Cucumber & Tomato Salad (Middle Eastern/Canadian Style)

 Although we no longer plant a big vegetable garden, most years we still grow potatoes, carrots, and sometimes beets (because my husband loves borscht), but ALWAYS cucumbers and tomatoes. As long as I have my cucumbers and tomatoes in the garden, I'm happy! And this year, that's all we got planted....well, except Daniel's pumpkin...I'll tell you about that another time.

 Our cucumbers are a little late this year, but we've been able to pick a couple of times. We have lots of green tomatoes, but it seems the gophers like them as much as I do....as soon as one ripens they are out there enjoying a feast! 

  
 I had been craving a particular meal that I'd learned to make years ago, from some Arabic friends who had moved to Canada from Israel....Rice and Lentils, with Cucumber and Tomato Salad. The way I made the salad is very similar to the ones I've seen online, except I don't add parsley, and most use English cucumbers....and I didn't plant any!

Don't these cucumbers and tomatoes look delicious just the way they are? 

The salad is best with the veggies finely chopped

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

                        3 small  cucumbers (or one english cucumber)

                        3 Tomatoes (several cherry tomatoes work fine!)

                        1 tbsp mint (I use dried mint from my garden)

                        1 lemon ( I add the zest of 1 lemon)

                         

                        Other veggies (onions, peppers, radishes) are optional

                         Dressing

                        2 tbsp lemon juice (I use fresh lemon)

                        3 tbsp olive oil  

                   

Cucumber and Tomato Salad with mint and lemon

This salad is served with rice and lentils, that are garnished with fried onions.

Onions fried until translucent 

Rice and Lentils

2 cups rice
1 cup lentils
4 cups water
salt
Optional:
garlic cloves (to taste)
onions (to taste)
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
(The spices I add are from another Arabic dish...my Canadian Style!)

Add lentils and spices to water and bring to boil, then simmer  until tender; about 30 minutes.
Add rice (and more water if required) and cover. Cook on low/med about 30 minutes.
Serve garnished with fried onions, and salad.

Cucumber and tomato salad, served with rice and lentils, garnished with fried onions. Delicious!

Have you tried this dish or something similar? Let me know. Thanks for stopping by!