Fresh Cucumber Tomato Basil Salad

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 It has been cold and snowy white as far as the eye can see where I live! 

This week the temperatures are supposed to be above freezing for the first time in several weeks!  I mean high 30's!  Absolutely balmy! 


When we're this far into winter, I'm always ready for some peeks into spring.  Though we are several weeks away from the snow melting enough to see the ground, I enjoy including this colorful, fresh salad in my menu!  It's a lovely reminder of the garden harvest I'll enjoy this summer. 

This is more of a throw-it-together sort of dish rather than one needing exact measurements, but I have some guidelines I use as the base of this dish.   I make it in this quantity for myself for lunch, or I leave the garbanzo beans out and add another cucumber and a little more olive oil and lemon and use it as a side dish for the family at dinnertime.   I've never been a fan of vinegar and oil dressing on salads, but I love, love, LOVE, fresh squeezed lemon in place of the vinegar and mixed with a good olive oil.  A good sprinkling of salt in with that creates the perfect, fresh dressing.


Fresh Cucumber Tomato Basil Salad

1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped

1 cucumber, small to medium, diced

12-15 grape tomatoes sliced in half

2-3 leaves of fresh basil, minced

1/3 C. canned garbanzo beans, drained

2 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 fresh lemon, squeezed

salt to taste (I probably use 1/4 teaspoon)

Grated parmesan cheese, optional


Gather prepped vegetables and garbanzo beans into a medium mixing bowl.  In small bowl mix lemon juice, olive oil, and salt.  Pepper if you like.  Mix well.  (Now is a good time to taste and see if you have enough salt)   Pour dressing over veggies and toss gently to coat well.   Transfer to serving dish and garnish with parmesan cheese if desired.  


Joy's Notes:   Adding cooked and diced chicken breast and some croutons turn this into a satisfying main dish salad.  Olives could be added as well.   The more olive oil you use, the better it tastes!   I generally use 2  teaspoons when making it just for myself but I love more.   Use within a few hours.  The lettuce will become wilted if stored in the refrigerator overnight. It is still tasty, but not as nice as it is fresh.   

A great bread to go along with this salad is this Fabulous French Bread!

 

Comments

  1. Midnight AgendaMarch 22, 2022 at 10:08 AM

    That looks really good. I've bookmarked your blog for years(decade?) because of your Kentucky Biscuits. I'm happy to see you're back with some new stuff. :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Joyfulmom8March 22, 2022 at 9:22 PM

    I'm so glad you've enjoyed those biscuits! I LOVE that recipe!

    ReplyDelete

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