5 Surprisingly Yummy Summer Recipes Using This Very Average Ingredient

There’s something about warm weather that has us salivating for refreshing recipes—particularly those made from perfectly-in-season ingredients—and what’s cooler than a cucumber? While we appreciate the veggie in its purest form, we’re in favor of exploring its versatility via invigorating cocktails and light-as-air dishes as the weather heats up. So, in the spirit of summer (and Cucumber Day today—yes, it’s a thing), we’ve culled five delicious recipes to try.

Cool As A Cucumber

Banh Mi Hot Dogs

2 tbsp white vinegar

1 tsp sugar

2 carrots, shredded

½ tsp coarse salt

4 cooked hot dogs

4 buns

Mayonnaise

Cucumber, thinly sliced

Jalapeno, sliced

Cilantro leaves

In a bowl, stir together vinegar and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Stir in carrots and salt; let sit 10 minutes. Place hot dogs in buns and top with mayonnaise, cucumber, carrot mix, jalapeno and cilantro.

Hendrick’s Cucumber 75

3 English cucumber wheels

½ part simple syrup

1½ parts Hendrick’s Gin

½ part fresh lemon juice

Ice

Dry sparkling wine

Cucumber wheel, for garnish

In a mixing glass, muddle cucumbers and simple syrup. Add gin, lemon juice and ice. Shake well and fine strain into a flute. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with cucumber wheel.

Summery Cucumber Salad With Tzatziki

3 large cucumbers, thinly sliced

½ red onion, halved and very thinly sliced

1 yellow bell pepper, diced

4 to 5 tbsp tzatziki

Fresh cracked pepper and sea salt

In a bowl, toss cucumbers, onion and bell pepper together with tzatziki. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Cucumber Basil Smash

3 to 5 basil leaves

3 to 5 cucumber wheels

¾ part simple syrup

1½ parts Hendrick's gin

¾ part fresh lemon juice

Ice

Basil and cucumber wheels, for garnish

In a mixing glass, muddle basil, cucumber and simple syrup. Add gin, lemon juice and ice. Shake well and fine strain into an iced double rocks glass. Garnish with basil and a cucumber wheel.

Veggie Crab Cakes

½ cup shredded veggie crab

¼ cup chopped green onion

2 tsp red onion

3 tbsp vegan mayo

3 tbsp minced fresh cilantro

2 tbsp chopped red and yellow bell pepper

1 tsp chipotle chiles

1 cucumber, cut into ¾-inch slices

Fresh cilantro sprigs, for garnish

In a bowl, mix first seven ingredients together and refrigerate. Top cucumbers and garnish with cilantro.