Fried cucumbers

Cucumber is one of the most popular summer vegetables, commonly added to a wide variety of salads or eaten fresh on its own. If fresh, pickled, or salted cucumbers have already become a little boring, why not try them fried? Fried cucumbers are a spicy and wonderfully unusual appetizer that is quick and easy to prepare. They also make an excellent accompaniment to meat and fish dishes.

Using unrefined sunflower oil for frying gives the cucumbers a distinctive aroma and adds valuable nutrients to the dish. Sunflower oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids (up to 60%), which are involved in lipid metabolism and may help regulate inflammatory processes. It is also a source of vitamin E, a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant that helps protect the body from oxidative stress and supports healthy aging. In addition, sunflower oil contains phytosterols and phospholipids — plant-derived compounds that also have antioxidant properties..

CraftOil offers an excellent, regularly updated selection of products. Our catalog always features fresh, aromatic, 100% natural sunflower seed oil, pressed on our own branded presses on the day your order is placed. We bottle the oil in environmentally friendly glass bottles, vacuum-seal and tightly close them, and promptly ship orders throughout Ukraine and worldwide. We guarantee premium quality and exceptional taste.

For more information about our products, simply submit an inquiry through our website.

Ingredients

For spicy fried cucumbers, you will need (serves 2):

• 2 medium cucumbers or 1 large cucumber;
• 1 egg;
• 50 g breadcrumbs;
• ½ teaspoon salt (or a little more to taste);
• 5 tablespoons sunflower oil;

Step-by-step instructions

Wash the cucumber and pat it dry with a paper towel or kitchen towel. Cut off the stem end and peel the cucumber if the skin is particularly thick or tough. Then cut it into rounds or slices approximately 5 mm thick, or into relatively thin strips.

In a bowl, beat the egg with the salt until the salt has completely dissolved.

Spread the breadcrumbs onto a cutting board or flat plate. Dip each piece of cucumber into the beaten egg, then coat it evenly with breadcrumbs.

Place a frying pan over medium heat and add the sunflower oil. Once the oil is hot, add the prepared cucumber pieces and fry for 2–3 minutes on each side, until they develop an appetizing golden-yellow to orange crust.

Serve the fried cucumbers immediately after cooking. If desired, garnish them with finely chopped dill or parsley.

Notes:

For a spicier appetizer, add not only salt but also ground black pepper and/or allspice, as well as chili, to the egg mixture. Replacing regular table salt with Adyghe salt or Svan salt will give the dish a more delicate and richly seasoned flavor.

A great selection of spices, dried herbs, and ready-made spice blends is always available at the Ukrainian online store CraftOil.