Creamy Cucumber and Tomato Salad
Written by Rachel, Posted in Appetizers, Fruit, Gluten Free, Herbs, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Salads, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Creamy dreamy salad. Perfect for these last days of summer. The tomato is ripe and sweet, the cucumber crisp and cool, the dressing bright and herb-filled. It’s one of my favorite ways to eat salad.
A couple of months ago, I planted a sprig of mint in the dirt. No roots, just thought I’d try it and see if anything happened.
It grew.
I have more mint than I know what to do with. And I’m not complaining.
It adds a wonderful refreshing taste to this dish.
I’m also growing some parsley and basil in my garden. I can never have enough of these fresh herbs. When they come in our Abundant Harvest Organics box, sometimes they’re gone in a day (like when I made Basil Pesto). I love being able to step just outside the door and snip off whatever I need for a dish.
Those fresh herbs are the highlight to an easy dressing. I’ve also added some Greek yogurt, fresh onion and garlic (just a bit), some balsamic vinegar, and some olive oil for flavor. The herbs might be the star, but those flavors all go so well together.
Also, raw onion, I know… But, try it – it’s not too much, and when it’s minced and mixed in with all those other flavors, it’s not overpowering. If you don’t feel like braving onion breath, just leave it out, or use some chives. They’ll work just fine.
I thought I’d peel the cucumbers. Not a requirement. But, I thought it would be nice. It’s one of the few veggies that I do peel.
Tomatoes are sliced, not too thick, not too thin.
And just like that, dressing is drizzled over and you have a great side.
You could make double the dressing and save it so you can eat this salad every day. It could be used as a dip for carrots and celery, you could dip a Grilled Cheese into it, you could dip pretzels, crackers, or sesame sticks in it.
But, the best way to eat it, I think, is to use it on this salad, and to pair it with the Fish Wellingtons that I made the other week. I’d definitely suggest making both, then inviting a good friend over for lunch.
Happy Eating!
- Dressing: 1/2 C Greek yogurt
- 1 T fresh basil, chopped
- 1 T fresh mint, chopped
- 1 T fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 T onion or shallot, minced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 T olive oil
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
- splash balsamic vinegar
- Salad: 1-2 cucumber, peeled and sliced into rounds
- 2-3 tomatoes, sliced into rounds
- Whisk together dressing ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Place cucumber and tomato on plates, alternating slices of each. Top with dressing.
