Spring Salad Greek-Style (recipe)

We all know that eating our greens is important, but who knew it could be this much fun? Combining garden fresh ingredients and a delightful explosion of colors, shapes, textures and tastes—make this Greek indulgence a favorite spring side dish. Best of all: it received a healthy nod from South Shore Health System’s certified dietitians.

Recipe serves 4 to 6 as a side.

Ingredients:

• ¾ lb. crunchy cucumbers without big seeds (preferably a few varieties), peeled and cut into irregular ¾-inch pieces
• 1 lb. mixed heirloom tomatoes, halved, cored, trimmed of any pale bits and cut into irregular 1-inch pieces
• ¼ lb. cherry tomatoes (about ¾ cup), halved through the stem end if large
• 2 slender spring onions, green tops and root ends trimmed, bulbs cut into ¼-inch-thick rounds and separated into rings (about ½ cup)
• 2 Tbs. Banyuls vinegar (available at specialty shops and online)
• 4 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
• Maldon or another flaky salt
• 1 Tb. Lemon juice
• 20 or so Nicoise olives, firmly pressed with the flat of a knife and pitted
• A 5-finger pinch of mint leaves
• 5 oz. creamy feta cheese (preferably goat feta)

Directions:

1. Put the cucumbers and tomatoes in separate bowls and pop them into the fridge just until they’re cold, about 30 minutes.
    
2. Meanwhile, add the onions to a small bowl. Add the vinegar, 2 Tbs. of oil and mix well with your hands. Let the onions sit just until they get pickly, a few minutes.
    
3. In a separate bowl, stir together the remaining 2 Tbs. of oil and the lemon juice until the mixture looks creamy. Combine the tomatoes and cucumber in one bow, pour the lemon dressing and toss gently but well.
    
4. Grab a large platter (or 4 or 6 plates) and make a pretty layer of cucumbers and tomatoes, so the colors and types of vegetables are well divvied up. Give the onions one more toss, then use your hands to add them (reserving their pickly liquid) here and there over the cucumbers and tomatoes. Scatter on the olives and mint. Use your hands to crumble the feta into pieces of large, medium and small as you scatter it on top. Finally drizzle on the liquid remaining in the onion bown.
    
5. EAT and ENJOY!

Learn more about Nutrition at South Shore Health.