Tough to grow, but great to eat!
The cucumber is one of the most ancient foods on our green earth. Is it a fruit, is it a vegetable? Nobody can really say. According to scientific classification, it bears fruit, so therefore it is a fruit. According to the culinary world, well, it is a green vegetable. Packed with nutrients? oh yes, it is. Cucumbers contain a fair amount of Vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium, to name a few. They also hydrate well, while at the same time have a mild diuretic effect, perfect for helping to lose extra puff and pounds! Eaten with the peel, you'll get the added benefits of fiber, vital minerals and phyto-chemicals. But watch out for conventionally grown cucumbers which are exposed to heavy pesticide/chemical sprays. According to Environmental Working Group (EWG), cucumbers make the list of the "dirty dozen" when it comes to pesticides. Therefore, it is well worth buying organic, whenever possible. OR grow your own(which is a great experiment in itself).
In Veronica's case, she preferred her cucumbers peeled. When she wasn't peeling an apple at night, she'd peel a cucumber, and enjoy it along with a cup of whole milk yogurt. Yogurt is accompanied well by many delicious fruits and vegetables, but particularly with the cool properties of the cucumber. In future posts, I will be sharing traditional Armenian recipes that incorporate cucumbers and yogurt.
So stay tuned!
Below are 2 varieties of cucumbers that grew in my garden this past summer. Overall, the vines produced very limited fruit. It is a tough fruit to grow, but not impossible. A lot depends on the quality of the soil....and pollination.... as was the case for these little guys. Either way, nothing beats eating from the garden, where you will get the cleanest product.
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