Cucumber juice is a healthy and very beneficial drink. Cucumbers are rich in water and contain many nutrients such as potassium, silica, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, and chlorophyll. Many people add cucumber juice to their diet to improve the quality of their skin, nails and hair. In addition, cucumber juice can also prevent high blood pressure and kidney stones if taken regularly. You can enjoy the cucumber juice directly (cucumber only, no additives), or mix the cucumber with other sweeteners or fruit juices for flavor.
Ingredients
Simple Cucumber Juice
3 medium size cucumbers
Sweet Cucumber Juice
- 1 medium size cucumber
- 500 ml water
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) honey
- Salt, to taste
Presentation
For about 2 glasses of juice
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Simple Cucumber Juice
Step 1. Peel the cucumber
Cucumber skin is coated with a kind of protective wax. Although the coating is harmless if eaten, the waxy content in the coating can damage the texture of the juice. You can peel the cucumbers using a potato peeler or a sharp knife.
Step 2. Cut off each end of the cucumber stem using a sharp knife
The two ends of the cucumber stems have a rough, inedible texture so you don't need to use them to make juice.
Step 3. Cut the cucumber into large pieces
You can cut it into strips measuring 2.5 centimeters (both in length, width, and thickness). You can also cut it into smaller pieces. Just make sure you don't make cuts that are larger than the recommended size.
Step 4. Put the cucumber slices in a food processor or blender
Leave a few centimeters of free space between the pile of cucumber slices and the rim of the blender glass. Do not let you fill the glass with cucumbers to the brim.
Step 5. Mash the cucumber pieces on medium or high speed
Run a blender or food processor for about 2 minutes. Make sure the mixture still has grit and doesn't have to be very soft.
Step 6. Place the strainer over a large bowl
Make sure the filter size is dry enough to fit into the rim of the bowl. However, if possible, use a sieve with a lip diameter that is wide enough for you to fit over the rim of the bowl. By placing the filter over the rim of the bowl, you do not need to hold or hold the filter.
Step 7. Place the steamer or cheesecloth in the colander
This cloth can filter out more grains from the juice. You can also use a coffee filter instead of a steamer or cheesecloth.
Step 8. Slowly pour the cucumber puree into the bowl through a sieve
Pour as much of the cucumber puree into the colander as possible without spilling it.
Step 9. Stir the puree with a rubber spatula or metal spoon, occasionally pressing the steamer or cheesecloth against the strainer
By stirring the puree, you are encouraging the juices to seep out and flow through the strainer into the bowl. Keep stirring and pressing the puree until no more juice remains from the puree.
Step 10. Pour the cucumber juice into a glass, then refrigerate or serve
You can also store fresh cucumber juice in a closed container in the refrigerator for one week.
Method 2 of 2: Making Sweet Cucumber Juice
Step 1. Peel and cut the cucumber
Use a paring knife to remove the waxy skin from the cucumber flesh and a knife to cut off both ends of the cucumber stem. Cut the cucumber into cubes with a knife for easier processing later.
Step 2. Grate the cucumber into a finer grater
You can use a hand grater or a box grater, depending on which type of grater is easiest to use. Grate the cucumber over a bowl so that no grater remains or falls off.
Step 3. Pour 500 milliliters of water and 2 tablespoons of sugar into a medium saucepan
Bring the water and sugar to a boil over medium/high heat and stir periodically. After boiling, the sugar will dissolve in the water so that the mixture becomes thicker.
Step 4. Add the grated cucumber to the boiling sugar water mixture
Reduce the heat to medium-low (or medium) and boil the grated cucumbers in the sugar-water mixture for about 10 minutes. Don't forget to stir it often. By heating the cucumbers in the sugar water mixture, the flavors of the cucumbers will be mixed more evenly than when you add them after the sugar water mixture has cooled.
Step 5. Remove the pan from the stove
Allow the mixture to cool, at least until the mixture is no longer emitting air bubbles or steam.
Step 6. Pour the mixture into a blender and add 2 tablespoons of honey
Mix the two ingredients on high speed until they are pure. Make sure there is only a small amount of grated cucumber remaining in the puree. By mashing the cucumber, you can get more of the cucumber juice that is still in the flesh.
Step 7. Cover the top of a large glass bowl with a steamer or cheesecloth
Make sure the cloth you are using is large enough that the ends are hanging out of the sides of the bowl.
Step 8. Carefully pour the cucumber puree into the bowl through the steamer
You need to pour it slowly so that the ends of the cloth don't get pulled into the bowl.
Step 9. Once all the puree is trapped in the fabric, take each end of the fabric and knead the puree
After that, tie or hold each end of the fabric until it is strong.
Step 10. Let the cucumber juice seep and drip from the steamer into the bowl
Once there is no more dripping cucumber juice, squeeze the bundle of cloth to remove the remaining juice. When no more juice comes out after the bundle has been kneaded, remove the cloth from the bowl and throw it away or save it for later reuse.
Step 11. Add salt to the cucumber juice, according to your taste
Stir the mixture so that the salt is evenly distributed. Salt can remove the bitter taste that is naturally contained in cucumber juice. However, the bitter taste may have been masked by the previously added sweetener.
Step 12. Serve cucumber juice in a glass
You can refrigerate the juice or add ice to it for a refreshing taste. Store the remaining juice in the refrigerator for (maximum) one week.
Tips
- Cucumber juice has a “flexible” taste and can be mixed with other flavors. You can add mint or ginger to cucumber juice for a refreshing taste sensation, or mix other fruit juices, such as apple or watermelon juice to enrich the taste.
- You can save the remaining grain and use it for other purposes. Both real grains and sweetened grains can be frozen and used in other dishes, such as granita (Italian ice) or cucumber puree. In addition, the original grains (without the addition of any substances) you can also use as a refreshing face mask.
