Tasty Tuesday: Tomato Cucumber Basil Salad

I have accomplished one of my life goals.  It’s true.  I’ve figured out how to keep cucumbers fresh and crispy in a salad, and I am going to tell you my secret.

See the cucumbers here in this salad?

They look more like celery, right?  Well, that’s because I hollowed out the seeds that contain a whole lot of water.   And that is the trick, people!

(Oh, and before you turn your nose up like Chris did, the cucumbers look brown because of the balsamic vinegar, I promise.)

I recreated this salad based on a side salad from the dining facility at work (I can’t call it a cafeteria because the food is all freshly prepared and so good!).  If you’re growing any of these vegetables in your garden this summer, this recipe is most certainly for you.  If not, grab the most fresh produce you can and get started…

Tomato Cucumber Basil Salad (printable version)
serves 2

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 large tomato
• 1 large cucumber
• a handful of fresh basil leaves
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 TBS olive oil
• balsamic vinegar (I prefer the 18-year aged version from Fiore)
• salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

Start by prepping your vegetables.  Peel the cucumber and cut it lengthwise in half.  Scoop out the seeds

Follow the same steps with your tomato, hollowing out the seeds.

Cut up the vegetables into bite-sized pieces; chop the basil and mince the garlic.  Place everything in a container or serving dish; coat with oil, salt and pepper.  Add the vinegar (as much as you prefer).

Let sit in the refrigerator for at least a half hour and serve.

I enjoyed my salad this weekend with some rice and the baked chicken fingers from Jessica at Kohler Created (they lived up to her hype, too!).  Even better, I went to have more salad 24 hours later and the cucumbers were still crunchy, which is unheard of in my book.

So, there you have yet another healthy recipe!  We are on a roll, folks, which also means we’ve been daydreaming about brownies…often…but fighting the urge!

This post is linked to another Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.