Courgettes and cucumbers both come from the same family as they are both fruits known as gourds. Cucumbers are naturally sweeter and are typically eaten raw in salads, although they are also often lightly cooked in Asian stir fries as well. Generally, courgettes or zucchini are cooked before eating as they become sweeter with cooking. However, they do hold less water, so they retain their crunch for longer when raw.