Carving from cucumbers: how to make a flower and a swan

Cucumber carving is a kind of artistic cutting of vegetables, which has recently been very popular in modern cooking. The origins of creativity are drawn to us from distant Asia, where local chefs used beautifully cut leaves as plate decorations. Not only the restaurant industry workers resort to the help of carving from cucumbers. This cutting method is also relevant at home, when the task is to surprise guests or feed a small child with healthy vegetables.

Used tools

You can use special sets to create beautiful shapes and colors. In shops for creativity, there are many options that differ in the quality of the source material and cost. To try your hand, you can first use an ordinary knife.

Having mastered the technique of work, you can think about acquiring professional tools:

1. Thai knives can be sickle or wedge-shaped.
2. The carving device is V-shaped, oval or round.
3. A flute tool is needed to remove thin strips.
4. Noisettes help in cutting out figures where it is necessary to make indentations in the form of a rhombus, circle, oval and other things.
5. Cucumber engraving carving knives are ideal for core removal.

A required attribute of a beginner or an experienced specialist in the art of cutting vegetables are scissors. If the house does not have a suitable knife, then at first you can use a surgical scalpel. It is sharp enough and lies comfortably in the hand.

Swan manufacturing instructions

It is worth noting that carving from cucumber is rarely practiced, more often they prefer watermelon or radish. But from this vegetable you can make an attractive swan. This will require one fresh cucumber, cloves or peppercorns, toothpicks and a knife.

The algorithm of actions is quite simple:

• it is necessary on one side to cut the vegetable diagonally (length 6-8 cm);
• on the right side make a diagonal cut;
• perform the same cut on the left side;
• then make the same sections a little lower than the previous ones;
• move the first and second layer;
• actions are repeated several times until the cucumber ends;
• similarly perform cuts on the sides;
• the vegetable from the end side is cut lengthwise into three parts;
• then the head of a swan is cut out;
• as an eye, use cloves or peas;
• all parts of the swan are held together with a toothpick.

At first glance, the technique may seem complicated or incomprehensible, but from the presented photo of carving from cucumber, you can understand the principle. After several practical lessons, your hands will begin to perform these actions automatically and without any difficulties.

How to make a flower

Cucumber carving for beginners is an ideal option to test your skills in art cutting vegetables. So, for example, you can make a beautiful flower for which you will need a Thai knife as an instrument (hold it like a pen).

It is necessary to make a base, for which the cucumber is cut from two sides. Then divide the vegetable into six parts, not cutting to the end. We can assume that the petals are formed, now an arbitrary pattern is applied to them, and the excesses are carefully removed. In conclusion, the pulp should be separated from the skin on which the pattern is applied, but not completely cut off.