Get Me To The Greek

Mediterranean cuisine, long recognized for its light and healthy fare, includes a variety of fresh vegetables, fish and olive oil.  No matter how many salads I try, I keep coming back to the Greek.   The vegetables in this salad are also good to have on hand when a snack attack hits.  I avoid the prepared dressings where I can because they are packed with preservatives and salt and my simple flavoring just taste better.  Because I had all of these ingredients prepped in my refrigerator, the salad took me 5 minutes to create.  Try it without lettuce for an authentic Greek.   

Salad:  Lettuce - Cucumbers - Tomatoes - Red Peppers - Red Onion - Feta Cheese - Kalamata Olives - Shrimp (roasted, see When In Doubt, Roast)

Seasonings:  Red Wine Vinegar - Olive Oil - Dried Oregano - Salt and Pepper 

Mayo Clinic shares the key components of the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet:

• Exercise and eat meals with family and friends
• Eat a generous amount of fruits and vegetables
• Consume healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
• Use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
• Eat small portions of nuts
• Drink red wine (in moderation for some)
• Consume very little red meat
• Eat fish or shellfish at least twice a week

RECIPE

Salad Kids Love - Sunomono

This Japanese salad turns out different every time.

Here are the basics: sliced cucumbers, rice wine vinegar, something sweet (sugar, sweetener, agave syrup, I use Purevia - a natural, zero calorie sweetner from the Stevia plant - a bit much I know), soy sauce, water, salt.
Mix everything but the cucumbers to taste. Adjust to your liking and then pour over the cukes.

For the uncertain:
-one large cucumber
-2 T rice wine vinegar
-1 T sugar (one packet sweetener)
-1/2 t salt
-1/4 t soy sauce
-1 T water

For the adventurous: add in any of the following: sliced radishes, sliced red onion, crabmeat, imitation crabmeat, sesame seeds).
For the fancy: use English cucumbers, regular cucumbers-halved, scoop out seeds and slice, or Persian cucumbers (shown).

RECIPE