The Armenian cucumber, AKA Yard-long melon and Snake melon, is defined within culinary terms by its appearance, however, it is botanically classified as a melon.
Is a cucumber a melon?
The Melon Family, Cucurbitaceae, is a plant family commonly known as melons, gourds or cucurbits and includes crops like cucumbers, squashes (including pumpkins), luffas, melons (including watermelons).
Is Armenian cucumber a fruit or vegetable?
The Armenian cucumber is the one of the most popular vegetables in my garden, but it’s not actually a cucumber. Botanically, it’s a muskmelon and produces vigorous vines that bear long, slender fruits that look and taste like cucumbers; crisp, mildly sweet, and never bitter.
What is the name of Armenian cucumber?
Cucumis melo L.
(Flexuosus group) Armenian cucumber is known by several other names such as snake cucumber, snake melon, and uri. It should not be confused with the snake gourd or club gourd, Trichosanthes anguina.
Why is it called Armenian cucumber?
In America however, this long slender vegetable became known as the Armenian Cucumber, forever tied to the dispersal of Genocide survivors in the Ottoman Empire, who brought their culinary legacy with them and got to work spreading the good news about the “gootah.” This is the story of Armenian immigration through the
What makes a cucumber a melon?
No, cucumbers and melons are different fruit. However, they share quite a few similarities since they both belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. These similarities include both fruits growing on trailing vines and having similar seed arrangments.
What is considered a melon?
A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. The word “melon” can refer to either the plant or specifically to the fruit. Botanically, a melon is a kind of berry, specifically a “pepo”.
Can you eat the skin of an Armenian cucumber?
What is this? Feggous or Armenian cucumbers often have a curved shape (hence the “bendy” name) and have thin, ridged skin. They’re somewhat drier than regular cucumbers and all of it is edible; nothing goes to waste as usually the skin is eaten, too.
Are Armenian cucumbers healthy?
Armenian cucumber is great for your cardiovascular health as it is rich in potassium and helps in maintaining your blood pressure levels(herbs to control high blood pressure).
Do you peel Armenian cucumbers?
There is no need to peel the Armenian cucumber as its thin skin makes it an ideal fresh slicing cucumber.
Can you eat the seeds of an Armenian cucumber?
Its flesh is crisp, sweet, succulent, and mild with some edible seeds, similar to a common cucumber.
Do Armenian cucumbers cause gas?
Some foods are more prone to producing gas, such as onions, celery, and cucumbers. Foods high in fiber have more of the “gas” forming characteristics which can cause that burping issue.
Why are my Armenian cucumbers bitter?
The actual cause of bitterness in cucumbers and other gourds, like zucchini, is due to a compound known as cucurbitacin. This compound is always present in cucumbers, but the levels change based on the growing process of the vegetables. The higher the level of cucurbitacin, the more bitter the cucumber.
How do Armenian cucumbers taste?
The Armenian cucumber is the “zucchini of the melon family.” It grows very quickly, going from too small to too big almost overnight. As the cucumber grows, its flesh turns from a tender, cucumber taste to something reminiscent of the crunch of a carrot and the taste of a watermelon rind.
Is an Armenian cucumber the same as an English cucumber?
Similar to the English, the Armenian cucumber is also long with minimal seeds, but these guys can vary in color from dark green to light green and even yellow-green, and can grow to be curvy or straight. They are botanically classified as a melon and smell a bit like cantaloupe when sliced.
Are Armenian cucumbers Burpless?
Armenian cucumber with handsome, light green, thin skin is burpless, nearly seedless, and more tolerant of heat than most cucumbers. Sometimes called serpent cucumber or yard long, it is technically a variety of melon!
How do you eat a cucumber melon?
Simply wash them and eat them whole. You can slice them too if you like. As with cucumbers and their relatives, they can be cooked, but they’re generally used raw.
Is a zucchini a melon?
Zucchini, Cucurbita pepo, is a member of the cucumber and melon family and is harvested while immature, making the rind tender and edible, like all summer squashes. Botanically, zucchini is a fruit, but it’s treated as a vegetable.
Are cucumbers related to cantaloupe?
The same principle holds true for cantaloupe (Cucumis melo and cucumber (Cucumis sativus): they are indeed in the same plant family (Cucurbitaceae), but they are different species.
What are the three melons?
Galia, Honeydew & Cantaloupe.
What are all the types of melons?
Citrullus
- Watermelon – Citrullus lanatus.
- Colocynth – Citrullus colocynthis.
- Citron melon – Citrullus caffer.
- Horned Melon – Cucumis metuliferus.
- Maroon Cucumber – Cucumis anguria.
- Cucamelon – Melothria scabra.
- Gac Melon – Momordica cochinchinensis.
- Spiny Gourd – Momordica dioica.