Pickled Cucumber Dipping Sauce Food

THAI BEEF SKEWERS WITH PICKLED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Pickle the cucumbers: In a small saucepan, heat the sugar, salt, vinegar and 1/4 cup water over medium-high heat until the sugar and salt dissolve; remove from the heat. Put the cucumber, chile and red onion in a medium bowl and pour the hot brine over them. Let cool, then add the cilantro. Chill.
• Make the beef skewers: In a medium bowl, mix the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, fish sauce, mirin, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, sesame seeds and red pepper flakes. Pour half of the mixture into a serving bowl, add the lime juice and reserve as a dipping sauce. Put the beef cubes in a zip-top bag and pour in the remaining marinade. Seal the bag and massage the marinade into the meat. Put in a bowl and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours. Preheat a grill to high. Drain the meat, discarding the marinade. Thread the cubes onto skewers (1 to 4 per skewer), separating each cube with a piece of scallion. Grill directly over the coals, turning once, until nicely charred, about 3 minutes per side. Sprinkle with sliced scallions. Serve warm or cold with the reserved marinade for dipping and the pickled cucumber and chiles on the side. Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes to keep them from burning on the grill. Photograph by Antonis Achilleos

DILL PICKLED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Cut the pickling or ridged cucumbers into sticks or slices. Layer with the coarse crystal sea salt in a large bowl, cover and leave overnight. Drain away the brine, then rinse.
• To make the pickling vinegar, put the whole spices in a medium saucepan. Toast over a low heat until they begin to smell aromatic. Add the dried chilli flakes last, as these can easily catch. Add the bay, pour in all of the vinegar and sugar, let it dissolve, and bring to a simmer. Add the dill sprigs.
• Pack the cucumber into jars, pour over the hot vinegar and seal. Ready to eat in 2 weeks, or longer, if you like.

DILL CUCUMBER DIP

Steps:

• Place cream cheese in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth. Stir in cucumbers, mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, dill weed and hot pepper sauce.

CUCUMBER DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir together yogurt, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and cucumber. Sauce can be refrigerated, covered, up to 1 day.

PICKLED CUCUMBER DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, water and sugar in a medium saucepan over low heat.
• Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil.
• Cook for 5 minutes or until the syrup thickens. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool. Transfer to a bowl.
• Add the cucumber and chili and combine. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour to chill.

CUCUMBER DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Put the rice vinegar and sugar into a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Boil for 2 minutes, until syrupy. Allow to cool.
• Stir the finely cut cucumber and carrot into the vinegar with 2 tablespoons of sweet chilli dipping sauce.

CUCUMBER DIP

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix sour cream, mayonnaise, onion, parsley, dill weed, Beau Monde ™ seasoning, seasoning salt and pepper. Cover and chill in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight, before serving. Enjoy!