Cucumber Raspberry Salad

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The smoothness of the heavy cream marries well with the acidity of the red wine vinegar. The dill and mint bring out the freshness of the cucumber even more.

The raspberry brings a bit of color to your salad and a sweet and tart flavor. Did I mention it only takes 15 minutes to prepare it?

A must-try recipe.

What are cucumbers?

Members of the gourd family or Cucurbitaceae. The cucumber is a widely cultivated vine plant that bears cylindrical fruits, used as a vegetable.

Excellent during the summer months as it is a nutritious food with a high amount of water content that helps relieve dehydration and contains vitamins and minerals.

How to pick out the perfect cucumber

Choose a firm, slender cucumber that will contain fewer seeds.

Be blemish-free or have any soft spots, which is a sign that it starts the rotting process.

They should be a deep dark green color without any yellow spots

Overripe cucumber, with large seeds and watery flesh, will also have poor taste.

English or hothouse cucumbers are frequently found at our grocery stores. Buy the smaller ones you can, as they tend to be primarily seeds-free.

The lack of seeds and thinner skin, also known as English cucumbers, have a higher natural sugar content making them sweeter and more enjoyable.

To peel or not to peel the cucumber

That is a personal choice that I will leave up to you for this recipe.

The peel is where you find all the nutritional content.

I enjoy the contrast of color that the peel provides.

Did you know?

Contrary to popular belief, the cucumber skin is not what some people experience digestive upset with. Quite the opposite, it is the larger or the over-bulging middle part of the cucumber.

Selecting a very fresh and firm cucumber helps with digestive issues, and enjoying it with some spices or herbs, such as mint, cumin, and anise, facilitates digestion.

The smaller the cucumber, the richer it is in flavor.

Here are a few helpful tips for the ingredients needed to make these delicious creamy cucumber salad

This is a quick introduction. Please read the recipe for complete instructions.

Cucumber: thin and evenly shaped with no bruising. Remove the tip ends before slicing.

Raspberries: Taste beautifully with this salad and bring in some added color. Mixing it with vinegar brings out the tartiness of it, and the cream will soften it. Crushing half of them will release the natural sweetness and juice. Great combination, I am sure you will like it.

Heavy cream: just a little bit coats the cucumber slices well, and once the cucumber starts to release its natural juices, the combination is quite delicious.

Red wine vinegar: The acidity marries well with the sweetness of the cream and raspberries. Brings out the flavor of the dill too. I highly recommend the French kind, but as you know, I am partial to it. It has to have a high acidity content and be rich in flavor.

Mint: fresh and refreshing, a must.

Dill: the best partner for the cucumber as it has a very citrus-like taste. If none are on hand, you can substitute with dry. However, use less since it is more potent.

Equipment needed

I only recommend what I use and love.

Mandoline: One of my most used tools in the kitchen, and here it comes to the test. I cannot live without it.

Knife: if you do not have a mandoline, a sharp knife will facilitate slicing the cucumber into even thin slices.

Mixing bowl: prepare the raspberries with your vinegar and cream.

Herb scissors: the best way to slice small herbs such as dill and chives without bruising them too much, thus releasing their natural oils in your dish, not the cutting board.

Tips and step-by-step how to make cucumber salad

The success of this beautiful creamy cucumber salad rests on a few tips:

• Slice the cucumber thinly and evenly. I recommend using a mandoline, super fast, and each round sliced the same size.

What can you serve with your cucumber salad recipe?

This cucumber salad is so refreshing and goes well with:

Crunchy Fried Shrimp

Parmesan, Panko Crusted Chicken Cutlets

Chiles Rellenos – A Southwest Favorite

Can this cucumber salad be made ahead of time?

This cucumber salad is best when made fresh as the salt in the dressing will bring out the natural moisture of the cucumber and cause the salad to get watery if refrigerated for a day or more.

The mint and raspberries will not stay fresh either.

However, there is a solution: Slice and prepare your sauce with the cream and vinegar. Omit the salt until ready to use.

Use fresh raspberries and fresh mint at the time of serving.

If you enjoyed this recipe for cucumber salad, check out these flavorful recipes:

Mint Peas

Tomato Salad with Mint

Raspberry Gratin

Raspberry Buttermilk Cake