Cold salad of zucchini and tomatoes

4 servings

40 minutes

Cold salad of zucchini and tomatoes is a refreshing dish, perfect for summer days. This salad, popular in Russian cuisine, pairs well with crispy toasts, adding a touch of freshness to the meal. Tender fried zucchini, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant dill create a harmony of flavors, while onion rings add zest. The simplicity of ingredients and originality of presentation make it versatile – suitable as an appetizer for meat and fish dishes or as a light standalone dish. The chilled salad gains special flavor when the layers soak up the vegetable juices, becoming even richer. The origins of the recipe can be traced back to the traditions of Russian cuisine where seasonal vegetables play an important role.

Energy value per serving

• Calories: 215.7
• Proteins: 3.1g
• Fats: 13.4g
• Carbohydrates: 21.6g

Ingredients

• Zucchini: 3 pc
• Tomatoes: 4 pc
• Onion: 2 head
• Dill: 50 g
• Vegetable oil: 50 ml
• Salt: to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper: to taste

Cooking steps

1. Prepare all the ingredients.

2. Wash young, small zucchinis, slice into 0.5 cm thick rings, place in a container, salt, and let sit for 15 minutes.

   Required ingredients:

   • Zucchini: 3 pieces
   • Salt:  to taste

3. Drain the juice from the zucchini and dry them with paper towels.

4. Heat vegetable oil in a pan and fry the zucchini on both sides until golden brown.

   Required ingredients:

   • Vegetable oil: 50 ml
   • Zucchini: 3 pieces

5. Peel the onion and slice it into half rings, or quarter rings if the onion is large. If the onion is too sharp, soak it in cold water. Try not to disassemble the onion.

   Required ingredients:

   • Onion: 2 heads

6. Wash the tomatoes, dry them, cut them in half lengthwise, remove the stem, and slice into thin half-rings.

   Required ingredients:

   • Tomatoes: 4 pieces

7. Wash the dill, dry it, remove the thick stems, and chop finely.

   Required ingredients:

   • Dill: 50 g

8. Everything is ready for assembling the salad. Layer the zucchini overlapping like roof tiles in a deep bowl with a flat bottom or a ceramic dish.

9. Place a layer of chopped onions on top of the zucchini. Then add a layer of tomatoes in the same way as the zucchini. Season with salt and pepper.

   Required ingredients:

   • Onion: 2 heads
   • Tomatoes: 4 pieces
   • Salt:  to taste
   • Freshly ground black pepper:  to taste

10. Sprinkle with dill.

    Required ingredients:

    • Dill: 50 g

11. Repeat the layers as many times as the height of the bowl allows. After assembling, the salad can be slightly compacted and then refrigerated for at least 2 hours.

12. Serve cold with toast.