Tomato and cucumber salad with nut sauce
4 servings
30 minutes
Tomato and cucumber salad with nut sauce is a vivid example of how simple ingredients can create a rich and intense flavor. This dish originates from Russian cuisine, but its nut sauce hints at Georgian culinary traditions. The sweetness of tomatoes, the freshness of cucumbers, and the spiciness of the nut sauce create a harmonious combination that captivates the palate. Aromatic herbs like cilantro, parsley, and dill add a touch of freshness, while spices enhance the depth of flavor. This salad is perfect as a standalone dish or as an accompaniment to meat and fish dishes. It pairs wonderfully with light white wines and refreshes during warm weather, making every meal truly memorable.
1
For the sauce, place nuts, pepper, garlic, salt, saffron in a blender or mortar and grind to a uniform consistency. Chop the cilantro with a knife and add it along with the khmeli-suneli and coriander to the nut mixture.
- Walnuts: 65 g
- Chili pepper: 1 piece
- Garlic: 2 cloves
- Salt: to taste
- Saffron: 3 stems
- Fresh cilantro (coriander): 3 stems
- Khmeli-suneli: 0.5 teaspoon
- Ground coriander: 0.3 teaspoon
2
Mix thoroughly. Boil 0.5 cup of water and mix it with vinegar. Then dilute the nut mixture with the hot liquid while stirring constantly.
- Red wine vinegar: 1 tablespoon
- Apple cider vinegar: 2 tablespoons
3
For the salad, cut cucumbers into sticks, tomatoes into wedges, and onions into rings. Chop the herbs finely. Arrange cucumbers and tomatoes on a plate, sprinkle with onions, pepper, and herbs, and drizzle with vinegar. Before serving, pour with nut sauce.
- Cucumbers: 3 pieces
- Tomatoes: 4 pieces
- Sweet onion: 2 pieces
- Parsley: 1 bunch
- Dill: 1 bunch
- Green onions: 1 bunch
- Ground red pepper: 0.5 teaspoon
- Apple cider vinegar: 2 tablespoons