Cucumbers

Cucumber / xiyar

Flavor and role

Watery, cool and crunchy. Eaten raw or salted.

Typical dishes and uses

Tzatziki and cacik, Greek salad, Korean cucumber salad (oi muchim), chilled soup, served with pad thai and fresh spring rolls.

Substitutes

Zucchini (raw, thinly sliced), celery (for crunch). For tzatziki, salt the cucumber and squeeze out the water.

Storage

Refrigerate 1 week. Too cold and they go soft, so wrap in newspaper and keep in the vegetable drawer.

Main countries

China · Türkiye · Korea

Used in this book

Nasi GorengSouvlakiNasi LemakAyam Goreng (Indonesian Fried Chicken)Ayam PenyetBai Cha (Cambodian Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage)Bai Sach ChroukBánh Mì Thịt Nướng (Grilled Pork Bánh Mì)Beef Lok Lak (Cambodian Stir-Fried Beef)Bún Thịt Nướng (Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Noodle Bowl)Cơm Tấm Sườn Nướng (Broken Rice with Grilled Pork Chop)FattoushGado-GadoAndalusian GazpachoGreek salad (horiatiki)Pork Gyros PitaHainanese chicken riceHot Honey Salmon with Crisp Cucumber SaladJjajangmyeon (Korean Black Bean Noodles)Khao Man Gai (Thai Chicken Rice)Khao Pad Gai (Thai Chicken Fried Rice)Kongguksu (Korean Cold Soy Milk Noodles)Kotlet Schabowy (Polish Breaded Pork Cutlet)Larb Gai (Thai Minced Chicken Salad)Manakish with Za'atarMul-naengmyeon (Cold Buckwheat Noodles in Icy Beef Broth)Num Banh ChokSabichSalade NiçoiseChicken Satay (Sate Ayam)SekuwaCold Sesame-Peanut NoodlesDhaba-Style Aloo Paratha with Homemade White Butter and Mint RaitaAloo Paratha Egg Roll with Masala Egg and Mint MayoAsado Negro Bánh Mì (Venezuelan × Vietnamese)Ayam Penyet KremesAyam Penyet Ssam with Sambal SsamjangAyam Geprek Mozzarella Rice BowlMiso-sesame baba ganoushPrawn Bai Cha with Crispy Garlic and Tuk Trey Dipping SauceCharcoal Bai Sach Chrouk with Crispy Egg and Scallion OilCoconut-Garlic Pork Quesadillas with Khmer Pickle Pico (Cambodian × Mexican)Coconut Grilled Pork Rice BurgerBakso Laksa (Indonesian × Malaysian)Crackling Roast Pork Bánh Mì (Bánh Mì Heo Quay)Bulgogi Kimchi Bánh MìBánh Mì Rice BowlCrispy Bánh Xèo Shrimp Salad BowlKampot Pepper Lok Lak with Butter Pan SauceLok Lak Crispy Rice Salad with Lime-Pepper DressingRed-Braised Beef Rice BowlCrispy Bibimbap Rice BitesBifana Bánh Mì (Portuguese × Vietnamese)Peking-Style Hoisin Chicken Blini RollsShaking Beef Garlic Butter Rice Bowl with Jammy EggBún Bò Huế Trộn (Spicy Lemongrass Beef Dry Noodles)Bún Chả Burger with Pickled Carrot and Sriracha MayoCharcoal Bún Thịt Nướng with Caramel Pork and Crispy ShallotsChicken Tikka Burrito with Mint RaitaCá Kho Salmon DonburiZa'atar, Feta and Olive Oil Damper (Australian × Lebanese)Canh Chua Crispy Fish Rice Bowl with Tamarind-Pineapple GlazeNikkei Causa Maki with Salmon and Acevichado MayoNikkei Salmon Ceviche with Soy and SesameShrimp Ceviche Tostadas with Avocado CremaChicken Biryani BurritoBiryani Chicken Rice BowlChicken Karahi TacosWine-Braised Chicken Paprikash with Butter Nokedli and Cucumber SaladMini Bhatura Chole Sliders with Mint-Onion SlawÇılbır Jammy Egg Bulgur Bowl with Crispy ChickpeasCharcoal Cơm Tấm Sườn Chả with Steamed Egg MeatloafChar Siu Cubano (Cantonese x Cuban)Perilla Oil Chicken Bibim-Kalguksu BowlBacon Egg Foo Young Sliders with Hoisin Mayo and Quick PicklesFalafel Banh Mi with Quick Pickles and Sriracha Tahini MayoBaked Falafel Crunch BowlRestaurant-style fattoush with za'atar pita crisps and pomegranateMexican-style fattoush with tortilla crisps and avocadoLabneh fattoush toastSmashed Potato Salmon BowlGochujang Tuna-Mayo Fricassé (Tunisian × Korean)Frikadeller with Brown Gravy and Cucumber SaladWhipped Ful & Tahini Toast with Za'atarGado-Gado with Pressed Rice Cakes and Shrimp-Paste Peanut SauceGado-Gado Rice Paper RollsCrispy Smashed Potato Gado-Gado PlatterGai Yang Pita with Jaew Yogurt (Thai × Greek)Macerated Gazpacho with Garlic CroutonsMexican-Style Jalapeño-Lime GazpachoGazpacho Granita Tomato & Burrata SaladCoconut-Poached Pork and Tiger Prawn Summer RollsSalmon Poke Summer RollsMarinated-feta horiatiki with tomato-water dressingHoriatiki-fattoush with za'atar fetaWhipped feta horiatiki toastGreen Curry Fried Rice with Crispy Fried EggWasabi-Miso Guacamole with Sesame Gyoza ChipsStacked Gyros Loaf with Sumac Onions and Dill TzatzikiGyros al Pastor Tacos with Charred Pineapple and Lime TzatzikiSheet-Pan Gyros Nachos with Pita Chips and Whipped FetaSlow-poached Hainanese chicken riceHainanese chicken sandoChicken Haleem Rice BowlCrispy-Skin Hot Honey Salmon with Herbed Yogurt and Cucumber RibbonsChipotle Hot Honey Salmon Tacos with Cucumber-Lime SalsaCrispy Hot Honey Salmon Bites with Whipped FetaJerusalem Grill Golden Rice BowlGanjjajang with Pork Shoulder and Crispy Fried EggSaffron Joojeh Chicken Tacos with Sumac Onions (Persian × Mexican)Masala Kartoffelpuffer with Mint Raita (German x Indian)Warm Bacon Kartoffelsalat with Salted Cucumber and RadishBuckwheat Kasha Bibimbap with Gochujang Mushrooms (Russian × Korean)Katsu Sando Salad BowlKefta Tagine Crispy Rice Bowl with Lemon YogurtDouble-Stock Khao Man Gai with Golden Schmaltz RiceKhao Man Gai Bibimbap with Tao Jiao Gochujang SauceKhao Pad Pu (Thai Crab Fried Rice)Sheet-Pan Crispy Khao Pad with Jammy EggsBeef & Braised Burdock Kimbap with Rolled OmeletteTeriyaki Salmon Avocado KimbapKjøttkake Sliders with Brown Cheese and Lingonberry MayoGochujang köfte lettuce wraps (ssam)Pine Nut and Peanut Kongguksu with Silky Peeled-Bean BrothJapanese Sesame Soy Milk Cold Soba (Kongguksu × Soba)Oven-Baked Saffron Kuku Sabzi with Buttered Barberries and Cucumber-Garlic YogurtLablabi Bread Salad with Harissa-Lemon DressingLahpet Soba Noodle Salad (Burmese x Japanese)Lechon Kawali Silog BowlLu Rou Tacos with Quick Cucumber PicklesCold-Fermented Manakish with Homemade Za'atar and LabnehSmoky Mandi Chicken Rice BowlMole Chicken Bánh Mì with Pickled Carrot and Daikon (Mexican × Vietnamese)Momo Smash Tacos with Achar