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Photo: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Annie Probst
Active Time:10 minsTotal Time:15 minsServings:6Jump to Nutrition Facts
Active Time:10 minsTotal Time:15 minsServings:6
Active Time:10 mins
Active Time:
10 mins
Total Time:15 mins
Total Time:
15 mins
Servings:6
Servings:
6
Jump to Nutrition Facts
Jump to recipe
When a Ukrainian person refers to “salad,” 9 times out of 10 they’re talking about the combination of cucumbers, tomatoes, onion and dill. This salad is such a staple, we barely even notice when it’s on the table, as it has the tendency to almost blur into the background; and yet when it isn’t there, the meal doesn’t feel quite complete.
This salad was one of the most delicious, and certainly one of the simplest things we’d have all season. The salad would accompany any and every meal, and on extra-hot days, it could be a meal on its own. The classic accompaniment is rye bread (aka “black bread”). The high point of the salad’s journey? Dipping the dense, caraway-scented bread into the bottom of the empty salad bowl to soak up the salty tomato juices.
This salad is such a simple concept that it feels almost silly to write about; most of the recipe is in the recipe title after all. But ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I feel more compelled than ever to bring our traditions to light and memorialize our culture.
These days, living here in Brooklyn, where I feel luckier than ever to be, we can have tomato-cucumber salad anytime, thanks to affordable and widely available imported produce. The vegetables we have year-round, however, are mostly tasteless; yet nonetheless, the salad persists. Whenever I go over to my parents' house for dinner, it’s always part of the meal. (After two decades in the States, their feelings toward lettuce-based American salads are lukewarm at best.)
In fact, even when there’s no time or need to make a whole salad, you’d struggle to find a Ukrainian person who doesn’t love a sliced cucumber and/or tomato on the side of basically any meal. It’s like an accessory we just can’t live without.
Although nothing compares to the produce of my childhood memories, summertime tomatoes and cucumbers bought locally at a farmers' market or farm stand do come close. Since this salad is so minimal, I highly recommend seeking out the good seasonal stuff for it, even if it does cost a few extra bucks. After all, we all know that great ingredients require little effort to shine.
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)Ingredients1medium cucumber or 2 mini cucumbers2medium tomatoes, cored and cut into thin wedges½medium red onion, thinly sliced into half moons¼cupchopped fresh dill2tablespoonsunrefined Ukrainian sunflower oil (see Note)orextra-virgin olive oil½teaspoonsaltGround pepper to taste
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)
Ingredients
1medium cucumber or 2 mini cucumbers
2medium tomatoes, cored and cut into thin wedges
½medium red onion, thinly sliced into half moons
¼cupchopped fresh dill
2tablespoonsunrefined Ukrainian sunflower oil (see Note)orextra-virgin olive oil
½teaspoonsalt
Ground pepper to taste
DirectionsPeel cucumber(s) in alternating strips. Halve lengthwise, then thinly slice on the diagonal.Combine the cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, dill, oil, salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.NoteUnrefined sunflower oilhas a nutty flavor and is readily available in Russian/Ukrainian markets or online.Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, June 2023
Directions
Peel cucumber(s) in alternating strips. Halve lengthwise, then thinly slice on the diagonal.Combine the cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, dill, oil, salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.NoteUnrefined sunflower oilhas a nutty flavor and is readily available in Russian/Ukrainian markets or online.
Peel cucumber(s) in alternating strips. Halve lengthwise, then thinly slice on the diagonal.
Combine the cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, dill, oil, salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Note
Unrefined sunflower oilhas a nutty flavor and is readily available in Russian/Ukrainian markets or online.
Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, June 2023
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Nutrition Facts(per serving)89Calories7gFat7gCarbs1gProtein
Nutrition Facts(per serving)
- Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.
