Who can refuse these yum Hors-d'œuvre platters of fresh and delicious veggies rolled up in cucumber slices?
Slather the cucumber slices with tartar sauce, add veggies, roll and dish away. Absolutely quick, easy and no cooking is needed. These delicious cucumber roll-ups are perfect for your party table; kids and adults will love them. You will not need fancy equipment to make this yummy snack; follow my instructions and/or watch the video. Hello, and welcome to The Mad Scientist’s Kitchen, Reinventing the Foodie in You and looking for delicious and easy no-fuss party recipes, simple no-cook hors d'oeuvres. Then hop on with me as we go on a rocking ride. I urge you to subscribe to our newsletter so that you get all our posts. I promise we will not spam you, and the subscribe link is below or on the sidebar too!
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Cucumber Rolls and me
I made these rolls ages ago, Ayan. My nephew was 7 months old. The house seemed empty, so I made these roll-ups to cheer up the kiddo. She remembers them and keeps asking me to make them. She is in Bengaluru now, and I had planned to make them in the girls' flat. A bachelorette flat with bad peelers and the thought of so many beautiful ones I have I dumped the idea. Next time I am carrying peelers from home.
Back home, I could not get these rolls out of my head. So the best way to exorcise the spirit of these rolls was to make them. Plus, Holi colours are being celebrated tomorrow, so something colourful and here is my round-up for Holi that can help you plan the party.
When can you make Cucumber Roll-ups?
- Cucumber roll-ups are definitely what you should make when you want a good, easy appetiser that can be served to both kids and adults. Appealing and delicious!
- Need a snack, but the kids want something different? Cucumber roll-ups.
- Make them when you have a cocktail party, a bridal shower, baby shower, or birthday party. Anywhere you need a simple but stunning appetiser tray. How about Easter now?
- Easily customisable, use your pantry ingredients to make the roll-ups to suit your taste.
Ingredients for Cucumber Roll-ups
- Cucumber: Fresh, thin cucumbers are better than the older, fat ones as they will have seeds, making it challenging to roll up.
- Tartar Sauce: I used store-bought sauce.
- Veggies: I have used carrots, capsicum; you can use veggies of your choice.
- Greens: I kept it simple and used just coriander leaves.
- Optional ingredients: Use cheese slices too, but I have not used any.
Substitutions and Variations for Cucumber Roll-ups
- The Sauce: Instead of tartar sauce, use cream cheese, greek yogurt, even our Indian Hung curds, feta anything that you can slather on the cucumber slices.
- Veggies: Try juliennes of beetroot ( only the colour will leak, so think it out), avocado.
- Greens: Use spring onion greens, mint, dill, and baby spinach.
- You can add seafood and meats to the roll-ups. Try meats like ham, bacon, boiled chicken, or turkey. Seafood like cooked shrimp, salmon.
Equipment for Cucumber Roll-ups
- Peeler: Use a good peeler a sharp one or a mandoline slicer. I am putting my recommendations for peelers down below. You can check it out and order it. It will not cost you anything more, but I will get a small commission.
- Knife: a sharp knife to make your juliennes.
- Tissue papers: Generally, I frown when it comes to using tissue papers, but not this time. Use them liberally.
How do I make Cucumber Roll-ups?
Let us start with what the pre-preparations are.
- Since I am using tartar sauce, I opened the bottle, but there is a little pre-preparation for others. I will list them below.
- Wash and rinse the cucumber. Use the peeler to peel the slices off the cucumber lengthwise. If you cannot get whole slices, it's okay; go on.
- These thin slices of cucumber are moist, so arrange them on a tissue so that they dry. Cover them with another tissue. Depending on your weather conditions, it will take about 15 minutes. Do not worry; the first batch of cucumber slices will be ready for roll-ups when you get the veggies chopped.
- Now, use the knife and cut the veggies in fine julienne.
Done finished all the pre-preparations? So, let's get to work
- On a board, tray lay the cucumber slices flat.
