Nitrate & Nitrite Free Mediterranean Cucumber and Olive Salad
Bright, herby, and built entirely from fresh whole ingredients, this Mediterranean salad is the kind of dish that looks like it took effort but comes together in minutes. Every component — crisp English cucumber, briny Kalamata olives, sharp red onion, and a generous handful of flat-leaf parsley and mint — is naturally free of the cured and processed ingredients that so often sneak nitrates and nitrites into otherwise simple recipes. The dressing is a clean, punchy blend of extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, and a pinch of ground turmeric, with nothing preserved or packaged in sight. Salting the cucumber and letting it drain first is a small but smart step that keeps the whole bowl from turning watery, so every bite stays crisp and well-dressed. The turmeric adds a subtle warmth and a gorgeous golden tint to the dressing without overpowering the fresh herbs. It's the kind of salad that works as a light lunch on its own or as a vibrant side next to grilled fish or roasted vegetables. Serve it immediately after tossing so the herbs stay bright and the cucumbers hold their satisfying crunch.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 english cucumbers (about 1 ½ lb total), halved lengthwise and sliced into ¼-inch half-moons
- ¾ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, roughly torn
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves, roughly chopped (optional)
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 small clove garlic, finely minced
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
Instructions
- 1
Place the sliced cucumber in a colander set over the sink, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and toss to coat. Let stand for 10 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels.
- 2
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, turmeric, and 1/2 tsp salt until the dressing is uniform and slightly emulsified.
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