Are you a fan of spicy dishes? If you are, then you should try to make your own spicy cucumber tomato salad. This refreshing dish is perfect for any hot summer days. Moreover, it does not have to be served soon as it can sit in the refrigerator for a few hours without any signs of deteriorating. If you are planning a nice picnic with family and loved ones, this salad can be the perfect companion for your time together.
It is also a perfect companion for any parties and picnics because it is so easy to prepare and healthy for everyone in the family. As for the level of spiciness, you can always reduce or add to level with your taste. Here is the list of ingredients for the spicy cucumber tomato salad:
1 cup of quinoa
3 cups of mineral water
Salt to taste
2 cups of cucumber, diced
1 small finely minced red onion
2 cups of tomatoes, diced
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers (they can be seeded and chopped if desired)
½ cup of chopped cilantro and a few sprigs for the garnish
2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon of sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 sliced avocado for garnish
Cooking directions:
1. Take a medium sized bowl and place the quinoa in it. Cover the quinoa with cold water and let it stay for 5 minutes. Afterwards, use a strainer to dry it and cleanse it with running water.
2. Boil 3 cups of mineral water in a saucepan, add salt and quinoa. The salt should not be more than ¾ teaspoon. When it is boiling, reduce the heat from medium to low and cover the saucepan for about 15 minutes or until you can see that the quinoa is translucent and soft. Afterwards, drain the water by using a strainer and put the quinoa back to the pan. Cover the saucepan with dishtowel and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Take the quinoa and put in a plastic bag then seal it before you put it in the refrigerator.
3. In the mean time, place the diced cucumber in a colander. Sprinkle the cucumber with salt and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse the cucumber with clean and cold water and use a paper towel to dry it. Redo the washing after 5 minutes to make sure that they are clean.
4. Mix the chilies, cilantro, lime juice, tomatoes, olive oil in a large bowl. When they are mixed, add the onion and cucumber, then the quinoa and cilantro. Give it a little taste, if you thing that it is not tasty enough, add some seasoning. Garnish it with cilantro sprigs and sliced avocado.
