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This recipe is full of delicious flavor, it’s healthy, easy enough to prepare on a weeknight and it’s family-tested!
When I was little my mom used to make this recipe and, to this day, every time I make it I always think of her. And, like a lot of great recipes that have been passed down through the generations, they tend to improve over time with new hints of flavors tossed in. In this case, fresh new flavors like cilantro and garlic make this traditional cucumber, tomato and onion salad not quite so traditional.
Typically, this refreshing salad is considered more of a summer recipe, but I’m breaking all the rules by serving it up year round. And, why not? It’s perfect (and perfectly healthy) any time of year! Serve it as a side with chicken, pork chops, a great sandwich or even burgers!
I hope you enjoy!
Ingredients
- SALAD:
- 3-4 large vine ripe tomatoes seeded and diced
- 1 cucumber halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (peeled or unpeeled depending on preference)
- 1/2 large red onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- DRESSING:
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves pressed (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Whisk all salad dressing ingredients in small bowl.
- Place salad ingredients in medium-sized serving bowl.
- Add dressing to salad ingredients, toss to coat.
- Add more salt and pepper, if needed.
NOTES:
- This recipe makes a lot of dressing, so you may want to add the dressing slowly to the salad to avoid having the salad too drenched in dressing.
- I'm a huge fan of garlic, so I added another clove to the dressing - it was amazing!
- After adding in the oregano, I felt the dressing still needed a tiny kick, so I added a hint (about 1/2 teaspoon) of Italian seasoning. (No, it's not traditional, but isn't that what makes cooking all the more fun?)
- Another variation of this salad is to toss in feta cheese which is delicious!
- Feel free to adjust the veggies depending on your taste. My family loves cucumbers far more than they do tomatoes, so I oftentimes cut back a bit on the tomatoes and add in another cucumber.