A TRIO OF CUCUMBER[39]

Friday, January 24, 2014

A Trio of Cucumber Starter-Salad.
An healthy English melange of spicy, cheesy, chocolaty flavours melting in the mouth, A treat for the palate.

Cheesy Cucumber Rolls
(6 pieces)
Ingredients
2 - Cheese slices
8 tsp - Pesto
1 - Cucumber (peel with a peeler into 8 leaves)
1 - Iceberg lettuce (remove 2 leaves from it)

Method
Place a cheese slice between two plastic sheets and roll it flat with a rolling pin.
Lay a cucumber leaf flat in a plate.
Lay another leaf next to it, slightly overlapping it.
Continue doing so with two more leaves.
In doing so a sheet will be formed.
Lay the cheese slice on top of it, tapping it firmly (so as to stick it to the cucumber)
Spread half the pesto on it.
Place the Iceberg lettuce on this and roll it firmly.
Keep in the fridge for 30 minutes atleast till serving.
Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.
Serve it in individual bowls.

Basil Pesto Sauce
Ingredients
4 1/2 cup - Basil (stripped)
15 tsp- Pine nuts
3 Tbsp - Garlic (chopped finely)
1 1/2 Tbsp - Black pepper (grounded)
1/2 cup - Olive oil
2 tsp or as per taste - Salt

Put 3 cubes of Ice in the blender at medium speed.
Remove this water in a bowl.

For Garnishing
50 gms- Parmesan cheese (grated)

Method
Blend the basil, pine nuts, garlic, black pepper gradually adding the olive oil.
Add the salt and the ice water, blend it further.
Remove in a bowl.
Sprinkle parmesan cheese just when using the pesto.

Note : Adding of water helps to reduce the need to use more oil, thus making the pesto healthier.
The leftover pesto (without the cheese) can be used in Pastas, Sandwiches, Soups, Sauteed veg, Salads and Rice.
It can be stored for at least a week.

Stuffed cucumber disc
(Approximately 8 pieces)
Ingredients
1 - Cucumber (wash, peel and deskin)
Method
With as apple corer remove the centre of the cucumber.
Stuff the filling in the cucumber.

For the filling
Ingredients
1 Tbsp - Red bell pepper
1/4 - Ginger
1 tsp - Olive oil
1/2 clove - Garlic
1 Tbsp - Toasted Bread (cut into small square)
1/2 tsp - Red chilli flakes
3/4 tsp - Apple cider vinegar
1 tsp - Jalapeno pepper
1/2 tsp - Garlic chilli sauce
1 tsp - Sesame seeds (roasted)

Method
Mix the above ingredients and stuff it in the cucumber.
Carefully slice the stuffed cucumber at 1/2 inch intervals.
Stand the round disc of the stuffed cucumber and put a toothpick in it.

Cubes on a stick
(8 pieces)
Ingredients
8 pcs - Cucumber (cut into 1/2” cubes)
8 pcs - Chocolate (cut into cubes)
8 pcs - Oranges (peel each slice totally and cut into half)
8 pcs - Pear (cut into 1/2” cubes)
8 pcs - Kiwi (cut into 1/2” cubes)
8 pcs - Toothpick or Wooden Sticks (Satay Sticks)

Method
Push the cucumber on to the toothpick.
Followed by the chocolate, orange, pear and kiwi.
Serve all the three styles together on an individual platter or on a serving platter.