Baby cucumbers are handy snacks.
Baby cucumbers are an ideal snack and meal accompaniment. Often called qukes, they are tiny cucumbers that are crunchy. Look for qukes that are firm with no soft spots and have shiny skin. If you store them in a plastic bag, they will keep up to a week in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator. Besides being high in vitamin C, they are sources of folate and fiber. Find them in the produce section of your grocery store.
Dipping Food
Baby cucumbers can be found at some salad bars.
Due to their firmness, baby cucumbers make ideal dipping devices. Plop them into your favorite dip for a handy snack. Or use the qukes to make a dip for other food items. For example, tzatziki is a Greek-style dip for dunking meats or sandwiches into. It is made by combining strained Greek yogurt with baby cucumbers and garlic. To kick it up a notch, you can add salt, pepper, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, parsley or mint.
Salads
Qukes are an ideal addition to most salads due to their firm texture and delicate taste. Either dice them into small pieces or slice them into thin or thick pieces and toss them into your favorite salad. For a Mediterranean salad, mix together diced baby cucumbers with sweet peppers, feta cheese, basil and dressing. For a quick tahini salad, mix diced qukes with tahini, a dash of cold water, lemon juice, garlic, salt and fresh parsley.
Sauces
Baby cucumbers mesh with many different types of food.
Because of their mild taste and mild texture, qukes make ideal additions to sauces. A yogurt cucumber dipping sauce can be made my blending together two to three baby qukes, 1 cup of plain yogurt and a touch of salt and pepper. You can dress it up a bit by adding a few sprigs of mint, a couple dashes of hot sauce or a few of your favorite nuts. The mixture can be used as a sauce for vegetables or a dollop can be placed on a slice of cooked meat.
Side DIsh
On their own or with a few additions, baby cucumbers are a light side dish for any meal. For a fresh flavor, slice the qukes into thin pieces into a bowl and toss it with a cap full of your favorite vinegar, a handful of minced cilantro or mint, the juice of one lemon and a dash of salt and pepper. For a colorful side dish, mix together a diced quke, a handful of your favorite type of tomato, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a touch of salt and pepper.
Soup
For a light soup that can be served hot or cold, try baby cucumber soup. Melt a spoonful of butter in a pot and add a diced onion and leek. Saute it until softened. Add nine or 10 peeled or grated baby cucumbers. Once mixed, add a spoonful of flour. Cook it for two minutes. Add about 34 ounces of vegetable stock. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add a handful of minced mint. Once the soup is cooled enough to safely blend, blend the mixture until smooth. Serve topped with a squirt of lemon juice, a swirl of cream, a dash of pepper and a few pieces of baby quke.
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