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CaribbeanAuthentic Cuisine

Caribbean Cucumber Salad

Serves 4 to 6 Salad vegetarian, Salads, jerk

Caribbean Cucumber Salad

Caribbean Cucumber Salad graces tables across the islands as a refreshing antidote to the tropical heat. It's a dish often seen at casual gatherings, where it finds its place among colorful spreads of jerk chicken and rice dishes. This home-style version captures the relaxed essence of the Caribbean family meal, where cooks rely on intuition rather than precise measurements, favoring a generous hand with ingredients and a spirit of sharing.

The salad offers a crisp, cool bite, with cucumbers providing a refreshing crunch that melds effortlessly with the creamy tang of yogurt. A hint of garlic adds depth, while dill brings a fragrant touch, perfectly balanced by a sprinkle of fine sea salt. Each bite is a harmonious blend, inviting the palate to a gentle, soothing experience that whispers of sun-drenched afternoons and the easy camaraderie of island life.

Ingredients

  • 2cucumbers
  • 200 gyogurt
  • 1 clovegarlic
  • dill — chopped
  • to tastefine sea salt

Method

  1. Start by washing 2 cucumbers thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt. Use a vegetable peeler to partially peel the cucumbers, leaving some strips of skin for texture and color contrast. Slice the cucumbers thinly into rounds, about 1/8 inch thick, and place them in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Peel and finely mince 1 clove of garlic. Add the minced garlic to the bowl with the cucumbers. This will infuse the salad with a subtle, aromatic flavor.
  3. In a separate small bowl, combine 200 g of yogurt with a generous pinch of fine sea salt. Stir in freshly chopped dill to taste, ensuring the dill is evenly distributed throughout the yogurt. The yogurt mixture should have a creamy consistency with a fragrant herbal aroma.
  4. Pour the yogurt dressing over the cucumber slices in the large mixing bowl. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the top to add richness and a silky texture to the salad.
  5. Gently toss the salad using two large spoons or salad tongs. Lift the cucumber slices from the bottom of the bowl to ensure they are evenly coated with the dressing, taking care not to break them.
  6. Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning by adding more fine sea salt if needed. The flavors should be balanced, with the salt enhancing the freshness of the cucumbers and the creaminess of the yogurt.
  7. Transfer the salad to a serving platter or bowl. Serve immediately with fresh bread, allowing the crispness of the cucumbers and the creamy dressing to complement the bread's texture.
Cover of Authentic Caribbean Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Caribbean Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Caribbean Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Caribbean volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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