250 gmbabycucumbers
125 gmveganfeta
(coconut-based)
Sumac,toserve
Societygarlicflowers
(seenote),toserve
PICKLINGLIQUID
50 mlarak(seenote)
250 ml(1 cup)whitewinevinegar
25 gmcastersugar
1 tsp roasted fennel seeds
1 Forpicklingliquid,heatarak
ina smallsaucepanoverhigh
heat.Removefromheat,
carefullylightwitha longgas
lightertoburnoffalcohol
(3-5minutes).Addremaining
ingredientsand25mlwater
topanandbringtotheboil,
thenremovefromheat.Cool.
2 Halvecucumberslengthways,
thencuta thinslicefromrounded
sidesocucumberwillsitflaton
a plate.Placecucumbersin
a bowl,pouroverpicklingliquid,
thencoverandsetasideuntil
cucumbersarepickledand
softenedslightly(2hours).
3 Processfetaina smallfood
processor,adding1 tspcold
waterata timeuntila smooth
pasteforms.Transfertoa piping
bagandrefrigerateuntilrequired.
4 Toserve,removecucumbers
fromcontainerandpatdrywith
papertowel.Seasonwithflaked
saltandplaceona servingplate.
Pipedotsoffetaalongthetop
ofeachcucumber,sprinkle
generouslywithsumacand
garnishwithgarlicflowers.
NoteArakis a MiddleEastern
anise-flavouredspirit,available
fromselectliquorstores.If
unavailable,substituteouzo.
Societygarlicflowerscan
beorderedfromselect
greengrocers.
DrinksuggestionArakinfused
with lemon and rosemary.➤
Arakpickledcucumbers
withfetaandsumac
SERVES4 // PREPTIME 20 MINS// COOK5 MINS(PLUSCOOLING,PICKLING)
“Inanygoodmezespread,there’salwaysa greatpickle,”saysDelia.
“Becauseyou’reeatinga mixofsomanydifferentflavoursand
textures, you need something to reset and cleanse your palate.”
GOURMET TRAVELLER 97