16 Complete Protein Pairings with Cucumber

Summary:

• Cucumber contains a moderate amount of protein - about 2 grams per cucumber.
• However, cucumber provides only 4 of the 9 essential amino acids sufficiently - it is a little low on leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine.^[1]
• Cucumber pairs well with carrots, pumpkin seeds, hedge mustard seeds, chia seeds or lotus seeds to create a complete protein profile. ^[2] More cucumber pairings and detailed analysis below.

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• Summary
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• Pairings with Cucumber (16)

A complete protein is a protein source that "contains adequate proportions of the nine essential amino acids" that our body can not produce on its own.

A decent source of supplementary protein, a single cucumber contains 2 grams of protein, or about 4% of recommended daily values. ^[1]

To get the adequate amount of protein with cucumber alone, you will need 26 cucumber (7690 grams) for an average female, or 31 cucumber for males. ^[4] That's over 1150 calories, and a lot of cucumber! Supplementing cucumber with food higher in protein is a good idea.

Full nutritional profile for cucumber
USDA Source: Cucumber, with peel, raw

Macronutrients in 1 cucumber (301g) of cucumber:

Proportionally, cucumber does contain abundant amounts of 4 out of the nine essential amino acids. However, cucumber is a little short on leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine.^[1]

To have adequate amounts of all nine essential amino acids with cucumber alone, you will have to eat 48 cucumber (14333 grams) for an average person. ^[2]

That's about 86% more cucumber to compensate for the lack of leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, compared to the protein requirement alone.

The amount of each essential amino acid in 1 cucumber (301g) of cucumber:

1. Carrots
2. Pumpkin Seeds
3. Hedge Mustard Seeds
4. Chia Seeds
5. Lotus Seeds
6. Dijon Mustard
7. Pistachio
8. Spirulina
9. Crimini Mushroom
10. Cashews
11. Spinach

1. Sour Cream
2. Yogurt
3. Mayonnaise
4. Milk

Low in protein, carrot is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, which is complementary to cucumber.

A ratio of 0.8 cucumber (232g) and 2.8 carrots (201g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.9:1 of carrot to cucumber will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for carrots
USDA Source: Carrots, raw

Pumpkin seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, complementing the profile of cucumber.

For example, 2 cucumber (602g) and 0.3 cup of pumpkin seeds (22g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.04 to 1:18 for cucumber to pumpkin seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for pumpkin seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, pumpkin and squash seeds, whole, roasted, without salt

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, hedge mustard seed is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, which is complementary to cucumber.

A ratio of 2.5 cucumber (753g) and 0.4 cup of hedge mustard seeds (29g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.04 to 1:15 for cucumber to hedge mustard seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for hedge mustard seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, sisymbrium sp. seeds, whole, dried

Chia seed is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, complementing the profile of cucumber.

For example, 2.5 cucumber (753g) and 0.6 ounce of chia seeds (18g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.02 to 1:10 for cucumber to chia seed by weight.

Full nutritional profile for chia seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, chia seeds, dried

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, lotus seed is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, which is complementary to cucumber.

A ratio of 0.7 cucumber (215g) and 1.5 cups of lotus seeds (48g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.22:1 of lotus seed to cucumber will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for lotus seeds
USDA Source: Seeds, lotus seeds, dried

Dijon mustard is a great source of protein, and is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, complementing the profile of cucumber.

For example, 1.3 cucumber (376g) and 4.3 tablespoons of dijon mustard (26g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.07:1 of dijon mustard to cucumber will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for dijon mustard
USDA Source: Spices, mustard seed, ground

A great source of protein, pistachio is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, which is complementary to cucumber.

A ratio of 1 cucumber (301g) and 0.3 cup of pistachio (35g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.12:1 of pistachio to cucumber will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for pistachio
USDA Source: Nuts, pistachio nuts, dry roasted, without salt added

Spirulina is a great source of protein, and is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, complementing the profile of cucumber.

For example, 1.7 cucumber (502g) and 1.4 tablespoons of spirulina (10g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.02 to 1:12 for cucumber to spirulina by weight.

Full nutritional profile for spirulina
USDA Source: Seaweed, spirulina, dried

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, crimini mushroom is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, which is complementary to cucumber.

A ratio of 0.4 cucumber (125g) and 2.5 cups of crimini mushroom (215g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 1.7:1 of crimini mushroom to cucumber will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for crimini mushroom
USDA Source: Mushrooms, brown, italian, or crimini, raw

Cashew is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, complementing the profile of cucumber.

For example, 1.7 cucumber (502g) and 1.1 ounces of cashews (31g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.06 to 1:37 for cucumber to cashew by weight.

Full nutritional profile for cashews
USDA Source: Nuts, cashew nuts, raw

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, spinach is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, which is complementary to cucumber.

A ratio of 1.3 cucumber (376g) and 7.8 cups of spinach (234g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.6:1 of spinach to cucumber will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for spinach
USDA Source: Spinach, raw

Sour cream is a reasonable source of supplementary protein, and is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, complementing the profile of cucumber.

For example, 3.3 cucumber (1003g) and 0.6 cup of sour cream (114g) make a complete amino acids profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.11 to 1:34 for cucumber to sour cream by weight.

Full nutritional profile for sour cream
USDA Source: Cream, sour, cultured

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, yogurt is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, which is complementary to cucumber.

A ratio of 3.3 cucumber (1003g) and 0.4 cup of yogurt (96g) creates a complete protein profile. The entire range to create a complete protein are ratios of 1:0.1 to 1:0.06 for cucumber to yogurt by weight.

Full nutritional profile for yogurt
USDA Source: Yogurt, plain, whole milk

Mayonnaise is low in protein, and is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, complementing the profile of cucumber.

For example, 3.3 cucumber (1003g) and 1.1 cups of mayonnaise (247g) make a complete amino acids profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.25:1 of mayonnaise to cucumber will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for mayonnaise
USDA Source: Salad dressing, mayonnaise, regular

A reasonable source of supplementary protein, milk is high in leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine and valine, which is complementary to cucumber.

A ratio of 2.5 cucumber (753g) and 0.4 cup of milk (97g) creates a complete protein profile. In fact, any ratio of more than 0.13:1 of milk to cucumber will be complete.

Full nutritional profile for milk
USDA Source: Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D