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• Just how cool are cucumbers? Their inner temperature can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the outside air, hence the title phrase. They also have a higher percentage of water than watermelons, so they make for a very refreshing summer snack!
• On that note, take a recommendation from the Tolstoy family, who would hollow out cucumbers and fill them with milk to drink on picnics. You may not, however, be as tempted by cucumber-flavored Pepsi, found in Japan.
• Cucumber love has spanned much of human existence. Roman Emperor Tiberius developed an insatiable appetite for cucumbers, and had servants wheel the planted cucumbers around so they would never be without sun. “During the cold months, they covered the cucumber beds with sheets of mica, a transparent stone (sheet glass had not yet been invented). The name given to this kind of neo-greenhouse is specularium.”
• Some cucumber lovers can go overboard. In 10th century Burma, King Theinhko ate a farmer’s cucumbers without permission. The farmer killed the king and took the throne, becoming known as the “Cucumber King.”
• Cucumbers have not escaped discrimination for their misshapen appearance. However, last year the EU overturned a ban on misshapen (read: ugly) vegetables. In fact, some cucumbers can be quite lovely.
• Do not think you can trifle with this strange fruit, especially a sea-fairing variety (Sea Cucumber is not a fruit, but rather, an echinoderm like starfish and sea urchins). When threatened, some sea cucumbers discharge sticky threads to ensnare their enemies. Others can mutilate their own bodies as a defense mechanism. They violently contract their muscles and jettison some of their internal organs out of their anus. The missing body parts are quickly regenerated.
• In fact, sea cucumbers have inspired treatment for Parkinson’s, stroke and spinal cord injuries.
• Beware the squirting cucumber as well as (Science … gone mad!) the skinless cucumber.
• Can’t get enough? Check out the Russia’s cucumber festival.
• How do you Flossers consume your cucumbers? I love them because they allow the existence of Wickles. They have also been known to assist rock bands …
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‘Dietribes’ appears every other Wednesday. Food photos taken by Johanna Beyenbach You might remember that name from our post about her colorful diet.
Comments (27)
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Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…sliced cukes with lemmon pepper…. a favorite snack!
posted by Zane on 7-29-2009 at 12:11 pm
I only consume them as kosher dill pickles…
posted by Wayne on 7-29-2009 at 12:11 pm
I love Japan, with their square watermelons, their well pampered cow meat, and now their adorable cucumbers!
The cucumber on pizza pictures really look appetizing too.
Cucumbers are also a great addition to BLT’s, therefore making them BLT&C’s.
posted by Steven on 7-29-2009 at 12:22 pm
cucumbers in gin & tonics, the best way to enjoy them.
posted by jewlie on 7-29-2009 at 12:56 pm
I like a dish of sliced cucumbers and garden-fresh tomatoes, with ranch dressing!
posted by Mama9cats on 7-29-2009 at 1:02 pm
Sliced and in a flask of soju!
posted by Kevin on 7-29-2009 at 1:05 pm
my favorite cucumber recipe – a thinly sliced cucumber, some chopped cilantro, a little sesame seed oil, a little more rice vinegar and a pinch of sugar. delicious summer snack!
posted by tiffany on 7-29-2009 at 1:33 pm
Yummmm! Cucumbers! Best served thinly sliced in v & o Italian dressing – chilled, of course!
posted by Hummer on 7-29-2009 at 1:40 pm
Whenever my mom makes tacos, she slices up a cucumber. I use the slices to pick up taco meat that’s fallen out. Odd, but delicious.
posted by Kate on 7-29-2009 at 1:40 pm
The Galapagos Islands boasts a species of sea cucumbers endemic to the islands’ cool waters. As they are in no risk of being endangered, they are often eaten by the inhabitants of the islands. Personally, on a fantastic snorkeling trip that included Galapagan Green Turtles, Galapagan Penguins, and the Galapagan White Tipped Shark, I picked a sea cucumber up (with the approval of my tour guide). It doesn’t exactly feel the same as a cucumber, it’s much more mushy and I felt like I might catch a wart from it.
posted by Joel on 7-29-2009 at 1:45 pm
we’re growing lemon cukes this year. Small but yummy, no dressing needed.
posted by Lewen on 7-29-2009 at 2:07 pm
I’d like to know what is so English about English cucumbers and why these are wrapped in plastic. Also, what is that waxy stuff they put on the garden varieties.