- Now slather the sauce you plan to use. Here is my Tatar sauce layer.
- Now, in go the veggies. I have chosen carrots and capsicum and will place them on one edge of the cucumber.
- Sprinkle some herbs, parsley, and dill in my case. (Use fresh herbs if you can source them; the taste is yummier and colourful).
- Now, roll up the veggies in the sauce is the binder.
- Pop the rolls in the fridge and cool them.
- Serve when your guests arrive.
Pro-Tips Cucumber Roll-ups
- If using cream cheese, let it soften and come to room temperature.
- If you plan to use hung curds or yogurt, you must get that ready first. Tie the yogurt in cheesecloth and set it on a strainer. I prefer to keep the entire strainer in a bowl and the fridge. Keeps the curds from becoming sour, and it needs about 10 -15 minutes out on the table in my hot weather to be ready for slathering. If you need more tips and tricks, check my post on Homemade greek yogurt.
- When I first made these roll-ups, I had in the chutney pot of the mixer ground the hung curds, green chillies, peanuts, coriander and salt and ground it coarsely. Then a small ball of this ground mix (which was like a lump) I placed on the edge of the cucumber slice and rolled it up.
- Use hummus and feta as a combo with veggies. I plan to use this garlic cheese dip next time.
- If using the spring onion greens, cut them fine. Coriander, mint I would like to use the leaves directly.
- For the meats and seafood, please follow the package instructions.
Storage of Cucumber Roll-ups
- I honestly do not believe we will have leftovers; in fact, you will not have any leftovers for a bridal shower, baby shower, or even a birthday party.
- But if by some lucky chance you do have then store them in an air-tight container and finish them up with the next meal. The cucumber will become soggy and unappetising.
As I was making these roll-ups, I kept thinking of the "Cucumber Sushi Rolls" and wondered if they are the same as these roll-ups. Sushi Cucumber rolls are called Kappamaki. You need Nori the dried seaweed and sushi rice along with cucumber. Since I have not used either of them this is definitely not Kappamaki. For Cucumber Sushi Rolls you can check Spruce Eats here.
Other appetizers we enjoy
Party Menu
If you have a problem deciding on the menu for any part, then this menu will help you.
- Drink- Orange Mist, a Mocktail
- Starters- Air Fried Cheesy Semolina Pops and Crispiest Baked Onions Rings Recipe without Flour
- Salad- Horiatiki Salad, a Rustic Salad
- Main- Lauki Ke Kofte| Vegetarian Meatballs with Calabash with Roti
- Rice- Vegetarian Tehri My Tryst With Awadhi Cuisine
- Curds, Mango Pickle| Mavinkai Upinkai|Kari che Lonche
- Dessert- Khubani ka Meetha Recipe with You scream I scream We all scream for Ice Cream
Gourmet Appetisers Cucumber Roll-ups
Equipment
- Peeler
- Knife and board
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber medium-sized
- 2 tablespoon tartar sauce
- ¼ bell peppers julienne, yellow and red
- ½ carrot julienne
- ¼ teaspoon dill
- ¼ teaspoon parsley
- coriander leaves optional
Instructions
- Wash and rinse the cucumber use the peeler to peel the slices off the cucumber lengthwise.
- These thin slices of cucumber are moist arrange them on a tissue so that they dry.
- Cut bell pepper, carrots in julienne I used both colours of bell pepper. You can use one of them.
- Take your cucumber slices and lay them flat. And slather Tatar sauce layer.
- Now place the carrots and capsicum, coriander leaf on one side.
- Sprinkle some of the parsley and dill.
- Now roll up… like so… the sauce is the binder.
- Pop the rolls in the fridge and cool them.
- Serve when your guests arrive.
Video
Notes
Substitutions and Alternatives:
- The Sauce: In place of tartar sauce use cream cheese, greek yogurt even our Indian Hung curds, feta anything that you can slather on the cucumber slices.
