Cucumber, Tomato and Date Salad

Credit: iStock / HHLtDave5

Fresh mint, lemon juice and dates add an interesting flavour to cucumber and tomato salad

Rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre, dates are a staple crop of the Middle East. Toss some in a salad for a super-nutritious, flavourful dish 

Feel like a refreshing salad that combines sweet and savoury flavours?

Try it on its own for lunch, or for a full Moroccan feast, start with this salad followed by Chicken Tagine or Lamb Kabobs, Vegetable Couscous, and finish with Honey-drenched Fruit Filos for dessert.

Ingredients

Dressing:

• 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp. chopped preserved lemon
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup finely chopped and pitted dates
• ½ cup good olive oil
• Sea salt to taste
• Ground pepper to taste

Salad:

• 1 English cucumber
• 1 cup yellow grape tomatoes
• 1 cup red grape tomatoes
• ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
• ¼ cup chopped fresh mint (plus more for garnish)
• Chopped and pitted dates, for garnish

Instructions

1. For the dressing, combine the first four ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine. Slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking while pouring. Season to taste with the sea salt and pepper. Set the dressing aside until serving time.
2. To prepare the salad, cube the cucumber into pieces about the same size as the grape tomatoes. Place in a large bowl along with the grape tomatoes, sliced onion and fresh mint. Toss to combine all the ingredients.
3. When ready to serve, pour the dressing over top and season with additional sea salt and pepper.
4. Finish with additional chopped mint and dates.

Makes 6 servings.

Listen to Caren McSherry Thursdays between 11 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. on CKNW 98.

Originally published in TVW. For daily programming updates and on-screen Entertainment news, subscribe to the free TVW e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.