Asian Style Cucumber Soup Food

SPICY ASIAN CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Place cucumbers into a colander, sprinkle with salt, and let drain at least 30 minutes. Shake off excess liquid but don't rinse the cucumbers.
• Whisk soy sauce, sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, sesame oil, hot chili oil, and red pepper flakes in a salad bowl. Stir in cucumbers to coat with dressing. Chill 2 to 3 hours before serving.

ASIAN-STYLE CUCUMBER SPEARS

Steps:

• Trim the ends of the cucumbers and cut each one in half lengthwise. Place in a bowl, add the salt, and toss to coat. Let stand for 1 hour at room temperature. Transfer to a colander, rinse lightly under cold running water, drain, and place in a bowl.
• Prepare dressing: In a wok or heavy saucepan set over moderate heat, heat sesame oil until hot. Add the red pepper flakes and cook, stirring 15 seconds. Add ginger, garlic, vinegar, and honey and stir-fry 30 seconds. Off heat, add cucumber and toss to coat. Transfer to a bowl, let cool and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight. Cucumbers will keep for up to one week.

CHINESE CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Place the broth in a soup pot and bring it to a boil. Add the cucumbers, mushrooms, scallions, salt , and pepper.
• Cover the soup pot and cook gently over low-medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Blend the soup in a blender. Add the extra seasonings-sesame oil, vinegar and ginger- and blend well.
• Refrigerate the soup for a few hours and serve cold. Or reheat the soup and serve it hot as the Chinese do.

ASIAN-STYLE CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Place in a bowl the cubed cucumbers and kosher salt, toss to coat.
• Let stand for 1 hour at room temperature.
• Transfer to colander, rinse lightly under cold running water, drain, and place in a bowl.
• Prepare dressing: In a wok or heavy saucepan set over moderate heat, heat sesame oil until hot.
• Add the red pepper flakes and cook, stirring 15 seconds.
• Add garlic, rice vinegar, and honey and stir-fry 30 seconds.
• Turn off heat, add cucumbers and toss to coat.
• Transfer to a bowl, let cool and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Cucumbers will keep for up to one week.

ZESTY THAI CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a soup pot over medium heat; cook and stir cucumbers until softened, about 5 minutes. Cook and stir green onions with cucumbers until green onions are softened, about 5 more minutes. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice. Stir in sugar and bring soup to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low, cover soup, and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.

CUCUMBER SOUP WITH SOY AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Peel cucumbers, then cut them in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds. Slice cucumbers as thinly as possible (a mandoline is ideal for this). Mix them in a large bowl with soy sauce, vinegar, chile and sugar, then refrigerate for about 20 minutes.
• Add stock, scallions, watercress or arugula if you like, and stir. Taste, and adjust seasoning. Just before serving, garnish with herb or herbs of your choice.

ASIAN-STYLE CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• If the stock is not cold, throw it in the freezer while you prepare the cucumbers. Peel them, then cut them in half the long way; use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Slice them as thinly as possible (a mandoline is ideal for this). Mix them in a bowl with the soy sauce, vinegar, chile, and sugar and let sit, refrigerated, for about 20 minutes.
• Add the stock, scallion, and watercress or arugula if you like and stir. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then chill or serve. Just before serving, garnish with the herb(s).
• Variation
• Cucumber-Coconut Soup: Substitute 2 cups coconut milk and 1 cup water for the stock and, if you have it, nam pla (fish sauce) for the soy sauce. You can turn this simple soup into a hot weather main course by topping it with some precooked shrimp (simply grilled would be my first choice) just before serving.

CUCUMBER SOUP

Steps:

• Finely chop a third of one of the cucumbers and set aside for when you're ready to serve later. Roughly chop the remaining cucumbers and tip into a blender or food processor along with the yogurt and the lime juice from one lime. Add the tarragon, most of the mint leaves and most of the chives. Blitz until the mixture is smooth. Taste the soup and add some or all of the lime juice from the second lime if you want more acidity.
• Pour the soup into bowls or small cups, scatter over the finely chopped cucumber, remaining mint leaves and the rest of the chives. Drizzle with a little rapeseed oil just before serving.