A.K.A

greenhouse, European, or seedless cucumbers

What is it?

Also known as greenhouse, European, or seedless cucumbers, English cucumbers are 10 to 12 inches long and slender and are usually sold in plastic sleeves. With their thin skins, undeveloped seeds, and uniform shape, they are ideal for slicing into salads and garnishing appetizers.

Cucumbers’ mild, sweet flavor makes them a good match for almost anything. They’re great paired with onions, tomatoes, peppers, and any summery herb, as well as with fish and shellfish, chicken, pork, and lamb. Creamy dairy products like yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream, feta, and goat cheese give them richness and a welcome tang, while aromatics like capers, olives, garlic, lemon, and lime add a little punch.

How to choose:

Firmness is your best clue to freshness when shopping for cucumbers. Avoid limp or shriveled ones. Keep an eye out for fruits that seem slender for their size. This means they’re younger, so chances are they’ll have either undeveloped or fewer seeds.

How to prep:

English cucumbers have naturally thin, tender skins, so they don’t need peeling.

Recipes

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  Recipe

  Burrata and Pea Salad with Pine Nuts and Basil

  This salad looks like springtime on a plate and tastes like it, too. Each bite includes something a little different: crisp, refreshing cucumber; crunchy nuts; creamy cheese; bright herbs; and,…

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  Recipe

  Avocado, Cucumber, and Poblano Gazpacho

  Avocado gives this refreshing cold soup a silky smooth texture. For best results, make it a few hours before serving to give it time to chill. Crisp homemade tortilla strips…

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  Recipe

  Korean Flank Steak Tacos

  Kimchi, the beloved Korean side dish made from fermented vegetables, is a little tangy, a little spicy, and a fantastic foil for steak in these vibrantly flavored tacos. Marinated cucumbers…

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  Recipe

  Chicken Horiataki Salad with Tzatziki

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  Recipe

  Yogurt-Marinated Pork Kebabs with Cucumber-Lemon Labneh

  This flavorful dish pairs juicy Middle Eastern-spiced pork with a lemony spread made by straining yogurt to make labneh, an ultra-thick salted yogurt cheese. The pork and labneh both need…

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  Recipe

  Spicy Udon Noodles with Wilted Watercress

  Watercress curls and twirls along with the noodles in this full-flavored dish. The cooling cucumbers balance the hot sambal oelek in the sauce for a pleasant tingle.

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  Recipe

  Spring Tonic

  Watercress’s bracing vibrancy makes it an invigorating addition to green juice, especially when paired with a tart apple. A sweeter apple will make a more mellow juice. If you don’t…

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  Moveable Feast

  Curried Lamb with Cucumber-Dill Raita and Cashew-Raisin Chutney

  Aromatic spices infuse this lamb curry with an exotic blend of flavors while coconut milk creates a creamy finish. Serve over basmati rice.

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  Moveable Feast

  Pan-Seared Halibut with Cucumber and Radish Slaw

  If you can’t find halibut, you can substitute any firm white fish such as cod, haddock, or sea bass.

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  Recipe

  Chickpea, Arugula, and Pita Bread Salad with Goat Cheese

  Harissa is a spicy Middle Eastern condiment flavored with cumin, caraway, and chiles. In this dish, its flavors are deconstructed in a mildly spicy and sweet dressing. Ancho chile powder…