This crisp cucumber and tomato salad is a staple in our house from spring through late summer, and I hope you enjoy this simple salad as much as I do.
When I think of an easy, delicious, refreshing and nutritious salad perfect for summer, this is it.
The stars of this recipe, cucumbers and tomatoes, are both great hydrating vegetables, readily available in the summer, and rich in antioxidants. Plus, cucumbers are one of the easiest vegetables to grow (in my opinion).
Cucumbers contain vitamin K, potassium, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, copper, vitamin C, and magnesium. Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, especially lycopene. In addition to chopped tomatoes and cucumbers, I like to add plenty of zesty red onion, fresh dill and parsley, and sometimes Castelvetrano olives.
What I love most about this salad is its simplicity and versatility: it can be made in about 10 minutes and can be enjoyed as a side dish or main dish.
To make this a main dish, increase the fat, protein and starchy carbohydrates following the Foundation 5 System for a Balanced Meal. Some ideas for increasing the components of a balanced meal include avocado, edamame, grilled shrimp, fish, smoked salmon, chicken, tofu, boiled eggs, hemp seeds and cooked quinoa.
