4 Ingredient Tomato, Cucumber & Onion Salad
"Fresh summer ingredients, well year round with our Farmers Market in FL, but this can be made any time of the year for a nice change from a lettuce salad. Now I use Nakano Seasoned Rice Vinegar (Basil & Oregano), but you can use any brand. This is available on the web or at many grocery stores. All of our grocery stores in FL carry it, and It is well worth the purchase. Low fat, no oil needed, healthy and is great on seafood, salads, and vegetables. I use it all the time."
- Ready In:
- 15mins
- Ingredients:
- 7
- Yields:
-
4-6 Salads
- Serves:
- 4-6
ingredients
- 2 cups heirloom tomatoes, lightly seeded and rough chopped (I like to use a combination of heirlooms, purple, orange, red, yellow, whatever looks best)
- 1 large sweet onion, cut in quarters and thin sliced (I use a FL sweet, but you want a sweet onion)
- 2 English seedless cucumbers (cut lengthwise in half, and then again in half, and then seed and then thin slice)
- 1⁄3 cup seasoned rice vinegar, there are many other brands available (Nakano Seasoned Basil & Oregano)
- 1⁄2 cup crouton, crushed and broken up (Garlic cheese, or plain garlic)
- salt
- pepper
directions
- Salad -- The tomatoes should be lightly seeded and then rough chopped then added to a medium size bowl. Add the cucumbers, onion and toss lightly. Add the Nakano Rice vinegar, salt and pepper and toss lightly.
- If you only have access to plain rice vinegar; 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano and dried basil can be added to 1/2 cup to plain rice wine vinegar to obtain the same flavor. But the Nakano is well worth purchasing even online. It can be used for so many dishes.
- Croutons -- In a small baggie or ziplock bag, add the croutons. With a meat mallet, rolling pin, can, or just your hand, "crunch" up the croutons. Not to fine, just a rough texture.
- Finishing -- Top the bowl with the croutons and lightly toss.
- Serving -- I love to serve this on a lettuce leaf and a sprig of fresh basil for a elegant presentation. I usually serve a toasted baguette on the side. Or if it is just everyday, just serve it as is. It is a great simple salad!
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Reviews
-
very easy to make & loved even more the next day since the flavors had time to marry over night. Thanks Sarasota Cook!
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
SarasotaCook
Sarasota, Florida
<p>Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. <br /> <br />So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. <br /> <br />I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. <br /> <br />So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). <br /> <br />I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.</p>
