Turkish-style cucumber salad: A refreshing summer delight

Turkish-style cucumber salad is the perfect blend of traditional flavours we know from home, with a touch of novelty that brings freshness to the salad. It mainly relies on cucumbers and onions, and its unique aroma is highlighted by adding a special herb. This makes the salad very refreshing and ideal for hot days.

Cucumber is one of the best summer vegetables. It has few calories and lots of nutrients. It's mostly composed of water, making it excellent for hydrating the body. The whole is complemented by other additions such as onions and garlic, known for their antiviral properties and ability to boost immunity.

Eating cucumbers has many health benefits. They help regulate blood pressure, lower blood sugar and bad cholesterol levels, act as a diuretic, and cleanse the body of toxins. In addition, they relieve heartburn, alkalise the body, hydrate, and improve intestinal peristalsis. They also protect cells from ageing, improve memory and learning ability, and support metabolism.

Making Turkish-style cucumber salad is easy and doesn't require much time. The base is vegetables, so it's a healthy recipe for a snack or a tasty addition to meats, especially those from the grill. Its characteristic taste comes from the combination of fresh cucumbers, aromatic mint and dill, and a delicate sauce based on yoghurt.

Ingredients:

• 8 small pickling cucumbers or 4 greenhouse cucumbers,
• medium red onion,
• a bunch of dill,
• a handful of mint leaves,
• 200 grams Greek yoghurt,
• a tablespoon of lemon juice,
• two tablespoons of heavy cream,
• a tablespoon of oil,
• two cloves of garlic,
• half a teaspoon of salt,
• half a teaspoon of sugar,
• a pinch of pepper.

Preparation:

1. Peel the cucumbers and slice them thinly.
2. Cut the onion into half moons, then finely chop the mint and dill. Combine everything in a large bowl.
3. Mix the cream with the yoghurt in a smaller bowl. Add some oil, lemon juice, pressed garlic (you can also finely chop it), sugar, salt, and pepper.
4. Mix thoroughly with the ready-made sauce over the vegetables in a large bowl.

Serve the cucumber salad immediately. It works well as a side dish to a traditional meal with cutlets and potatoes, grilled chicken, or pita bread. Enjoy!