Sesame Peanut Cucumber Salad Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Should you deseed cucumber for salad? ›

With cucumbers, you can either seed them or not. Some varieties have thicker seeds that can be a little harder to digest or a bit bitter if the cucumber is on the mature side. There is a lot of flavor right around the seed, so if the cucumber's seeds are still small and tender, you can easily leave them in.

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.

However you plan to cook cucumbers, it's best to remove the seeds first (unless you're cooking with a seedless cuke). This critical step will cut down on the amount of water released during cooking (and minimize somewhat unappetizing seed floaters).

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. This means that the cucumber will release less water into whatever dish you're adding it to, such as tzatziki, tabbouleh, Greek salad, or potato salad.

These compounds are produced as a self-defense mechanism to protect themselves from being eaten. The compound tends to be concentrated at the ends. Hence you rub the ends, sprinkling the salt helps in extracting the white milky fluid that contains the cucurbitacins.

7. Combats aging signs. Cucumbers are an age-old secret to combat the aging process. Not only are they helpful in reducing signs of aging, such as wrinkles and age spots, but they also hydrate skin and slow down collagen depletion to keep it looking smooth and youthful.

Recipes that call for a seeded cucumber are usually looking for that light fresh taste that comes from the inside of the cucumber. The seeds can also add too much additional moisture to recipes if they're left intact, and the seeds in large, very mature cucumbers are just plain unpleasant to consume.

Their antioxidant activity helps slow or stop heart-related disease. And some research seems to show that the unique mix of nutrients in cucumber seeds could help improve your cholesterol numbers, which could have a direct impact on heart health. So skip those "seedless" cucumbers and go for the real thing!

The Best Option Is to Direct Sow Your Cucumbers

Direct seeding cucumbers in the garden as soon as the weather is warm enough is the fastest, easiest, and least expensive option.