Sautéed Cucumbers with Fennel Seeds

The destiny of the cucumber has changed over the centuries. Now we eat them raw, often with sour cream such as in Mizeria (Creamy Cucumber Salad), on sandwiches, or in salads. But they can be stuffed, braised in sour cream, or even served with thick, rich sauces. In seventeenth-century staropolska (Old Polish) cuisine, cucumbers were used as a base for soups or as hot appetizers. There are many options worth considering, because warm cucumber