You will need (for two as a side):
- 1 cucumber
- 1 wet garlic stalk
- 2 red chillies
- A few fresh chives
- Salt and Pepper
- Butter (or use olive oil to make it vegan)
Peel the cucumber and then cut into sticks; I got 12 sticks from mine. Melt a big knob of butter in a pan on a medium heat and add the cucumber. While the cucumber softens slice the wet garlic thinly and then add this to the pan with the cucumber.
Keep stirring everything in the pan until the cucumber and garlic are starting to brown; the cucumber is surprisingly strong and doesn’t break down.
While you’re waiting slice the chillies and chop up the chives. For the final minute or so of cooking add a few of the chillies, the chives and some salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and serve with the remaining raw chillies.
I have to admit that I was a bit sceptical about this recipe; these were the things I had in my fridge and I was hoping that they would go pleasingly well together. There were some pretty apprehensive looks passing across the table as we ate the first pieces but actually this was a bit of a revelation. The cucumbers retained a lot of crunch and juice but were soft and squishy at the same time. The wet garlic and chives added an onion background that worked well with the heat of the chillies. A hot cucumber is something that will be gracing my table again.
This is certainly my kind of dish. Thats a great mixture of ingredients and I love the explosion from the chilies.
Spicy and crunchy salad…
I never thought to cook a cucumber – this is such an awesome idea!! and i love the heat in this dish! i need this now 🙂
Intriguing – and definitely something I would try. I stopped being skeptical about hot salad veg after I tried chargrilled lettuce at some restaurant or other – what a revelation!
Sx
i enjoy stir fry dish like these, we too often stir fry cucumbers with prawns over here..
I had a brilliant soup in Inveraray that was good chicken stock cubed cucumber, peas, onions and grated cheese. No idea how it worked but it did. I eat cucumbers like other people eat apples, well people that eat a lot of apples. Will def try your recipe though, sounds delish
You definitely made most of that cucumber!
This is such an unusual dish but a great idea! I’ve never tried hot cucumber before but this looks really tasty and would make a unique side dish.
zoeamusebouche.blogspot.co.uk
These look interesting!
I always have a shelf of cucumbers in my fridge because I add them to green juices in the mornings but I also slice off a chunk for snacks as well as adding them to salads/sandwiches etc.
Recently I pickled some cucumbers which are quite incredible and preserved, obviously, so they last longer. They taste like gherkins and I’m mad for them!
Hot cucumber sounds brilliant I have never tried it 🙂
Thanks for a lovely recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Oh yum. I have tried and liked cooked cucumber in the past . A lovely way to eat it 🙂
Very refreshing & seasonal! YUMMY! 😉
I love cucumber prepared this way…so tasty with the garlic and chillies…yum!
Thanks for the recipe and hope you are having a fun week Caroline 😀
i feel like i only ever eat cukes raw with a little salt or pickled, but this sounds quite nice!
I never know what to do with cucumbers either! But I love this idea you’ve brought to the table!
So strange, i was looking at my cucumbers in the fridge the other day and ended up putting them in a juice to get rid of them. This idea is fab 😀
I love your idea with cucumber! Simple and tasty…
An interesting recipe but with a lot of great flavor, something to try out soon!
It looks lovely! The only way I have ever cooked cucumber is to steam it and serve with other steamed veg and a cheese sauce and a crumble of bacon. That works very well but chilli looks a lot more exciting to be honest!
I never know what to do with cucumbers either! Love this idea!
What a lovely idea. I often include Cucumber in Eastern inspired salads with chilli dressing. Not tried them hot like this. Shall have to give a go!
What a fantastic way to use and flavor cucumbers. I’m definitely going to give it a shot this summer! Love the warm and spicy aspect!
A great way to use cucumber, unique recipe!
Beautiful colours coming up in the photos Caroline. There’s a very simple Taiwanese dish I’ve tried – with cold cucumber simply using a form of sesame oil, garlic and red chilli and it’s really delicious.
I tried warm cucumber in a toasted sandwich years ago – it didn’t appeal but maybe I should have fried it instead 😉
Really interesting dish! I love the idea of this – such great flavors. Thanks so much.
This sounds incredible! I’ve never cooked cucumber before I think I’m going to have to try it!
Amazing crunch and spices! Yum 🙂
I unfortunately had a few cucumber casualties yesterday when I cleaned out the crisper. They had literally turned to liquid. Gross. I love what you have done here though and will be giving it a go. I got given some home grown chillis so they will be perfect!
Wow! Delicious recipe.. Would love to have as a side dish Caroline 🙂
I have been buying cucumber almost once a week but my ways to use them are BORING e.g. for sushi, sandwich and salad.