Persian Cucumber Salad

One of the best ways for me to learn new recipes is to try other people's food and follow their directions. I am extremely impatient and ill equipped to follow actual recipes because I don't like to measure and words like dash, pinch, a little, a scosh, etc. are my friends. I present to you a Persian cucumber salad I made based on a recipe from Phil's aunt.

This is extremely delicious, fresh, and healthy. A great way to cleanse the palette. In summary, her directions are like so (revised, edited, and not verbatim):

Persian Cucumber Salad

• Persian cucumbers (Don't substitute for regular cucumbers as they are too watery)
• Tomatoes  
• Red onions
• Dried mint
• Salt + Pepper - Dash and to taste
• Lemon Juice 
• Olive oil

Steps:

1. Peel cucumbers in strips (leave alternate bands of green).  Cut cucumbers into small squares (I cut into quarters and then dice up).
2. Cut tomatoes into roughly the same size as cucumbers - same amount as cucumbers
3. Red onions - amount to taste
4. Dried mint - about a teaspoon
5. Squeeze lemon juice -  use generously.
6. Mix all ingredients and adjust taste accordingly

I made this in a hurry and did not refer to her directions before making so my version was tweaked a scosh. 1) She used mint, I put diced cilantro because I had no mint

2) I forgot to put olive oil

3) She used half a red onion and I used the whole thing

4) I used home grown cherry tomatoes because we have plenty 

5) I was running late so my mom finished for me and she added too much salt and sugar which definitely gave a different taste

DESPITE all the above, this dish is so easy and forgiving that it was still really delicious. You should definitely try this and tweak it to make your own version. Persian cucumbers are my new favorite vegetable. And where was I running late to? To my brother's house warming where plenty other homemade dishes were presented.

Banh cuon from Banh Cuon Tay Ho 8

Clockwise from top right: squash soup, fried fish, purple potatoes, pork spare ribs

Clockwise from top right: Sauteed clams, veggies which were later topped with sauteed beef cubes, container of white rice, sauteed shrimp (my favorite!), soy sauce and pepper, fried quail

YUMS! My brother's girlfriend is quite the chef and you can take this as an example of a Vietnamese fiest, except for my Persian cucumber salad. HAPPY FAMILY DAY!