Summer salad

Name: Summer salad
Ingredients: 4 cucumbers; 4 tomatoes; 1 medium red onion (150 g); 1 medium white onion (150 g); 1 kapia pepper or 1 bell pepper (optional); 1 teaspoon dried dill; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 150 g cow’s milk telemea; 75 g sour cream

Salad - Summer salad by Giorgiana G. - Recipia

Summer salad is usually served alongside roast meat, but it can also be served on its own. Tomatoes and cucumbers stay fresh under grated telemea, a Romanian brined cheese, and sour cream, with onion and dill tucked between the slices. I learned to make it from my daughter-in-law; for the tomatoes, I choose ripe ones that are still firm. Preparation: 20 minutes. Cooking: 0 minutes. Total time: 20 minutes. Servings: 4. Approximately 230 kcal and 9 g protein per serving.

Ingredients

4 cucumbers
4 tomatoes
1 medium red onion (150 g)
1 medium white onion (150 g)
1 kapia pepper or 1 bell pepper (optional)
1 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon salt
150 g cow’s milk telemea
75 g sour cream

Preparation

1. Peel the cucumbers and onions, then slice them. Slice the tomatoes and, if using a pepper, slice that too. Put everything in a bowl. 2. Sprinkle the dried dill and salt over the vegetables, then toss. The cucumbers should stay crunchy. 3. Grate the telemea over the salad, add the sour cream and toss gently.

Notes

Choose firm cucumbers with dense flesh; if they’re very large and have lots of seeds, remove the watery center before slicing them. The tomatoes should be fully ripe but still hold their shape under the knife. Salt draws liquid out of the vegetables, so toss the salad shortly before serving; if liquid has collected, drain it from the bowl. Take your time slicing the onion thinly. I’ve served it on its own too, and I’d make it again. If preparing ahead, keep the chopped vegetables separate and add the telemea and sour cream close to serving. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for no more than 3 days, but the cucumbers will soften. You can also add a sliced kapia pepper or bell pepper; telemea and sour cream contain dairy. It goes well alongside roast meat or with bread if you serve it on its own.