Braised Cucumbers in Tomato Sauce

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you braise cucumbers in tomato sauce in a skillet? Gather all the ingredients on the list. You can use regular cucumbers or long English ones. Scale any of the ingredients up or down to taste.

2. Step 2:

   

   Peel the cucumbers. Peel the onion and garlic. Rinse everything under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess water.

3. Step 3:

   

   Cut the onion into quarter-rings or small cubes, whichever you prefer. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet and add the onion. Cook it over high heat, stirring now and then, until it reaches the color you like — translucent, or golden if you leave it longer.

4. Step 4:

   

   Cut the cucumbers into rings or half-rings about ¼ inch (0.5 cm) thick. Don't slice them too thin, or they'll fall apart into a shapeless mush as they cook, spoiling the flavor and look of the dish.

5. Step 5:

   

   Add the cucumbers to the onion.

6. Step 6:

   

   Next, add the tomato paste. At this point you can use puréed tomatoes, tomato sauce, or ketchup instead.

7. Step 7:

   

   Pour in a little water and stir well. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to just below medium and braise the cucumbers, covered, for 15–20 minutes. Open the lid partway through and stir.

8. Step 8:

   

   Press the garlic or mince it very finely with a sharp knife, and add it to the skillet. Salt to taste and season with your favorite spices. Braise uncovered for another 5 minutes.

9. Step 9:

   

   At the end, sprinkle the dish with chopped fresh herbs and stir. Take the skillet off the heat and let it rest for about 5 minutes.

10. Step 10:

    

    The braised cucumbers are ready. Serve them hot, sprinkled with hot or sweet pepper if you like. On hot summer days, they also make a wonderful chilled snack.