Last post was about that Cucumber Martini I could drink an entire pitcher of. It feels like a century has passed, and I have so, so, so many stories and recipes to share with you. But only now, after a wildly crazy hectic summer desperately missing this blog, am I able to sit down and write. And guess what? I have no choice but to continue with cucumbers!
This is why: I thought I knew cucumbers, I really did, until I visited Mr. Jose Luis Rodríguez Rojas’ cucumber green house in the state of Morelos, a state known as “Mexico’s Spring”. Cucumbers grown there are the slicers, ironically called pepino Americano or pepino común in Mexico. Slicers are the cucumbers mostly used in Mexico’s kitchens. And the ones I use all the time.
Now I know how little I knew about them.
Sure I have peeled, sliced, diced and julienned a gazillion and have used them in so many ways, from salads to sorbets. I know it’s taste: mild, watery, fresh, wanting to be lemony. I know it’s bite: soft yet crisp. I know the coolest trick to help them never be bitter (cut ends and rub the opposing sides before peeling).
But I had never seen their plants in their youngest form, as Miguel, one of the farmers showed me.
Nor was I aware, that after just one month of protected care, they grow to have jungle like looks and size.
Look at them!
If I could only embed here the moist and clean smell of the plants and the velvety feel of their immense fully grown leaves, I would be so pleased.
Much to my surprise, the flowers from where those huge cucumbers grow from are delicate and feminine. Their color a strong yellow that seems to want to fade right before your eyes, just as their petals seem to tell you to please be careful if you dare touch them.
There are male and female cucumber flowers and they are both as pretty. It is the female pollinated flowers, which grow a miniature baby cucumber right behind, covered in tiny-prickly-thin-like thorns that protect it as it grows. So they have ways of telling you not to touch them.
The flower holds on, as the cucumber grows. See below?
I marveled.
After a while, I had to make an effort to stop ooooohing and aaaaahing at every site (I have to act more my age, you know…).
After they pick the cucumbers, they clean them and pack them up.
Mr Jose Luis employs about 300 people a year. Each person I met, seemed proud about their job and meticulous in their care of the green house facilities and mostly, the plants. “No one kneels here to work”, Mr. Jose Luis repeated a couple times, “work here is worthy, dignified”. Truth is, it genuinely felt that way. It seemed that people felt vested in the business. Their faces lit up when I asked any question that popped out of my mouth (if you know me by now you know I have an endless stream of questions…).
Crazy Nacho Guani, who was filming with Cortez Brothers and I (for Season 2, which launches this weekend, yey!) was filming up there like a wild monkey (if you knew Nacho you’d know he climbs anything that has any height… )
Mr Jose Luis’ chest seems to burst as he talks about the history of his green house, more so about the vegetables he grows. He drastically changed careers, like I did too. He, also, has never looked back.
After spending the day, Mr Jose Luis, who could not have been more friendly, asked if we were hungry. We were starved. He immediately offered to take us to his favorite place for a late lunch-early dinner. But that’s another story.
Lesson learned, yet again: no ingredient, no single one is common. Even if it goes by the name pepino común, or common cucumber. Not even if you have used it a thousand ways and have chopped it a gazillion times.
Getting to know cucumbers, from flower to tops, made me think of so many new ways to use them. In a cold soup? With a bit of a bite from a jalapeño? With the wide echo from some mint? Topped with something sweet and crunchy and tart to make it all go wild in your mouth?
I played with the idea and once that I nailed a take I liked, I can’t stop making it.
Think of it as a Mexican tzatziki or as a white cucumber gazpacho of sorts… Or better yet, indulge me please and just make it. To boot: takes but 2 minutes in the blender.
p.s. Party or Holidays coming soon? Serve it in little mugs or cups for people to drink and munch along.
