Long cucumber
Description
The long cucumber is a slender, light green vegetable with a delicate, fresh aroma and a mild, slightly sweet taste with a pleasant, crunchy texture. The skin is thin and almost bitter-free, often with delicate stripes, while the flesh is juicy and translucent, with a small amount of seeds inside. From a nutritional standpoint, the cucumber mainly consists of water (about 95%), is low in calories, and provides small amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and fiber, as well as antioxidants, which support hydration, skin health, and digestive health, and may also help with weight control. In the kitchen, the long cucumber is great raw in salads, cold soups, and sandwiches, as an addition to sushi, a garnish for appetizers, and in the form of pickles and cooling dips; it pairs well with yogurt, dill, lemon, and olive oil. To extend freshness, store cucumbers unwashed in the refrigerator, in a perforated bag or loosely wrapped in plastic, at a temperature of about 7–10°C, away from ethylene-producing fruits; best consumed within a week.
