You know that moment when you think you’ve invented/discovered something? Quickly, words, imagines and thoughts flash through your mind and you confirm “I’ve never seen this before!”. You’re excited, you think you’re onto something and then you quickly do a Google search.
Your heart plops on the floor and you realize there are approximately 9,500,000 results for “Candied Cucumbers”. You’re disappointed and the dream of your book deal and cooking show all about Cucumbers on the Food Network dissipate.
But I digress. Summer Fest is here and this week is graced by, you guessed it, Cucumbers! Join in the fun by following the Twitter hashtag #cookingwith and sharing with us your favorite ways to eat cucumbers! Here, I decided to showcase two main ingredients: Cucumbers and Hibiscus. Because as you know, Hibiscus makes everything sexier.
Hibiscus Candied Cucumbers
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
1 large cucumber
Method
- In small sauce pan, stir water and sugar together and simmer until all the sugar dissolves.
- While the syrup simmers, thinly slice cucumbers and drop into the syrup, as well as dried hibiscus.
- Poach for 10 minutes.
- Remove cucumbers from syrup and place on silicone baking sheet. Dehydrate in low temperature oven or dehydrator until they become smooth to the touch.
- Reserve hibiscus flavored syrup for future cocktail making or as sweetener for lemonade.
Uses for Candied Cucumbers
- Drop into vodka tonics as garnish.
- Set out small plates of it with chic toothpicks and serve as a bar snack sprinkled with salt flakes and red pepper flakes.
- Add to your water to improve flavor and beat the heat! Hydration can also be flavor packed!
- Juice half a pineapple, a few celery stalks and 1/4 cup of hibiscus candied cucumbers; a refreshing summer drink!
Need more Cucumber Inspiration? Check out these links from the Summer Fest!
The Sensitive Epicure: Tzatziki with Grilled Gluten-Free Pitas and Fresh Cucumbers and Peppers
A Way to Garden: Cucumber-Growing Q&A and the Best Pickles
How yum is this?? I would be proud to make these and say you invented it. I’ve never heard of it before. Maybe those other people lied.
Nice recipe Marnley – good idea and nicely presented.
You amaze me! Love it!
Ok, I would totally buy your hibiscus book….if it seriously makes you sexier…count me in! Your picture is gorgeous, the colors are stunning! Never would have thought to candid cucumbers, but does sound delicious:-)
Love and Hugs, Terra
Totally new and lovely idea..have many Hibiscus plants in my garden..will be doing it soon.
What a different and interesting recipe. I would love to drink water flavored with the cucumbers, great idea!
What a fun thing to do with the common cucumber!
candied cukes just sound hot. i’ve never heard of it before (if that makes u feel better)!
What a lovely post & pics! We call Hibiscus the “Gumamela” in the Philippines. This is such a unique way to present it. Thanks for sharing!
wow fun recipe it is new right :-_