Up next on the Grow. Eat. $ave. calendar for this year is cucumbers. I’ve had more cucumbers in my kitchen in the last 2 weeks than I know what to do with…both from my garden, and from a friend’s garden. I’ve been enjoying them on salads, as well as soaked in balsamic vinegar with some kosher salt and pepper (nom, nom, nom!).
And last night I tried this cucumber pineapple salsa. To mix things up a bit!
Think….burst of sweet and sour citrus flavors…as the cucumber takes on a little lime flavor and the pineapple adds the perfect sweet balance…plus a little kick and heat from the jalapeno. A fabulously tasteful and simple dinner!
$5 DINNERS TV
Perfect atop grilled chicken, and also tasted great on the salad too!!!
Cucumber Pineapple Salsa
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 10 minutes
Cooking Time – 20 minutes grill time
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber, about 2 cups (free from friend’s garden)
- 1/2 pineapple, diced ($1.50) Half of $2.99 pineapple
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped (free from my garden)
- 3 sprigs cilantro, (free from my garden)
- 1/4 cup lime juice ($.25)
- Salt and pepper
- Served with…
- Grilled chicken ($2.50)
- Side salad (free from Kroger this week)
- Dressing ($.20)
Directions
- Dice the cucumber. Dice the fresh pineapple. Finely chop the jalapeno. (And wash hands well. And don’t touch your eyes. or lip. or pick your nose! *burn*) Run your knife through the cilantro.
- In a mixing bowl, toss together the cucumber, pineapple, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice and some salt and pepper.
- The salsa can be made ahead and refrigerated up to a day in advance.
- Grill the chicken until cooked through. Spread the cucumber-pineapple salsa over the top.
- Serve Grilled Chicken with Cucumber-Pineapple Salsa and small side salad.
Cost $4.45
If you’d like to learn more about Square Foot Gardening, please check out the Square Foot Gardening books by Mel Bartholemew.
What fun cucumber recipes, meals or ideas do you have to share with us?!? I’d love some more ideas…as I still have a few cucumbers to use up!
This looks good, and I happen to have an abundance of cucumbers right now too, so I will add it to my list for this week!
Erin – Make some refrigerator pickles with your excess cucumbers. 1/2 waterm 1/2 vinegar, some spices (dill seed, celery seed, hot peppers, garlic cloves,whatever you like) and a tablespoon of kosher salt. They will keep for months in the frig.
Macaroni Salad
This makes a lot, but we eat it as a main dish.
16 oz. elbow macaroni, cook and drain, cooled ($.75 at Publix, BOGO last week)
2 med cucumbers, chopped, (free from my garden)
2 med tomatoes, diced, (free from my garden)
2 tbsp bacon bites, (Foodland, approx. $.50)
1/2 cup Miracle Whip, more if needed, (approx. $1.00)
salt and pepper to taste
Mix all in a large bowl. Serve.
$2.25 if used as main dish.
This one is so simple it doesn’t deserve its own post: Chop up cooked chicken, cut grapes in quarters, chop up a seeded cucumber, and throw in some chopped nuts (I love almonds). Mix it with poppy seed dressing and you have the ONLY way I like chicken salad. I love it on buns or pitas.
Sounds lovely Tina! I’m due for a good chicken salad…haven’t made it in a while!