- Veggies: Try juliennes of beetroot ( only the colour will leak so think it out), avocado.
- Greens: Use spring onion greens, mint, dill, baby spinach.
- You can add seafood and meats to the roll-ups try meats like ham, bacon, boiled chicken, turkey. Seafood like cooked shrimp, salmon.
Pin for Later:
Subhie Arun says
yummy and healthy
Santosh Bangar says
innovative and realy a treat
Priya says
Wow rolls looks damn cute,wat an awesome filling.
Sayantani says
very unique recipe. looks so soothing for these hot months.
Priya Sreeram says
i can understand how a 7 month old makes time fly away; glad to know u had good time with family 🙂 the rolls are stunning btw
Mythreyi says
OMG These rolls are looking beautiful... Love it
Jay says
truly tempting
Spice up the Curry says
unique recipe, nice one
Gayathri NG says
Awesome rolls, simply delicious n healthy...gr8 idea...
Alpana says
Awesome idea........very refreshing & interesting.
Gauri says
Its different!! Like the idea, quick and easy when guests arrive:))
Gauri says
Its different!! Like the idea, quick and easy when guests arrive:))
Nirmala Gurunathan says
Looks yummy and healthy!!!Beautiful presentation...
spusht says
Time does pass by quick when we're enjoying with family, and especially if they're staying for a short time. No matter how much we plan, it's never enough!! 🙂
Cucumber & zucchini rolls make for an excellent presentation when guests are over.
Julie says
fabulous rolls with cucumber,yummy !
Recipe World says
Very innovative. Loved it!!
Turmeric n Spice says
V unique recipe
Shama Nagarajan says
simply delicious..inviting you to join Street Party Food Event in my blog
hem lata srivastava says
The picture looks so inviting, it's a good idea for any party..very innovative thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe.
Mayuri Patel says
Colorful, healthy, in fact ultra healthy, and easy to make. I would love to make Gormet Appetiser Cucumber Rolls with cream cheese and avocado or even thin celery sticks. Perfect snack option especially when the weather is too hot.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Mayuri.
Giangi Townsend says
Love this recipe and it tastes fantastic. Easy to make and so healthy too. Perfect snack for any day of the week. Thank you for the inspiration.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Giangi.
Preethi Prasad says
These cucumber roll ups look incredible. So easy to make. Thanks for mentioning the alternative ingredients that we can use. Can’t wait to get them soon. Beautiful clicks Archana .
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 thanks,Preethi do share your feedback.
Indrani Sen says
The vegetarian cucumber rollups are perfect for the Summer and I love how versatile this recipe can be.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Indrani, I do agree they can be versatile.
Azlin Bloor says
These cucumber roll ups are such a fantastic idea for parties. Refreshing and so incredibly tasty. I am definitely trying our your combination ideas here!
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, and please share feedback too.
Maria says
Oh my God, these cucumber rolls are like starters done in minutes! And no cooking involved either! I love such hassle-free ideas. I love how light and appetizing these rolls would be - fun, yummy and still leaving room for the main course.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 Thanks dear you summed it up beautifully.
Seema Sriram says
These are gourmet for sure. Such an easy recipe and zero effort in fact made me love it.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Neha (My Culinary Expressions) says
Such a delightful refreshing salad. These cucumber roll ups look so dainty and are healthy. It makes a nice appetizer for a crowd. I am bookmarking this.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Neha. Even kids love it.
Priya Srinivasan says
What a brilliant and sazzy way to serve cucumber archana! Love the simple filling i made it with hung curd as sauce and it was a super hit with my friends!
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 glad you tried and friends like it.
Kalyani says
Gourmet, homemade ! What's not to love in these cute roll ups - fresh, light and perfect for summer !
ArchanaPotdar says
;D
Sarika ( Spice Zone) says
Ooh these Cucumber rolls looks refreshing, specially for summer picnics and BBQ's. Definitely a healthy option to our tortilla roll ups.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Sarika.