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Colombian Cucumber Salad

Serves 4 to 6 Salad vegetarian, Salads

Colombian Cucumber Salad

Colombian Cucumber Salad is a staple at home tables across Colombia, especially during the warmer months when the cool, refreshing crunch of cucumbers is a welcome relief. This dish reflects the everyday authenticity of Colombian family cooking, where ingredients are measured by intuition and a generous hand. It's a simple, yet beloved accompaniment to many meals, bringing a touch of freshness to the table.

The salad is a delightful interplay of crisp cucumber slices enveloped in creamy yogurt, with a hint of garlic and the aromatic whisper of dill. The salt, judged by hand, balances the flavors, making each bite refreshing yet savory. The cucumbers maintain their crunch, providing a textural contrast to the smooth yogurt, embodying the essence of Colombian home cooking.

Ingredients

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

Method

  1. Start by washing the 2 cucumbers thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt. Using a sharp knife, slice the cucumbers into thin rounds, about 1/8-inch thick. This thickness allows the cucumbers to absorb the dressing without becoming too soggy.
  2. Peel and finely mince 1 clove of garlic. The garlic should be minced as finely as possible to evenly distribute its flavor throughout the salad without overpowering it.
  3. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the 200 g of yogurt with the minced garlic. Stir well until the garlic is fully incorporated into the yogurt, creating a smooth, creamy base for the salad.
  4. Add a generous pinch of fine sea salt to the yogurt mixture. Taste and adjust the salt as needed, keeping in mind that the salt will enhance the flavors of the cucumbers and the yogurt.
  5. Finely chop a small handful of fresh dill, about 2 tablespoons, and add it to the yogurt mixture. Stir until the dill is evenly distributed, giving the dressing a fresh, aromatic quality.
  6. Gently fold the sliced cucumbers into the yogurt dressing using a spatula. Be careful not to break the cucumber slices; they should remain intact to provide a crisp texture in each bite.
  7. Transfer the dressed cucumber salad to a serving dish. Serve immediately with fresh bread on the side, allowing the flavors to shine while the cucumbers are still crisp and the yogurt dressing is cool and refreshing.
Cover of Authentic Colombian Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Colombian Cuisine

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

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