Garlic Ginger Cucumbers Recipes

GINGER GARLIC PASTE

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the garlic and ginger. Pulse to blend, adding small amounts of olive oil to facilitate the blending, until it makes a smooth paste. Refrigerate or freeze.

SESAME-GINGER CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• For dressing, mix first 7 ingredients. Trim ends and cut cucumbers crosswise into 3-in. sections. Cut sections into julienne strips., To serve, toss cucumbers with sesame seeds and dressing. Sprinkle with green onions.

GINGER CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Peel cucumbers, cut in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Cut each half into 1/4-inch slices and place in a medium bowl. Stir in red onion slices and set aside.
• Whisk vinegar, sugar, and ginger paste together in a small bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Add dressing to cucumber mixture and mix well. Stir in sesame seeds and refrigerate for about 1 hour to let the flavors meld.

GARLIC-GINGER CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Quarter cucumbers lengthwise (if longer than 3 inches, halve crosswise first). Toss with sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Let stand 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. Drain, then toss with rice vinegar and soy sauce.
• Heat safflower oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Add ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Pour over cucumbers; toss to combine. Season again, if desired. Transfer to a serving dish, discarding liquid. Top with sesame seeds and a few drops of chili oil.

CUCUMBER SALAD WITH SOY, GINGER AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Sprinkle the cucumbers with a generous amount of salt and let sit in a colander in the sink for 15 minutes. Rinse and dry on a kitchen towel. Transfer to a salad bowl.
• Whisk together the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, cayenne, and pepper. Whisk in the sesame oil and the sunflower or grapeseed oil. Toss with the cucumbers, scallions, and cilantro. Chill until ready to serve.

ASIAN CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Put the cucumber slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt; set aside to drain for 1 hour.
• Whisk the vinegar and sugar together until the sugar is dissolved; add the sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and sesame seeds; stir.
• Rinse salt off the cucumber slices by running under cold water; place in a large bowl with the sliced red chile peppers. Drizzle the dressing over the vegetables and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

GINGER-DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Bring ginger, garlic, vinegar, sugar, salt, coriander seeds, and 2 cups water to a boil in a medium pot over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes.
• Place cucumbers and dill in a heatproof resealable container or jar (divide among several containers if necessary). Pour hot brining liquid over cucumbers and dill. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and chill at least 2 hours before serving.

CHINESE SMASHED CUCUMBERS WITH SESAME OIL AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Rinse cucumbers and pat dry. Cut crosswise into pieces about 4 inches long. Cut each piece in half lengthwise.
• On a work surface, place a piece of cucumber (or several) cut side down. Lay the blade of a large knife flat on top the cucumber and smash down lightly with your other hand. The skin will begin to crack, the flesh will break down and the seeds will separate. Repeat until the whole piece is smashed. Break or slice diagonally into bite-size pieces, leaving the seeds behind.
• Place the cucumber pieces in a strainer and toss with a big pinch of salt and a big pinch of sugar. Place a plastic bag filled with ice on top of the cucumbers to serve as a weight and place the strainer over a bowl. Let drain 15 to 30 minutes on the counter, or in the refrigerator until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.
• Make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine salt, sugar and rice vinegar. Stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Stir in sesame oil and soy sauce.
• When ready to serve, shake cucumbers well to drain off any remaining liquid and transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with grapeseed or olive oil and toss. Add half the dressing, half the garlic and the red pepper flakes to taste, and toss. Keep adding dressing until cucumbers are well coated but not drowned. Taste and add more pepper flakes and garlic if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro and sesame seeds.

GINGER CUCUMBER SALAD WITH SCALLOPS

Steps:

• With Asian or English cucumbers (or small garden cucumbers), slice thinly, preferably with a mandoline. With thick cucumbers, peel, halve lengthwise, and scoop out seeds before slicing.
• Mix vinegar, ginger, sugar and salt, and toss with cucumbers. Let stand for 30 to 60 minutes. (Refrigerate if marinating for more than an hour in warm weather.)
• Just before serving, drain excess liquid. Put 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat. Wait a minute, then add scallops or shrimp. Sear for about 2 minutes to a side, then remove to a plate. Turn heat to medium, add remaining oil, onions and turmeric, if you are using it. Cook until onion softens, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat until browned and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir onions into cucumbers, top with scallops or shrimp, garnish with sesame seeds, and serve.

GARLIC-GINGER CHICKEN BREASTS WITH CILANTRO AND MINT

Steps:

• Make the marinade: Add the garlic, ginger, mint, cilantro, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons oil to a large resealable bag. Seal the bag and massage to combine the ingredients into a paste. Add the coriander, turmeric, amchur (if using), red chile powder and salt, and seal the bag. Shake or massage to combine.
• Place the chicken breasts in the marinade and seal the bag tightly. Use your hands to gently massage the marinade onto the chicken breasts until each breast is coated. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Warm a large lidded skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is quite hot, add the oil, swirling the pan to coat the entire surface. Reduce the heat to medium, remove the chicken from the marinade and shake gently to remove any excess marinade. Add it to the pan. Working in batches if necessary, cook the breasts, undisturbed, until lightly golden underneath, 1 to 2 minutes, then flip them and cook until lightly golden on the second side, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook the chicken for 10 minutes (no peeking!). Turn off the heat (if you have an electric stove, take the pan off the heat) and let the chicken sit, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the breasts. Don't lift the lid, or you'll release the hot steam that finishes cooking the chicken.
• Check to make sure the breasts are cooked through: There shouldn't be any pink in the middle. If you have a meat thermometer, the chicken should register at least 165 degrees. Place the chicken on a cutting board, and slice each breast into strips. Garnish with mint and cilantro.