I don’t know how many tomato cucumber salads I’ve eaten in my life, but this one’s something special. It’s full of freshness and flavor, but also low-carb, vegan, paleo and gluten-free.
So, first of all, excuse this salad for the pictures, but it was dark while I was making it. My fault completely.
Second, don’t judge a book by it’s last page and don’t judge this salad by its terrible look.
Making a tomato and cucumber salad is pretty obvious right?
You chop tomatoes, cucumbers, some onion, add olive oil, vinegar and salt and you’re ready.
This one is different. It’s not your average tomato cucumber salad – it’s special. It’s spicy, it’s fresh and it’s flavorful.
You start as if you’re not doing anything new.
You cut a big juicy tomato and a cucumber.
Then you put them in a salad bowl, not expecting your life to change today.
But then you go nuts.
You get some walnuts, grind them or slice them really really tiny. So tiny you’ll need a microscope to notice them.
Then you get a bell pepper, the vitamin C queen. Good, slice it and start looking for basil. A few leaves of basil, because you should always have basil. Wherever you are. Basil is healthy, you need it.
Then the key element of life: Garlic.
Now I’ve got your attention.
Garlic’s coming for you and anyone you’re going to talk to tonight. (I’ve been told it’s highly recommended to eat garlic before a networking event, brings people closer)
Then you finish with olives, 2 ways. 1. Sliced olives and then 2. Olive oil.
And if you’re feeling very very bold, you add some chili flakes. Some people claim they burn fat, but I haven’t noticed.
Well and that’s it!
Healthy, vegan low-carb and paleo salad you can make in around 10 minutes. And if you’re not intolerant to night shades – anti-inflammatory. If you have a reaction to night shades – maybe not the salad for you.
I ate it as a main meal for lunch (after 2 chocolate croissants for breakfast – judging won’t get you far) and it was awesome.
I went bowling in the evening, but that garlic fix was totally worth it.
Health and Beauty Benefits
Let’s take a look at some health benefits of the main players in this tomato cucumber salad:
Tomatoes: can’t stop won’t stop eating tomatoes, nightshades, mightshades – don’t care. Summer is the time to eat as many tomatoes as possible and I need every bit of antioxidant lycopene. One of the 8 foods to eat for your healthy skin
Basil has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, apparently is high-protein and low-carb & also one of the 8 foods to eat for your healthy skin
Walnuts also anti-inflammatory, good for your brain and great source of omega-3’s. As a tree nut it’s also one of the top 10 foods to help control diabetes.
Peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C which is involved in making collagen (the protein that holds the entire body together), prevents oxidative stress and excess inflammation and is important for burning fat.
Garlic – one of the 5 super anti-inflammatory foods out there. With anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-cancer and cholesterol-lowering properties this thing is a miracle.
Not-Your-Average Tomato Cucumber Salad
A special tomato and cucumber summer salad that is full of flavor, freshness, is vegan and low-carb!
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber
- 1 big juicy tomato (or 2 small ones)
- 1 bell pepper
- Handful basil leaves
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp chopped walnuts (or ground!)
- 4 olives, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Optional: some chili flakes
Instructions
- Chop tomato (or tomatoes), cucumber, bell pepper, olives and put in a bowl.
- Grind or chop walnuts, wash basil leaves and chop thinly. Put on top of the vegetables in the bowl, add olive oil and minced garlic, and if you want: some chili flakes or black pepper.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
I topped with some nigella seeds, but this is totally optional!
This tomato cucumber salad is vegan, low-carb, paleo and gluten-free
I hope you enjoy this recipe, please let me know how it goes if you do make it!
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