Thick Cucumbers in Ankake (Thick Sauce)

Name: Thick Cucumbers in Ankake (Thick Sauce)
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 Thick cucumber; 2 Imitation crab meat sticks (optional); 400 ml Dashi stock; 2 tsp Sugar; 3 tbsp ★ Usukuchi soy sauce; 2 tsp ★ Mirin; 1 ★ Salt; 1 tbsp ☆ Katakuriko; 1 tbsp ☆ Water

cookpad.japan @cookpad_jp

A native vegetable in Kaga prefecture, Kaga cucumbers are larger and wider than common Japanese cucumbers. The flesh is thick and has a dense texture, and can be used in cooking. It has such substance that it can even be featured in a main dish.
In the summertime, serve this dish chilled, and the ankake thick sauce will cool you down nicely.

The imitation crab meat is optional. Minced chicken or shrimp also goes well in this recipe.
Light soy sauce enhances the color of the fresh green cucumbers better than regular soy sauce.
This dish will also be delicious if you use your homegrown overgrown fat cucumbers to make this dish, too. Recipe by @rinrinmaru

cookpad.japan @cookpad_jp

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Ingredients

4 servings

1Thick cucumber
2Imitation crab meat sticks (optional)
400 mlDashi stock
2 tspSugar
3 tbsp★ Usukuchi soy sauce
2 tsp★ Mirin
1★ Salt
1 tbsp☆ Katakuriko
1 tbsp☆ Water

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Steps

1

This is a Kaga variety cucumber. It's just one of Kaga's vegetables that is in season. It's more than twice as thick and long as a common Japanese cucumber! Peel the skins before cooking.
2

Cut the cucumber into 3-mm thick slices. Although they look like regular cucumbers, the seeds are also large, like the cucumber itself.
3

Quarter the slices and scoop out seeds with a spoon. The slices in the background still have seeds, and the seeds of those in the foreground are removed.
4

Put dashi stock, sugar, and thick cucumber slices into a pot, and heat.
5

Once the pot comes to a boil, add the ingredients marked with a ★, and simmer for about 5 minutes.
6

They should have a nice crisp texture after boiling for around 5 minutes. If you prefer a softer texture, boil longer.
7

Add shredded imitation crab meat sticks, continue simmering, then remove from the heat and stir in the ☆ katakuriko dissolved in water.
8

While stirring, return to heat, and remove from heat once the broth thickens, then leave to cool.
9

It's better and the flavors are infused better after the dish has chilled thoroughly. On warm days, chill in the refrigerator.