Recipe: 3-Step Greek Cucumber Salad

(Submitted by Lindsay Gaudet, edited by Lauren Sauer)

I don’t know about you, but when warmer weather rolls around, I seek out recipes that are lighter, more refreshing, and will give me energy to enjoy the beautiful weather. It’s literally been scientifically proven that our bodies crave dishes like this when the days are hot and the nights are long. This light, refreshing salad will complement any meal and will also kick those morning and mid-afternoon snack cravings. With only 3 steps, this salad is sure to be a go-to family favorite!

Pro Tip: Prep a few extra veggies to set aside for later. Chopping vegetables and getting your cutting board dirty can be a pain, so I find I prefer to prep more than I need for one sitting so I can make this salad a few times throughout the week. It’s that good! Plus, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes are an excellent healthy snack alternative to have on hand when you’re craving chips, pretzels, or popcorn. I won’t go so far as to say they totally scratch the same itch, but if you’re looking to mindlessly munch while watching TV for a little while, crunchy fresh veggies fit the bill. The trick is having them readily available so you don’t go rummaging around in your pantry.

(Original recipe from kenarry.com)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 Cucumbers (peeled and chopped into ¼ moons)

• 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes (halved)

• ½ Red onion (sliced)

• ¼ cup Olive oil

• 1 ½ Tablespoons Lemon juice

• 2 teaspoons Dried oregano

• ½ cup Feta cheese

• Salt to taste

• Pepper to taste

• Black olives to taste (pitted and sliced--if using canned olives, give them a rinse to remove excess sodium and preservatives)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions.

2. In a smaller bowl, mix the olive oil, lemon juice, and dried oregano. Pour over veggies and mix. Season with salt and pepper. 

3. Sprinkle feta cheese and olives over the top of salad and mix. Taste and adjust to your liking. 

Enjoy! This is one of those recipes that can easily be tweaked to your liking, and on top of that it looks way more impressive than it actually is. Now that we’re starting to safely gather once again, this is the perfect dish for a summer potluck or small dinner get-together. If you are toting this salad out of the house, keep the feta cheese separate until you’re ready to dig in for optimal freshness.