52 Best Rated
Dishes with Cucumber

Named after its predominantly white color, Snezhanka or Snow White is a refreshing salad made with ingredients such as cucumbers, garlic, dill, oil, salt, and the Bulgarian staple – yogurt, in this case – strained to make it thicker. Walnuts, roasted peppers, and chopped parsley are sometimes added to the salad as a topping, according to personal preferences. Snezhanka is always served cold, either as an appetizer, meze, side dish, or a dip for pita bread. When served as part of a meze, it is traditionally accompanied by alcoholic beverages.Expand

Tzatziki is a Greek concoction made from yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and numerous herbs and spices such as dill, mint, or parsley. It is usually served as a sauce accompanying many meat dishes, as a simple dip, or an appetizer. Its name is derived from the Turkish word cacik, denoting a very similar dip, although some suspect that tzatziki was derived from the Indian raita dip. Tzatziki is always served cold, and it is especially popular to serve it with dishes such as gyros and souvlaki. Often, it is served with pita bread as part of the first course of a big meal. With its huge popularity, and the fact that it is one of the best summer dips, it is not strange that there are many regional variations of tzatziki, in countries such as Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Serbia.Expand

Greek salad, also known as village salad or horiatiki is the national dish of Greece, consisting of quartered tomatoes, sliced red onions, and chunky slices of cucumber. Depending on the region, there can also be olives, green peppers, feta cheese, oregano, salt, pepper, or a typical dressing made from olive oil and lemon or vinegar (optionally). When feta cheese is present in the salad, it is usually just sliced, but in some cases it's mixed in with a fork until slightly crumbled. Its name suggests that it was a rural dish, when farmers would take some essential ingredients to the field and mix them together. Greek salad is a true summer dish, full of refreshing, raw vegetables and herbs. It is best to prepare it with ripe tomatoes that are in season, while the olives should be of the Kalamata variety. Served in a shallow bowl, it is present on numerous Greek tables, either at home or in the taverns.Expand

Aguachile is a simple dish originating from the Mexican state of Sinaloa. It is a type of Mexican ceviche that (in its most classic version) consists of fresh raw shrimp, cucumber, red onion, lime juice, and water-pulverized chilis, giving the dish its name. Unlike most ceviches, aguachile is served immediately after coating the shrimp in lime juice, so it is very important that the shrimp is as fresh as it can be. Aguachile is commonly accompanied by avocado and tostadas, while the beverage of choice is usually beer or tequila. There are also versions of aguachile prepared with octopus and scallops, but those versions are not traditional.Expand

Uchucuta is a traditional spicy sauce or condiment. It's usually made with a combination of rocoto chiles, grated cucumbers, peanuts, huacatay leaves, evaporated milk, chopped onions, coriander leaves, queso fresco, and salt. The ingredients are seasoned with salt and blended until creamy. If it's too thick, a bit of water or milk is added to the mixture. Once blended, the sauce is placed into a container and chilled until it's needed. It's recommended to serve uchucuta as an accompaniment to huatia (slow-cooked beef), pachamanca (marinated meat baked on hot stones), or cooked potatoes.Expand

Mast o khiar is a cold yogurt dip from Iran, prepared by combining strained or plain yogurt with diced cucumber and aromatic herbs. It is part of the broad category of side dishes known as borani or yogurt salads, which are served to accompany a variety of Persian meals. This preparation is especially common during warm months, when its cooling qualities are appreciated alongside rice and grilled meats. The history of mast o khiar is closely linked to the long tradition of yogurt consumption in Iran, where dairy has played an important role in the diet for centuries. Early references to similar yogurt and vegetable combinations appear in medieval Persian cookbooks, which describe how thick strained yogurt was mixed with herbs and sometimes walnuts or raisins. Over time, cucumbers became a standard addition as they were cultivated more widely, and recipes evolved to include fresh mint and dried rose petals for fragrance. To prepare mast o khiar, yogurt is mixed until smooth and lightly salted. The cucumber is peeled if desired and cut into small cubes, then folded into the yogurt. Fresh herbs, most often mint and dill, are finely chopped and stirred in. Depending on the recipe, ground black pepper, crushed walnuts, and raisins may also be added to give more complexity. A small amount of dried rose petals is often sprinkled over the top for aroma and color. The dish is chilled briefly so the flavors combine. Mast o khiar is typically served as a side dish in a shallow bowl or small plate. It can be eaten plain with a spoon or used as a topping for warm flatbreads. In family meals and gatherings, it often appears next to platters of kebab or stewed dishes, where its freshness provides balance to richer flavors.Expand

Smacked cucumber is a traditional Asian dish that’s especially popular in Tibet as a snack for picnicking. The dish is usually made with a combination of cucumbers, garlic, sesame oil, black vinegar, and soy sauce. The cucumber is peeled and smacked with a rolling pin so that it’s bruised and starting to break apart. It’s sliced into chunks and mixed with the rest of the ingredients. The ingredients are tossed well and then served on a large plate. The cucumber is smacked because it will absorb the flavors of garlic, oil, vinegar, and soy sauce even better and it will have a more intense flavor.Expand

Balilah is a traditional Middle Eastern salad, particularly popular in Saudi Arabia and Syria. It is a simple and healthy snack made primarily from cooked chickpeas. The chickpeas are typically served warm with diced cucumbers and grated beets, and seasoned with a mixture of spices, lemon juice, olive oil, and sometimes garlic and herbs. The core ingredient is chickpeas (in Syria broad beans are also included), which are cooked until tender and then flavored with lemon juice, olive oil, cumin, salt, and sometimes other spices like black pepper, sumac, or paprika. Garlic and fresh herbs, such as parsley, are added for extra flavor. Balilah is usually served warm as a snack or appetizer, often enjoyed as a popular street food and eaten with a spoon or scooped up with bread. It is commonly enjoyed during Ramadan as part of the iftar meal (the meal to break the fast) due to its simplicity and nutritious qualities. It is also a staple at social gatherings and is appreciated for its light, tangy flavor.Expand

Refreshing and easy to make, mizeria is one of the most famous Polish salads. It consists of thinly sliced cucumbers that are seasoned with salt and pepper, then mixed with creamy sour cream or yogurt. The essential part of mizeria is a handful of freshly chopped dill, one of the favorite herbs used in Polish cuisine. Optional ingredients might include a squeeze of lemon juice, onions, parsley, mint, and some even suggest a sprinkle of sugar. It is usually consumed during summer, but it can occasionally be prepared even when the cucumbers are not in season. Mizeria is a perfect accompaniment to hearty and nourishing dishes such as meat cutlets, or any rice or potato-based dishes. The name of the dish translates to misery, and although the origins of the name are not familiar, it is believed that the name was given as a joke, and somehow it stuck with this crunchy and creamy Polish salad.Expand

Sunomono is a popular Japanese cucumber salad seasoned with a lightly sweetened dressing consisting of vinegar and soy sauce. Simple and refreshing, alongside thinly sliced cucumbers it can incorporate various other ingredients such as seafood, seaweed strips, or toasted sesame seeds. It is usually served as an appetizer or a light side dish.Expand