Cue Up this Cucumber Salad

A salad kick is in full effect in my world. Perhaps you have already made the kale salad I posted earlier this week or maybe that’s not your cup of tea or salad?

A regular green salad can become a bit mundane so I am always looking for something a little more exotic or at least interesting in the wide world of salads.

The other day I bought these gorgeous baby cucumbers at the farmers market.

While they are perfect for making dill or bread and butter pickles, I’m going to wait on that and turn these into a cucumber salad.

David told me that plain old cucumber salad was too boring to make for you. And I tend to agree. As I was telling a friend yesterday about my quandary, she suggested I make what she’s been enjoying all week, Israeli Cucumber Salad.

Basically, it’s tabouli without the cracked wheat, and since I can’t eat wheat, I thought it a perfect way to prepare these cucumbers as well as something new I could share with you.

It’s more than easy and, as my friend said “the parsley changes the tenor of the dish,” and you can quote me on that, she added, and I have because I completely agree. It’s a fresh approach to preparing cucumbers in a way that’s not loaded with sour cream, oil or even a heavy, caloric dressing.

So here you go. Something new to do with the cucumbers that are popping up at the farmers markets or exploding in your garden. It would pair nicely with grilled chicken or could be tossed into a lettuce, if you choose.

But, honestly, I think I’ll get some goat or feta cheese to crumble on top of mine.

Buen provecho!

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Israeli Cucumber Salad

Crisp, cool and refreshing, this cucumber salad is tabouli without the cracked wheat. Add goat or feta cheese for another layer of flavor and texture and toss with mixed greens, if you want.

Course Salad

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword cucumber, salad

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 4

Author The Cowgirl Gourmet adapted this recipe from a friend's recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cucumbers you could use English, regular (I would recommend deseeding a regular cucumber) or 4 smaller pickling cucumbers, cut into bite-sized pieces (I cut mine in half and then sliced them fairly thin)
• 1/2 small red onion diced
• 1 small green bell pepper or 1/2 large one diced
• 3 Roma tomatoes diced (farmers market tomatoes would be better but they're not available yet)
• 1/2 cup Italian flat-leafed parsley finely chopped
• 1 lemon juiced
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

1. Place sliced cucumbers in big bowl. Sprinkle with salt and stir.

   

2. Add diced onion, tomatoes and bell pepper and toss to combine. Add another bit of salt (approximately 1/4 teaspoon) and a few grinds of fresh black pepper.

   

3. Toss in the chopped parsley and stir until thoroughly mixed.

   

4. Pour the lemon juice over the top and stir again.

5. Let sit for one hour at room temperature and taste for seasoning. You may need to add a bit more salt and/or pepper. Place bowl in the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.

   

6. This salad will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.