Cucumber Soup with Mint, Jalapeño and Pomegranate
Recipe Yield
Cooking time
Rate this recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups thick Greek yogurt
- 3 pounds slicer/common cucumbers about 2 1/2
- 1 tablespoon red onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon jalapeño chopped or more to taste (seeding optional)
- 15 mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or more to taste
- 3/4 cup pomegranate seeds or more to taste
To Prepare
- Wash cucumbers, cut the ends and use them to rub the opposing cut ends of the cucumber. Peel and cut lengthwise into 4 long strips and slice off the seeds. Discard the seeds and cut into chunks.
- In the jar of a blender, place the yogurt, cucumbers, red onion, garlic, jalapeño, mint, lime juice and salt.
- Puree until smooth. Pour inside a mug or container and store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Serve and sprinkle pomegranate seeds on top.
Comments
17comments inCucumber Soup with Mint, Jalapeño and Pomegranate
Susan
Aug 17
Is it ok to use Persian or pickling cucumbers in the soup?
Pati Jinich
Aug 18
Absolutely! I love Persian cucumbers, go for it Susan!
JOE PAULINE
Jun 22
on the cucumber soup two questions, better served cold? and how many will these portions serve, it looks excellent, thank you.
Pati
Jun 22
Serves about 4 generous bowls. And yes, better cold!
Adela
Apr 09
Hola Pati. Your blog is amazing, wish I could see the show but I live in Peru, tried looking for it online but couldn’t so I’ll be getting your book on kindle, amazing recipes, so authentic and yet so fresh! I do hope you keep posting recipes here since it’s hard for me to get them otherwise, congratulation, it’s great to see a compatriota on tv with real authentic food, as I can gather and not buñuelos with store bought tortillas!!
Pati
Apr 09
Gracias Adela, for your kind and generous note! OF course I will keep on posting and thank you so much for getting my book on Kindle.
karla
Feb 24
I made it without pomegranate since I could not find the fruit since it is out of season! but it still tastes delicious! I had no idea I could make such delicious stuff 🙂 since I started watching your show I have discovered the wonders of cooking! thank you very much!
karla
Feb 21
mmm is this a cold soup or hot soup?
Aviva Goldfarb
Nov 19
Hi Pati, this looks so good I’m dying to try it. But I keep reading this sentence and I can’t understand what you mean–do you really rub the ends of the cucumbers on the opposing ends? Why? “Wash cucumbers, cut the ends and use them to rub the opposing cut ends of the cucumber.”
Pati Jinich
Dec 12
Hola Aviva, I get asked about this one quite often! I learned this trick growing up in Mexico from my mother, and it’s believed to keep the cucumbers from tasting bitter. It could just be Mexican superstition, but it’s always worked for me! Thank you so much for writing me!!
Elena
Nov 05
Hola Paty! Probably. You get this a lot, but I just Love your show!! You are
Very fun to watch, and your recepies are not that hard at all. I don’t know
What time your show comes on here in Fresno, Ca. now a days, but I do miss it. 🙁
Pati Jinich
Nov 15
Hi Elena, Thanks for your nice comments! The show airs on KVPT in Fresno. Season Two is also currently airing nationwide on Create TV.
Nena
Sep 30
Hola Paty thanks for your show i absolutely love it.
Pati Jinich
Oct 02
Hola Nena, You are so kind. Thank you for watching!
sunidhi
Sep 15
Hi, This looks very yummy and mouth watering. definitely i will try and let u know. you have described it really good anyone can follow it . thanks for a wonderful recipe.
Teri
Aug 27
Hola, Pati! I had submitted a comment to your blog a few weeks ago but I don’t know what happened to it. So I hope this works. I wanted to let you know that I stumbled upon your TV show on PBS a few weeks ago and that I love you and your show. You are so charming and enthusiastic, and I love the fact that your recipes are so authentic, not just slapping some canned tomato sauce and chili powder with tortillas and calling it Mexican! I definitely want to try some of your recipes, and I can’t wait for your new season and your new cookbook! A new fan, Teri in Washington State
Pati Jinich
Aug 27
Hola Teri!
Thank you so very much for your messages. I am thrilled you found my show on your PBS station and that you enjoy my`recipes. I laughed so hard at what you said “not just slapping canned tomato sauce or chili powder” So true!
DO send along any request you may crave… All my best,
P