Description
Mediterranean cucumber pepper salad brings zesty freshness to summer tables with crisp vegetables and tangy herbs. Mediterranean ingredients blend beautifully, creating a light, refreshing side dish you’ll crave alongside grilled meats or as a standalone lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cucumbers (large, thinly sliced)
- 1 bell pepper (red, thinly sliced)
- 1 bell pepper (yellow, thinly sliced)
- ½ onion (red, thinly sliced)
- ¼ cup parsley or cilantro (fresh, chopped, optional)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 tsp (5 mL) honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly cleanse and dry cucumber, bell peppers, and red onion, ensuring pristine vegetables for optimal salad texture.
- Vegetable Slicing: Transform cucumbers and bell peppers into precise julienne strips, creating an artful and uniform presentation with elegant visual appeal.
- Herbal Accent: Delicately mince parsley or cilantro, infusing the salad with a bright, aromatic essence that elevates the overall flavor profile.
- Dressing Creation: Combine olive oil, vinegar, and honey in a mixing bowl, whisking vigorously to develop a silky, well-integrated emulsion that serves as the salad’s flavor foundation.
- Flavor Layering: Introduce Dijon mustard and seasonings, including garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, expertly blending to craft a sophisticated and balanced dressing.
- Marination: Gracefully drizzle the prepared dressing over the sliced vegetables, using a gentle tossing technique to ensure comprehensive and even coating, then allow the salad to rest for 15 minutes to develop deeper flavor dimensions.
- Serving: Present the salad in a chilled serving dish, allowing the vegetables to showcase their vibrant colors and absorb the nuanced dressing, creating a refreshing and dynamic side dish suitable for various culinary occasions.
Notes
- Prep Precision: Ensure vegetables are thoroughly dried after washing to maintain crispness and prevent watery salad texture.
- Cutting Technique: Use sharp knife for uniform julienne strips, creating elegant presentation and even flavor distribution.
- Marination Magic: Let salad rest for 15-20 minutes to allow dressing to penetrate vegetables, enhancing overall taste profile.
- Dietary Flexibility: Swap honey with maple syrup for vegan version or use low-sodium alternatives for heart-healthy option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg