Regular body hydration is a vital component of good health. However, many people struggle to drink the right amount of water to meet their daily body needs. Cucumber water can be a delicious solution to this problem, thanks to its good taste without additional calories, as opposed to that of juices, soda and other drinks. You can prepare cucumber water directly at your home, so you will always have something tasty with which to keep yourself hydrated or delight your guests.
Ingrediants
- 1 medium sized cucumber
- 2 liters of water
- Mint, citrus, strawberries, pineapple, seltzer (optional)
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Prepare the Cucumber Water
Step 1. Prepare the cucumber
Wash it to remove any dirt that may be on the peel. If you wish, you can peel the cucumber using a classic vegetable peeler or a knife suitable for this purpose.
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A creative option is to remove only part of the peel, leaving a few streaks on it as a decoration.
Make Cucumber Water Step 1Bullet1 - For this preparation, whether or not to peel the cucumber, is just a matter of personal taste, dictated by the preference for appearance and texture.
Step 2. Slice the cucumber
Use a sharp knife to cut the cucumber lengthwise in half. Then slice both parts to obtain slices with a thickness of about 5-10 mm.
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If you wish, remove the seeds present in the cucumber by removing the central portion of the pulp with a spoon. Cucumber seeds are edible, but many people prefer not to include them in their drinks.
Make Cucumber Water Step 2Bullet1
Step 3. Arrange the cucumber slices in a large jug
Since the slices will float in the water, if you want your drink to have a stronger taste, add some ice as well, which will hold the slices over the surface of the jug.
- For best results, let the cucumber steep in the water for at least an hour so that the flavor can spread through the water.
- For an even more intense drink, leave the cucumber to infuse overnight.
- Before serving, mix carefully.
Step 4. Fill the carafe with water
The exact quantity depends on the capacity of the carafe used. In general, the proportion will be 2 liters of water for each medium sized cucumber.
- Cucumber water is tastier when served cold, so opt for a jug that can easily be stored in the refrigerator.
- If this last point is impractical, you can add ice and wait until the drink is very cold before serving it on the table.
Step 5. Refill the jug with water
The cucumber - or the set of ingredients used - can be reused multiple times. Simply leave the cucumber slices in the pitcher and fill it with water again.
- When the result stops being to your taste because the water tastes rather bland, you can throw (or eat) the cucumber slices.
- Drink the cucumber water within two days, as it contains no preservatives: after this time the infused cucumber will begin to deteriorate.
Part 2 of 2: Variations
Step 1. Add some mint
Wash a few mint leaves under running water. Cut the leaves into thin strips, so that the scent and aroma can be released more easily, and so that they do not disturb you while tasting the drink.
- Mint is available in all supermarkets and is also a very strong plant that can easily grow in any garden.
- Mint added to cucumber water makes it sweeter, allowing you not to sugar it.
Step 2. Add citrus fruits
Lemons, limes and oranges are able to give water a very strong flavor, without increasing its total calories. If you want to serve the water immediately, cut your chosen fruit in half and squeeze the juice into the cucumber water. If, on the other hand, you want to flavor the water before serving it, add a few slices of fruit and leave them to infuse for the desired time.
- Remember to wash the fruit, especially if you have decided to flavor the drink by using it cut into slices.
- Be careful because if the fruits contain seeds, they could end up in the jug.
- Citrus fruits are an important source of vitamin C, which is essential for healthy and strong bones and muscles.
Step 3. Add some strawberries
Using a special knife, remove the stems from the strawberries and wash them to remove any residue of soil and other impurities. Slice them lengthwise and pour them into the water with the cucumber slices.
- Strawberries are an important source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure.
- Like any fruit and vegetable, strawberries also reach their maximum flavor in the correct season, when they are fully ripe. Choose deep red strawberries that still have a green stalk.
Step 4. Add the pineapple
Pineapple gives the cucumber a pungent, acidic flavor to the water. Choose a fresh, ripe pineapple, cut it into cubes and place it in the freezer.
Add about 100g of pineapple cubes to the pitcher with the cucumber water
Step 5. Use sparkling water instead of plain water
Fill the carafe halfway with sparkling water, then top up with the cold cucumber water just before serving. In this way you will best preserve both the flavor and the sparklingness of the drink.
- Use a water or a carbonated drink (for example tonic water) capable of bringing sparkle to the recipe without adding the calories or sugars normally contained in commercial drinks.
- If calories worry you, don't neglect reading the label to make sure bubbles are the only things added to cucumber water.
- Remember that, over time, sparkling water tends to lose its effervescence, so it is preferable to cool it before opening it and not after opening it.
