.  I wondered about raita with some vinegar as they sell that in jars in the supermarkets

[tina]

gilly, my Mum had some M&S cookbooks, and one of them had a fab recipe for cucumber soup, which you serve cold. Really nice, tastes rather like asparagus soup!

Unfortunately cannot get to books, but maybe someone else out there may have the recipe.

Tina.

[Dorothy]

Doris,

Thank you very much for the recipes. Sorry that I didn't reply earlier but I wasn't around yesterday.  :-[

Will try the recipes out today to reduce the glut.

Thanks again.

[Mrs Ava]

My 3 cuces don't really make a glut.  Note to self, more cuce plants next year!