Cucumbers are a vegetable that is often seen in prominent places in the vegetable section from spring to summer.
Cucumbers are often sliced into thin strips and served with chilled Chinese noodles, a popular dish during the hot season.
In addition to its refreshing taste, cucumbers are indispensable for adding color to dishes, but sometimes we forget to buy them. But there are times when I accidentally forget to buy them.
Oh no! I forgot to buy cucumbers. What should I do?
In this article, I’d like to introduce you to some cucumber substitutes that can help you in such a time of need!
For chilled Chinese noodles, salads, and salad dressings!
12 vegetables as cucumber substitutes
Cucumber substitute 1: Potherb mustard
Potherb mustard, a refreshing and bright green vegetable, is a good substitute for cucumbers.
When chopped into chunks and arranged stylishly, it looks like something from a café menu!
If you want to use it as an ingredient for chilled Chinese noodles or salads, eat it raw so that you can enjoy its crunchy texture.
On the other hand, if you don’t like the crunchy texture, you may enjoy eating them lightly salted.
It is also a vegetable with high nutritional value!
Vegetable substitute for cucumbers 2: Okra
If you don’t mind the sticky texture, okra is also a good substitute for cucumber.
You can cut it lengthwise or use the star-like shape of the cut to show off your taste in serving.
If you are worried about the hairs on the okra, you can remove them by sprinkling salt on the okra after rinsing and rubbing it with your fingers.
If you have a lot of okra, you can also use itazuri.
It is easy to wash and rub okra with salt in the same way as when you bought it in a net.
Fresh okra can be eaten raw, but some people do not like the greenish smell of raw food.
If this is the case, I recommend removing the black parts around the stems with a knife and then lightly boil it.
It is better to cut off the stems and tips after boiling so that the result will not be watery.
Okra can also be eaten with sesame paste or vinegar, so in addition to chilled Chinese noodles and salads, you can substitute cucumbers in a variety of dishes.
Cucumber substitute 3: Lettuce
You can also use lettuce for chilled Chinese noodles and salads.
You can tear it by hand into easy-to-eat sizes, or cut it into small pieces like cucumbers and serve it.
If you cut lettuce with a knife, the cut edges will discolor, so it is best to cut it right before eating as much as possible.
You can also use lettuce as a dressing for namul.
Vegetable substitute for cucumber 4: Pea pods (Kinusaya)
Instead of cucumbers, you can use pea pods (kinusaya), whose bright green color will add color to your dishes.
The crunchy texture is also a nice accent for chilled Chinese noodles.
After removing the strands, boil the cucumbers briefly, then cool them in cold water and drain well before adding them to the dish.
Vegetable substitute for cucumbers 5: Sprouts
The word “sprout” has been heard a lot lately.
It refers to the sprouts of vegetables, such as broccoli sprouts and kaware-daikon.
Sprouts are attracting attention because they are rich in nutrition.
Broccoli sprouts and kaware-daikon can also be used as a substitute for cucumbers in chilled Chinese dishes and salads.
They can also be used as a substitute for cucumbers in chilled Chinese noodles and salads. Although it is recommended to eat them raw to keep the nutrients intact, it is also said that the pungency of the awnings is alleviated when cooked.
Substitute vegetables for cucumbers 6: Green vegetables such as komatsuna and spinach
The bright green “komatsuna” and “spinach” are also excellent alternatives to cucumbers to add color to dishes.
For chilled Chinese noodles, serve them raw or boiled and then squeezed dry.
It is a good way to consume rich nutrients.
Also, spinach with sesame seeds is a standard menu item, so you can substitute it with a salad.
Substitute vegetables for cucumbers 7: Cabbage
Cabbage is a great substitute vegetable that is easy to find throughout the year.
For chilled Chinese-style noodles, you can serve it as it is, sliced into thin strips like cucumbers, or you can use boiled cabbage or dress it with vinegar or soy sauce to make it easier to soak up the sauce.
In Sendai at the time when chilled Chinese noodles were first served, boiled cabbage was served with salted cucumbers.
Vegetable substitute for cucumbers 8: Bean sprouts
Although the color may be a little subdued, bean sprouts can be used as a surprising substitute for cucumbers.
The crunchy texture of bean sprouts is recommended for use in namul and other salad dressings.
They can also be used as an ingredient in chilled Chinese noodles.
It is also a great addition to chilled Chinese noodles.
Cucumber substitute 9: Dadish
Next up is daikon.
Freshly sliced daikon radish can be used in salads instead of cucumbers. Of course, it also blends well with the sauce for chilled Chinese noodles.
It may be easier to eat if you use a slicer to cut the strips as thinly as possible, using the image of a sashimi pickle.
Since it is eaten raw, please use the part closer to the less pungent leaves.
As with bean sprouts, it is a bit sad as a color, so you may want to cover it up with colorful tomatoes or a broiled egg.
Everyone’s ideas
- Peapods
- Mekabu (turnip)
- Green onion
Zucchini is not a good substitute for cucumbers
Many people may vaguely think of zucchini as a substitute for cucumbers because of the similarity in appearance between the two.
However, despite the similarity in appearance, the two vegetables have completely different tastes and textures.
Zucchini is not a cucumber but a pumpkin.
Zucchini is not a cucumber, but a pumpkin. If you use zucchini in cooking, you may end up with a different result than you expected.
However, zucchini, which can be eaten with its skin on, adds color to dishes and has a light flavor that does not interfere with seasoning.
Just keep in mind that they have a different taste and texture than cucumbers!
In addition to being cooked, zucchini can be eaten in salads or as namul, so you can try making namul with zucchini instead of cucumber. etc., please try a new menu!
Summary
- The following vegetables are recommended as substitutes for cucumbers used in chilled Chinese noodles, salads, and salad dressings.
- The following vegetables are recommended as substitutes for cucumbers in chilled Chinese noodles, salads, and dressings: potherb mustard, okra, lettuce, pea pods (kinusaya), sprouts, komatsuna, spinach, cabbage, bean sprouts, daikon, pea pods, mekabu, and scallions.
- When using zucchini instead, it is necessary to keep in mind that it has a different taste and texture from cucumber.