Greek Cucumber Salad

Those cucumbers were harvested two days ago, along with the garlic, cipollini onions, mint, and oregano flowers. This whole summer I've been enjoying weekly shares from Half Pint Farm. I haven't mentioned them in the past couple of posts, so I figured it's time to remind everyone for the hundredth time how much I love them. I love that we are given a few recipe cards every week with our share. They prove to be very helpful suggestions when you are faced with a mountain of gorgeous produce.

All of the ingredients in this simple salad are things I love, but what really sold me was the small garnish of oregano flowers and their incorporation in the dressing. It's these small details that will pull me into any recipe. I love how the densely budded flowers are studded throughout the salad and how they bring only the essence of oregano to the dish. It wasn't until after I read an article in the latest issue of Saveur about the holy trinity of Greek flavorings being: olive oil, oregano and lemon juice that I wondered if perhaps fresh oregano really ought to be in this salad. But the more I thought about what the flowers brought to the table, the more I realized oregano, fresh or dried will always have a comfy and prominent place with its spicy and pungent aromatics. For the flavor profile of the flowers to really shine they require a salad such as this with fresh ingredients and minimal fussing. It is always very exciting for me to discover the uses of ingredients I've never used before!

Greek Cucumber Salad

Half Pint Farm Recipe

serves 4

2-3 medium cucumbers

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

small sprig of oregano flowers

1 garlic clove, minced

1 small yellow cipollini onion, finely diced

8 ounces feta cheese, cubed or crumbled depending on type

1-2 tablespoons fresh mint or more to taste

salt and pepper to taste

Wash the cucumbers, no need to peel if they have a thin skin. Cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise, and then again so that when you chop them, each piece looks like a 1/4 pie piece. Dice onion, chop mint and dice or crumble feta cheese. Toss with cucumbers in a bowl. Whisk the vinegar, oil, half of the oregano flowers, garlic and salt and pepper together. Pour the dressing over the rest of the ingredients and toss gently, garnish with a few more flowers.