Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad

 Everything Bagel seasoning is a great addition to almost everything - even cucumber salad.

Ingredients

5 cups sliced small Persian cucumbers

3/4 cup sour cream

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

2 Tablespoons Everything Bagel seasoning (divided)

Salt and Pepper to taste

4 green onions, sliced

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup minced fresh dill

1/4 cup capers, drained and rinsed

Instructions

In small bowl, make the dressing by combining sour cream, lemon juice and 1 T Everything Bagel seasoning. Add salt and pepper to taste.

In large bowl combine cucumbers, green onions, capers, dill and remaining Everything bagel seasoning.

Add the dressing and mix gently. Best served immediately.

Recipe Source: Simply Recipes

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Feta

A healthy flavorful side dish.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice ( 2 lemons)
1/3 cup olive oil

Salt and Pepper
1 cup thinly sliced green onions (white and green parts)
1 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1 cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
1/2 pound Persian cucumbers, sliced
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
Optional: 2 cups feta (8 ounces)

Instructions

Place cooked quinoa in bowl. Add garbanzo beans, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, green onion, parsley and mint. Toss to combine. 

In a small bowl, whisk lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour over ingredients in bowl. Toss to combine. Add additional salt and pepper if needed. 

Serve right away or put in refrigerator to allow flavors to blend.

Greek Salad

Ever since my travels to Greece, I am in love with Greek salad. The tomatoes, the cucumber and, of course, a lot of feta cheese. This variation is a perfect accompaniment to lamb burgers.

Ingredients

1 large cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, quartered and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 large red pepper, stem removed, seeded and cut into bite sized pieces
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 of a medium-sized red onion, thin slices cut into quarters
1/2 lb feta cheese (not the crumbled variety) cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 cup black or kalamata olives, pitted
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Instructions

Place cucumbers, red pepper, tomatoes and red onion in bowl. Stir gently to combine.
For the dressing, whisk together garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add olive oil, creating an emulsion. Pour the dressing over the vegetables. Add the feta cheese and olives. Toss gently. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.  Serve at room temperature.

Asian Cucumber Salad

I love the flavor that a little bit of sesame oil adds to any dish. This variation on marinated cucumber salad is enhanced by the addition of sesame oil and soy sauce.

Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
4 teaspoons sugar
4 teaspoons sesame oil
2 cucumbers, peeled and sliced very thin.

Instructions

Peel and slice cucumbers very thin using a mandolin.
Place in nonreactive bowl.
Whisk together vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and oil. Pour over cucumbers.
Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.

Sour Cream Cucumbers

Ingredients

4 cucumbers, thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup vinegar
3/4 cup water
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon dill weed
1 teaspoon sugar
Dash pepper

Instructions

Place cucumbers in medium-sized bowl.
Sprinkle with salt.
Combine vinegar and water and pour over cucumbers
Let stand for 30 minutes.
Drain well.
In small bowl, combine sour cream, dill, sugar and pepper.
Add to cucumbers. Toss gently to combine.
Serve immediately.

Greek Cucumber Salad

Low calorie, light and refreshing.

Ingredients

4 ounces low-fat goat cheese
1 cucumber, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
2 scallions, chopped
8 Greek olives, quartered
6 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In serving bowl, combine cheese, cucumbers, onion, scallions and olives.
In small bowl, combine vinegar and sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Pour the dressing over the salad and season with salt and pepper. Toss until well coated.
Allow the salad to sit at room temperature for one hour to let the flavors blend.

Joni's Bread and Butter Pickles

A former co-worker, Joni, was known for her pickles. They were outstanding and I was happy when she was willing to share her recipe.

Ingredients

1 gallon pickling cucumbers
1/2 cup kosher salt
4 average-sized onions
3 cups cider vinegar
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon tumeric
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon celery seed

Instructions

Slice cucumbers as thin as possible. Add kosher salt and enough water to cover the cucumber slices.
Cover with a tea towel and allow to soak overnight. In the morning, drain and wash the cucumbers thoroughly, In a large pot, make a brine with 3 cups water, vinegar, sugar and spices. Bring to a boil. Cut the onions into thin slices. Add cucumbers and onions to boiling brine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Pack cucumber and onions into clean jars. Cover with brine, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Seal with lids and process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes.

Garden Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

3 pounds ripe tomatoes, cut into large chunks
3 medium cucumbers, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded and sliced
1 small red onion, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin slices
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Toss gently to combine.
Chill for 30 minutes before serving.