Love cucumber slices in water! Very lovely!
ReCAPTCHA = company’s sneaky (watch out!)
posted by Ranger J on 7-29-2009 at 2:43 pm
One vegetable that I absolutely cannot stand is a cucumber. Apparently it is hereditary as no one in my family touches the things.
posted by Brian on 7-29-2009 at 2:56 pm
You will never not find a jar of Wickles in my house
posted by chase on 7-29-2009 at 2:59 pm
Cukes…YUM!
I like to put mine into the freezer to get them really cold (but not frozen) then peal, slice into spears or wedges, sprinkle on a healthy dose of kosher salt (of course) and consume as is.
Then there’s “home pickles” – slice cukes into disks, place in vinegar/water brine with chopped garlic, green onion bulbs that have had the green part “ribboned” and paprika. Give it a day or more to soak, then eat.
Next, I’m going to try juicing some. Something about the idea of cuke juice with mint in it just sounds damn good to me.
posted by roi_ratt on 7-29-2009 at 3:15 pm
don’t forget the \Kool-aid pickles’
a treat that yankees still have not yet discovered
theunis alabama
posted by ee the c on 7-29-2009 at 3:27 pm
cukes, tomatos, avacado & lemon garlic dressing TASTEEEEE
posted by Dayna on 7-29-2009 at 3:40 pm
Roman style bread slices, thick cucumber slices, tomato slices, rucola, and miracle whip. Best sandwich EVER. European? Swap out the Miracle Whip for Mustard and Mayo.
posted by Kate on 7-29-2009 at 3:44 pm
Ice cold cuke slices sprinkled with a lot of lime juice and sea salt!
posted by Seminnepateama on 7-29-2009 at 4:26 pm
Love baby cukes for work lunch. Remove from lunchbag and eat. Perfect, and no ziploc to throw away like with slices!
posted by Lisa H on 7-29-2009 at 5:38 pm
Cucumber Kimchi
posted by Admiral Byrd on 7-29-2009 at 8:04 pm
On a related note, here is a link of a recent blog about the the possible fate of a cucumber. Whether that fate is good or bad for the cucumber, it will never deter my cravings. (thanks to both authors for these great posts)
posted by Steven on 7-29-2009 at 8:05 pm
I love cucumbers plain with salad dressing. The best cucumber related dish I’ve had is the zucchini appetizer at Maggiano’s Little Italy
“Crispy Zucchini Fritte
Strips of zucchini hand battered w/Japanese bread crumbs and fried to a golden brown, served with a zesty lemon aioli cream sauce. ” YUMMY!
posted by Christi on 7-29-2009 at 8:14 pm
One of the Thousand and One Nights features cucumbers stuffed with pearls. Dazzling, but a bit crunchy.
posted by Antinous on 7-29-2009 at 8:19 pm
@jewlie
That’s what I was going to say!
SLim, one of the bartender’s at the peacock room in austin would make me a fantastic beverage involiving gin, cucumber and a little basil. Oh man, that was the most refreshing summer cocktail.
posted by nikki on 7-30-2009 at 10:36 am
mmm cukes… I love pimm’s mixed with perrier and lemonade add a cucumber slice… it tastes like iced tea and is the perfect summer drink.
posted by srah on 7-30-2009 at 3:56 pm
Frickles. Enough said. Has anyone ever tasted koolaid pickles, aka koolickles? I haven’t but they look interesting.
posted by AG on 7-30-2009 at 10:55 pm