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“FRESH TOMATO AND CUCUMBER SALAD” IS IN:

FRESH TOMATO AND CUCUMBER SALAD 
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sea or kosher salt
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
10 fresh basil leaves
5 fresh oregano leaves
3 small fresh cucumbers (pickling or thin slicing)
2 large beefsteak tomatoes, vine ripened

Mince garlic or press through a garlic press. Let garlic stand in balsamic and wine vinegars for 10 minutes (this takes the "edge" off). Discard any garlic which has green sprouts in the center, as the flavor is too sharp and bitter for this salad - use for another purpose.

Wash basil and oregano leaves (pick at noon time on a sunny day for best flavor). Roll up leaves and slice into little strips (chiffonade). Chop and add to your best olive oil and allow to stand in oil while garlic marinates.

Meanwhile, prepare salad ingredients. Wash cucumbers and tomatoes. Peel cucumbers, leaving a scant amount of peel (helps with digestion). Slice cucumbers into 1/4 inch coins (circles).

With a sharp knife, remove stem and blossom end from tomatoes (a very small amount). Slice tomatoes into wedges, being careful not to crush and lose juice.

Place tomatoes and cucumbers in salad bowl and sprinkle with sea salt or kosher salt.

Combine olive oil with vinegars, whisking together well. Use to dress tomatoes and cucumbers; serve at room temperature.

Variations: Add 1 thinly sliced red onion, pitted oil cured black olives and fresh mozzarella, sliced (or use the small bocconcini).

Submitted by: CM

recipe reviews
Fresh Tomato and Cucumber Salad
   #109157
 Diane H (Indiana) says:
Recipe was delicious. Had to use dried herbs. They plumped beautifully.cubed my tomatoe. Added sweet onion. The salad was a delight to the tastebuds with the blend. Thank you. A wonderful recipe.
   #128851
 Lilly (New Jersey) says:
This salad has always been a part of Russian and Ukrainian culture. Now, I prepare this salad with some variations. I mix chopped onions with fresh lemon or lime juice and pinch of salt. Then, I cut cucumbers and tomatoes and add parsley. Afterwards, I quickly incorporate virgin olive oil into the dressing and pour dressing over the salad. Bone appetite!
   #129546
 Andy Lambl (Pennsylvania) says:
Love it! I made this recipe since our garden harvest of tomatoes and cucumbers was abundant so far this year. I recommend letting the dressing sit in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight to blend the flavors more. We used it right after blending the ingredients as instructed, but found it lacked a little flavor. Instead of giving up, we put the remainder in the fridge overnight and had it a day or two later, and oh my, what a difference ... the dressing was spectacular! All the flavors came together extremely well. I am just about to make a second batch right now for a meal tomorrow or the next after letting it sit.
   #172972
 Colleen (Ohio) says:
We eat this a lot when out of lettuce or spinach without the red wine vinegar, and we like to add some onions and kalamata olives and carrots if around. It's an easy side dish to prepare ahead and chill in the fridge. Drowning it in fresh cracked black pepper and Himalayan pink salt is a must.
 #182030
 Florida Lady (Florida) says:
Great recipe, only there's one thing missing. To balance the acid you need some sugar. I put in at least a tablespoon of granulated sugar.
 #182031
 Florida Lady (Florida) says:
Sounds very much like my Austrian mother's salad dressing recipe. Only we add a tablespoon of granulated sugar to balance the acid in the vinegar. May sound crazy but try it - it will blow your mind how it adds to the recipe.
 #193653
 Sybil Kay (Indiana) says:
I was looking for a panzanella recipe, preferable from you, and found this. I haven't tried it yet but like everyone else, I'm going to adapt it by adding Italian bread cubes and i'll see where it leads me. Thanks for this one.

 

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