MayoSpiced Mujaddara with Extra-Crispy Onions and Cucumber-Mint YogurtPyongyang-Style Mul-naengmyeon with Brisket and ShankGazpacho Tomato NaengmyeonBibim-naengmyeon GimbapNan Gyi Thoke Noodle Salad Jars with Chickpea-Peanut CrunchNasi Goreng Spesial with Prawns and Crispy ShallotsNasi Lemak with Spiced Fried Chicken (Ayam Goreng Berempah)Sambal Anchovy Coconut OnigiriSambal Fried Chicken Nasi Lemak BurgerSmoky Grilled-Fish Num Banh ChokKroeung Fish Tacos with Coconut-Lime Crema (Cambodian × Mexican)Kroeung Fish Cakes with Coconut Curry Dip and Herb WrapsNyama Choma Gua Bao with Kachumbari Slaw and Pili-Pili Mayo (Kenyan x Taiwanese)Hermitage-Style Olivier with Poached Chicken, Shrimp and Homemade MayonnaiseCrab-Stick Olivier with Gochujang Mayo and Corn (Russian × Korean)Olivier Salad Cake with Egg Mimosa TopPeameal Bacon Bánh Mì (Canadian × Vietnamese)Pernil Bánh Mì (Puerto Rican × Vietnamese)Gochujang Salmon Poke BowlPol Sambol Crispy Rice BowlSpanakopita Pupusas with Lemon-Dill CurtidoRed-Braised Pork Belly Bao with Peanut Crumble and Quick PicklesRendang beef tacosBulgogi Roti Jala Wraps with Gochujang Mayo (Malaysian × Korean)Crispy Roti Jala Cups with Coconut Curry Chicken SaladSabich with Haminados Eggs and ZhugEggplant Katsu Sabich SandoSabich Deviled EggsNiçoise Soba Salad with Wasabi-Soy Dressing (French × Japanese)Kroeung Pork and Roasted Pumpkin Rice Bowl with Toasted Rice CrunchChicken Satay Tacos with Acar PicklesSatay Chicken Rice Bowl with Crispy ShallotsSeekh Kebab Banh Mi (Pakistani × Vietnamese)Chicken Sekuwa Crispy Chiura Bowl with Cucumber-Sesame AcharSichuan Shredded-Chicken Cold Noodles with Homemade Sesame PasteGochujang Sesame-Peanut Bibim Guksu (Korean × Chinese)Rainbow Sesame-Peanut Noodle Jar Salad with Crispy TofuCold Shabu Salad Bowl with Sesame PonzuShan Tomato Chicken Lettuce Cups with Crispy Rice NoodlesShashlik Lamb Rice Bowl with Dill Yogurt and Pickled OnionsShish Tawook Salad with Toum-Caesar Dressing and Pita CrispsSizzling Sisig Kimchi Bibimbap with Gochujang-Calamansi Sauce (Filipino × Korean)Teriyaki Salmon Smørrebrød with Wasabi MayoCrunchy Rye Smørrebrød Bowl with Jammy EggsSom Tam Summer RollsMasala Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Mint RaitaPork Neck Souvlaki with Homemade Yogurt FlatbreadGochujang Pork Souvlaki Wrap with Sesame TzatzikiSouvlaki Loaded FriesCrispy-Skin Salmon Rice Bowl with Ginger-Scallion OilStegt Flæsk Bánh Mì with Parsley Herb Mayo (Danish × Vietnamese)Suya Steak Crunch Salad with Peanut-Lime DressingRestaurant-Style Köttbullar PlateSaffron Crispy Rice Salad with Herbs, Feta and WalnutsShrimp Tempura OnigirazuCaramel Pork and Egg Mayo ToastCold Thukpa Noodle Salad with Timur-Sesame DressingBerbere Butter Tibs Rice BowlTom Kha Creamy Chicken Rice BowlCrispy Tofu-Pouch Udon Salad BowlBulgogi Vetkoek Sliders with Kimchi Mayo (South African × Korean)Waakye Grain Salad with Avocado and Lime-Chilli DressingChicken Yassa Bánh Mì

Updated 2026-10-10