Elegant Brown Butter Braised Cucumbers with Pine Nuts and Coarse Salt

Savor the exquisite flavors of this dish as the natural sweetness of cucumbers pairs harmoniously with the rich nuttiness of brown butter and the crunchy texture of pine nuts. Seasoned with a hint of heat from red pepper flakes and a touch of black pepper, this dish is a delightful balance of flavors and textures.

Ingredients

Ingredients
2	large slicing cucumbers, peeled and sliced into 2-inch spears
	coarse sea salt
2	turns of freshly cracked black pepper
1	teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1	tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1	tablespoon unsalted butter
1	tablespoon pine nuts

Instructions

• Preparation and Cooking Instructions

  1. Prepare the cucumbers by peeling and slicing them into 2-inch spears.
  2. Generously sprinkle coarse sea salt over the cucumbers and allow them to drain for 5-10 minutes.
  3. In a frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and add half of the unsalted butter.
  4. Once the butter has melted, add the pine nuts and sliced cucumbers to the pan.
  5. Cook for 10 minutes, gently stirring regularly to ensure the pine nuts are toasted to perfection.
  6. Season with freshly cracked black pepper and add the remaining butter. Stir continuously.
  7. As the butter starts to foam and turn brown, remove the pan from the heat.
  8. Serve the braised cucumbers on a plate and garnish with additional brown butter and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.

Aug 18, 2024