Sweet Cucumber & Feta Salad

Don't you just love summertime? The weather is warm (although maybe too hot in some places) and it's good to sit outside in the late afternoon, download your week with your favorite listener and enjoy something light to eat. There's nothing better than a cool, crisp salad to nourish the body and revitalize the soul.

I love cucumbers, their crunch and delicate flavor take on the delicious essence of a tangy dressing. Balsamic. lemon. Lime.

Some people don't like cucumbers. Too bitter. Some even have issues with the green, tubular powerhouse of nutrients.

Cucumbers are now known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol (say that five times)--three lignans that have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease as well as several cancer types, including breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancers. Wow! Bet you didn't know that.

And as a member of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants, cucumbers are a rich source of triterpene phytonutrients called cucurbitacins, which have been shown to block cancer cell development.

See why I eat lots of veggies? They're packed with cancer-fighting phyto-nutrients.

Summer Squash and Cucumber

There are generally two types of cucumber: thick-skinned and thin-skinned. The thick skinned tend to be the most common found in the grocery store for use in salads. Sadly their skin is often bitter causing many cooks to remove the skin. Also seeds are oftentimes removed. But wait! Before you do that, you should know that a wealth of nutrients are found in the skin and seeds.

When I selected my garden cucumbers for growing, I chose two varieties I knew would be thin-skinned and wonderful to eat right from the garden. Sweet cucumbers and lemon cucumbers.

Since my garden is overflowing with sweet cucumbers and I needed to bring a salad to a party, I put together this simple recipe. Hope you enjoy it.

Sweet Cucumber & Feta Salad

From Chris Pedersen

Yield 6 - 8 servings

Category Salad

Cuisine Healthy, Vegetarian

Ingredients

1/4 C fresh lime juice

2 Tbsp lemon olive oil

1 clove minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 C finely chopped cilantro

4 sweet cucumbers, sliced

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

1/4 C crumbled feta cheese

Directions

1. Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, garlic and salt and pepper.

2. Add cilantro and pour over cucumbers and onions. Mix.

3. Add to serving bowl Add feta cheese and serve.

Note: Salted cucumbers will release water so you'll want to serve it right away or you may want to drain off some liquid.

Nothing was left in the bowl at the end of the party.

Why do you like or don't like cucumbers?

Also linked at Summer Salad Sundays.