Are you seeking a straightforward yet remarkably tasty salad option to add flair to your dining experience? Your quest ends here! Dive into the world of culinary delight with this cucumber and pepper salad, a harmonious blend of crisp veggies and zesty dressing bound to enchant your palate and leave you yearning for seconds. Whether as a refreshing accompaniment or a satisfying standalone meal, this salad is a delightful pick. Follow along as we delve into the ingredients and steps for crafting this swift and satisfying recipe, a personal favorite that graces my table every other day!
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- Bell Pepper: Begin by thoroughly washing and removing the seeds from the bell pepper. Then, slice it into thin strips. The bell pepper not only adds a pop of color but also contributes a crunchy texture, enhancing both the visual appeal and mouthfeel of the salad.
- Large Cucumber: Peel the cucumber and slice it into thin rounds or half-moons according to your preference. The cucumber provides a refreshing crispness and a subtle sweetness, balancing the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Ripe Tomato: Wash the tomato and dice it into bite-sized pieces. Fresh tomatoes bring juiciness and a burst of flavor to the salad, elevating its overall taste and texture.
- Petite Onion: Peel the onion and thinly slice it into crescent shapes. Whether red or white, the onion imparts a mild pungency and a hint of sharpness to the salad, adding depth to its flavor profile.
- Scallions: Finely chop the scallions, utilizing both the white and green parts for a balanced flavor. Scallions provide a fresh and mildly pungent taste, complementing the other ingredients in the salad.
- Dill and Parsley: Wash and finely chop a small bunch of dill and parsley. These aromatic herbs infuse the salad with freshness and vibrant green hues, enhancing its visual appeal and aroma.
Salad Dressing:
- Vegetable Oil: Combine 5-6 tablespoons of vegetable oil, preferably sunflower oil, with the rest of the dressing ingredients. Vegetable oil serves as the base, imparting richness and a smooth texture to the dressing.
- Salt: Add a pinch of salt to the dressing to enhance the flavors of the salad. Salt brings out the natural taste of the ingredients and balances the overall flavor profile.
- Dried Basil and Sweet Paprika: Incorporate 1 teaspoon each of dried basil and sweet paprika into the dressing mixture. These spices add complexity and a hint of warmth to the dressing, elevating its flavor.
- Garlic: Finely mince 2 cloves of garlic and add them to the dressing. Garlic infuses the dressing with a savory aroma and a subtle tang, enhancing the overall taste of the salad.
Preparation Method
- Dressing Preparation: Embark on the journey of crafting the dressing by meticulously blending together the vegetable oil, salt, dried basil, sweet paprika, and finely chopped garlic in a petite bowl. Stir with finesse until the ingredients merge into a symphony of flavors, then grant the dressing a moment of repose to allow its essence to flourish while you proceed with the salad assembly.
- Salad Assembly: Set the stage for salad perfection by uniting the sliced pepper, cucumber rounds, diced tomato, thinly sliced onion, finely chopped spring onions, and minuscule dill and parsley leaves in a capacious mixing bowl. With a gentle hand, intertwine the ingredients, ensuring their harmonious mingling.
- Drizzling Dressing: With graceful movements, cascade the meticulously crafted dressing over the ensemble of salad ingredients, ensuring each element is bathed in its flavorful embrace. Employ the delicate touch of a spoon or salad tongs to enrobe the salad once more, ensuring every morsel is ensconced in the tantalizing elixir.
- Refrigeration: Elevate the flavor symphony by placing the salad in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the ingredients to meld together harmoniously. During this time, the vegetables luxuriate in the savory marinade, culminating in a culinary masterpiece of flavors and textures that will leave taste buds yearning for more.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this cucumber and pepper salad emerges as an effortless yet enticing addition to your culinary repertoire. Its blend of crisp vegetables and tangy dressing offers a symphony of flavors and textures that are bound to captivate your palate. Whether savored as a complementary side or relished as a standalone dish, this salad brings a burst of freshness to any table. So why delay? Embrace the opportunity to whip up this delectable salad today, and uncover a versatile recipe that promises to be a regular feature in your mealtime rotation!