When I was growing up, my mom did all of the cooking for our family of six kids.  My dad did cook a few signature dishes but he always did the chopping.  I think my dad really enjoyed chopping because whenever he was in the kitchen, he had a knife in his hand and was standing in front of the cutting board, chopping, dicing or slicing up vegetables.  This was my dad’s signature salad.  The fresh vegetables were always so thinly sliced, you wondered if perhaps a mandolin was used.  Nope.  Just the skilled hands of someone who liked to slice, dice, and chop for his family.  This salad is especially good with homegrown tomatoes straight from the garden.

Simple Summer Salad

Ingredients

Salad

• 2 cucumbers, thinly sliced
• 3 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced

Dressing

• 1 garlic clove mashed in mortar and pestle with 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoon dill, fresh, minced
• 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 lemon, juice of
• pepper to taste

Directions

1. Combine sliced and diced vegetables in a large bowl.
2. In separate small bowl, combine dressing ingredients.
3. Whisk dressing until thoroughly combined.
4. Pour dressing over diced vegetables and toss, gently.
5. Serve at room temperature and enjoy.

My husband likes to layer spices into this salad – Old Bay seasoning and red pepper flakes. My dad didn’t include these in his recipe but I’m sure he’d approve of their additions.  My favorite tomatoes in this salad or in any salad are Sun Gold variety cherry tomatoes.  They’re the only cherry tomatoes I plant and they never disappoint.

This salad says summer to me.  Go make some!

A PDF version of this recipe is here:  Simple Summer Salad

What’s you favorite summer salad?  Do you like cherry tomatoes or slicing ones?

Go Gingham related links:

How to roast tomatoes for an easy sauce
Staking tomatoes in a very stylishly frugal way
Preparing for tomato planting season
Shrimp and quinoa salad recipe is here
A family favorite – beet salad – it’s delicious, too
Corn and black bean salad – feeds a crowd!!
Grilled veggies are good with this salad, too
Try this roasted garlic spread with your appetizer

Sara Tetreault

Sara Tetreault writes and speaks about living well on less with thoughtful spending, smart use of resources, and efficient use of time. Sara loves good food, travel, and cashmere. With home swapping, cooking at home, and buying items second-hand, she hopes to inspire you with her stylishly frugal ways. Sara keeps a home, one husband, two children, and three chickens in her backyard.

More Posts - Website

Go Gingham {stylishly frugal living} suggests:

• Go Ducks!
• Weekly Meal Plan
• My Great-Grandmother's Recipes