Monday Special - Armenian "Cucumbers"

Cucumbers certainly are in season, and thanks to some awesome folks at one of the local farmers markets, I had the pleasure of trying an ARMENIAN cucumber. Not only was it a nice surprise (and treat!), I found out that this variety of melon (yep, you heard me... while closely related to the cucumber family, this baby is actually a melon) is beyond heirloom... it's ANCESTRAL. According to specialtyproduce.com, "Ancestral varieties were introduced into the human diet when the only foods eaten were whole, unprocessed, easier to digest and metabolize, generally predating the 19th century." Yum!

Armenian cucumbers... they just aren't very sexy, but they are tasty, promise!!

As you might imagine, these light green beauties originated in Armenia. They are called cucumbers and not melons because they look just like a cucumber, but have lighter pigmentation and a thin, wrinkly-looking skin. They are tender without being mushy and therefore can be fully enjoyed whole and raw. I would have a picture of my goodies, but they jumped right into the juicer when I got home! However, I did snack on some raw and it was delicious!!

For the gardeners, these plants produce quickly and just like cucumbers, pick before they get too big (one, because they will get bitter and two, because they will suck the nutrients out of all the other armenians trying to grow). A good measure is to put you index finger and thumb around the middle of the cucumber. If you can almost touch, it should be ripe and yummy. If your fingers are touching... it might be too late. You have to be mindful of these because they can grow from almost ripe to way too ripe overnight. They also are pretty susceptible to mosaic virus and powdery mildew.

Nutritionally, one medium armenian cucumber has:

• only about 50 calories;
• 10 carbs, with 1/3 of this in fiber, 2/3 in sugar;
• no significant protein;
• 30% Vitamin C;
• traces of Vitamin A, Calcium and Iron.

So, if you see one of these at your farmer's market or specialty grocer, pick one up! You won't regret it.