Refresh your summer with zesty Turkish cucumber salad

Turkish-style cucumber salad is the perfect blend of traditional taste, reminiscent of home, with a touch of novelty that brings freshness to the dish. It mainly relies on cucumbers and onions, and its unique aroma is enhanced by adding special herbs. This makes the salad very refreshing and ideal for hot days.

Cucumber is one of the best summer vegetables. It has few calories yet offers lots of nutrients. Being mostly composed of water, it's excellent for hydration. The salad is complemented by other additions such as onions and garlic, vegetables known for their antiviral properties and for boosting immunity.

Eating cucumbers comes with 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. Additionally, they relieve heartburn, alkalize the body, hydrate, improve intestinal peristalsis, protect cells from aging, 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, making it a healthy option for a snack or a tasty addition to meats, especially those from the grill. Its characteristic taste comes from fresh cucumbers, aromatic mint, dill, and a delicate yogurt-based sauce.

• 8 small pickling cucumbers or 4 greenhouse cucumbers
• 1 medium red onion
• A bunch of dill
• A handful of mint leaves
• 7 ounces of Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon of oil
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
• A pinch of pepper

Preparation:

1. Peel the cucumbers and slice them thinly.
2. Cut the onion into half-moons and finely chop the mint and dill. Place everything in a large bowl.
3. Mix the cream with the yogurt in a smaller bowl, and add a bit of oil, lemon juice, pressed garlic (or finely chopped), sugar, salt, and pepper.
4. Mix thoroughly with the prepared sauce over the vegetables in a large bowl.

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