With the high temps of southern summers we’re always craving a cool down. Cucumbers are our go-to in mocktails, cocktails, and simple salads. Give these Food & Wine recipes a whirl at your next summer soirée.
Cucumber-Lemonade Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 paper-thin, lengthwise slice of European cucumber, for garnish
- Ice
- 1/4 tsp finely chopped dill,
plus - 1 dill sprig, for garnish
- 1 tbsp agave syrup
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup fresh cucumber juice
- 1/4 cup chilled club soda
Instructions
- Press the cucumber slice against the inside of a chilled highball glass and add ice.
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the chopped dill, agave syrup, lemon and lime juices and 1 tablespoon of water until the syrup is dissolved.
- Add ice, then add the cucumber juice and shake well. Strain into the prepared glass and stir in the club soda. Garnish with the dill sprig.
Frozen Cucumber Margaritas with Chili-Sumac Salt
Ingredients
- 2 large (9oz) English or seedless
cucumbers, peeled and roughly
chopped into 1-inch pieces.
- 1 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt (such as Maldon)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sumac
- 6 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 4 cups ice cubes
- 1 1/2 cups bottled coconut water
(such as Vita Coco)
- 1 1/4 cups (10oz) premium silver tequila
(such as Herradura Silver)
- 1/2 cup simple syrup
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro
- Garnish-1 cup thinly sliced seedless
cucumbers and fresh cilantro leaves.
Instructions
- Place chopped cucumbers in a ziplock plastic freezer bag. Seal and freeze at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
- Stir together salt, chili powder, and sumac in a small bowl. Spread mixture evenly over a small plate. Add lime juice to blender. Working with 1 glass at a time, rub the rims of 8 rocks glasses with reserved squeezed limes; roll rims in salt mixture until completely coated.
- Transfer frozen cucumbers to blender with lime juice; add ice cubes, coconut water, tequila, simple syrup, and chopped cilantro. Process until smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Divide cucumber mixture evenly among prepared glasses; garnish glasses with cucumber slices and cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.
