胡瓜(きゅうり)

胡瓜(きゅうり) is commonly eaten raw or pickled in Japanese cuisine.

Common preparations

• 漬物(つけもの): pickled cucumber
• サラダ: in salads
• 酢(す)の物(もの): vinegared dishes
• かっぱ巻(ま)き: cucumber sushi roll

Kanji note: Often written in hiragana (きゅうり). The kanji 胡瓜(きゅうり) literally means 'foreign gourd.'

Culture: Associated with 河童(かっぱ), mythical creatures said to love cucumbers.