July · San Diego
Persian cucumbers
Small, seedless, and thin-skinned, Persian cucumbers are at their crispest in summer. They need no peeling and almost no preparation.
How to choose it
- Firm along the entire length
- Deep, even green
- No soft spots or wrinkling
- Smaller is usually crisper
Buy this much: 4–6 cucumbers for one person for the week
Often one of the least expensive things in the basket. Sold in bags at most grocery stores — good value relative to how far they stretch across the week.
During the week
- Rice bowl topping, sliced thin
- Quick salad with tomato and basil
- Side with salmon and mint
- Wrap filling with chicken and yogurt
On a weekend
Smashed cucumber salad with sesame, chili crisp, and scallion.
One thing worth learning
Salt briefly before dressing and let the water draw out for a few minutes. The cucumber becomes more concentrated and holds its crunch longer.