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!
