Tuesday 12 March 2019

Cucumber with Chilli, Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper

Whenever I visit family I always learn something new.
Whether it is exciting new dishes, different methods of preparation or presentation. 
Sometimes it is the simplest of dishes that you can adapt to everyday dining that really impress you.


Recreating one of the simplest of dishes is still one of life's pleasures if it is welcomed and embraced by all.   This cucumber dish is one of those that is thrown together at the last minute before being added to a table already filled with antipasto, freshly sliced pecorino, olives, pasta, carne, insalata, other contorno and red wine.




Over time I have realised that some people do not like you to be able to recreate the dish they cooked as well as how they cooked it themselves.  These people will leave out crucial steps or important ingredients which leaves you puzzled when you cook it at home as to why it is different to theirs, which is why it is so important to "watch" a new dish being created.

This cucumber dish with chilli, olive oil, salt and pepper really needs no explanation at all.
Share it with your next meal however and experience the surprise of your guests when they realise how delicious this simple dish tastes.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cucumber with Chilli, Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper.
Cetriolo con Peperoncino, Oloio d'olia, Sale e Pepe

1 cucumber, washed and dried
1 - 2 teaspoons dried chilli flakes
fine sea salt - to taste
freshly cracked black pepper - to taste
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Halve the cucumber in the middle.  Slice lengthwise each half into strips about 5mm thick.  Then slice into strips.
Arrange on a plate and sprinkle with the chilli flakes.
Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper to taste.
Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
Serve.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you like simple salad dishes and do you always add chilli to a dish when possible?

Buon appetito, enjoy Merryn xx

8 comments:

  1. I've made a really similar dish with cooked carrots (chunks, not slices), but not with cucumber. Love this idea! Perfect side -- or starter. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the idea of serving this with cooked carrots, thanks John. It is amazing how much we learn from each other, all of the time.

    ReplyDelete
  3. One of my favourite summer salads! Yours looks really crunchy and refreshing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Angie, I love cucumber and the freshness of salads as well :D

      Delete
  4. My mother used to always leave out crucial steps so that our version was never as good as hers. It's apparently common with her group of friends!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps it is what that age group were used to doing, prior to everyday internet recipes could only be passed down or read in a book/magazine. My MIL is notorious for not giving you the full recipe as she also did not want anyone to cook a dish as well as how she managed to do produce that dish.

      Delete
  5. A simple side that will go nicely with many dishes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen it certainly does, I have been looking for a cucumber to grow over Winter to prolong their season. Luckily we can still purchase them all year around.

      Delete