Belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family alongside melons and squash, cucumbers come in several varieties you'll find in supermarkets. The most common is the 'Dutch' cucumber, making up about 80% of French production. In southern France, the thorny cucumber is prized for its slightly bitter flavor, while the mini cucumber—resembling a gherkin—remains a rarer delight on plates.
With 95% water content, cucumbers are virtually calorie-free at around 15 kcal per 100g, making them ideal for hydration and satiety—perfect for weight management. Topically, they offer moisturizing and invigorating effects on the skin, though not true anti-aging properties. Packed with nutrients, studies highlighted by LiveScience show cucumbers may inhibit pancreatic cancer cell growth and reduce risks of ovarian, breast, endometrial, and prostate cancers. High in vitamin K, they also bolster bone density and fracture prevention. Overall, a nutritional powerhouse!
Cucumbers can sometimes be tough on digestion due to their texture, not bitterness—modern varieties have minimized that trait. To ease digestion, chew thoroughly, remove seeds completely, and always peel the skin.
Cold Cucumber Soup with Croutons and Sun-Dried Tomatoes (Serves 2)
Courtesy of Quitoque.fr, which delivers seasonal veggie baskets with inventive recipes:
Preheat oven to 200°C and boil water for zucchini. Rinse, peel (optional), and slice zucchini; blanch for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, chop garlic, peel and dice cucumber, chop basil, dice tomatoes (1 cm), and cube bread. Toss croutons and tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper; bake 10-15 minutes until golden. Blend drained zucchini, cucumber, garlic, basil, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 glass water, salt, and pepper. Serve chilled, topped with croutons, tomatoes, and basil.
Flat-Stomach Detox Water
Slice unpeeled cucumber and lemon (remove seeds), rinse mint, and infuse in mineral water for hours. Chill and sip freely!
Quinoa Cucumber Salad (Serves 2)
Cook quinoa. Finely chop veggies, avocado, onion, feta, and chives. Mix with cooled quinoa; chill 1 hour. Dress with olive oil, lemon, and balsamic vinegar.
