Smashed Cucumber Salad with Marinated Feta
Smashed cucumbers soak up every bit of flavor in this refreshing salad. Tossed with a lemon-garlic feta marinade and topped with sunflower seeds, pickled red onion, and fresh dill, it’s ready in 30 minutes and great alongside grilled salmon or chicken.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Persian cucumbers about 7-8 cucumbers
- 4 ounces feta cheese
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
- Pickled red onion*
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh dill
Instructions
- Smash the cucumbers: cut cucumbers in half lengthwise, and then again horizontally. Using the back of your knife, place the cucumber seed-side down and smash down.
- Place cucumbers in a colander over a large bowl. Toss with salt and let stand for about 15-20 minutes, until some of the water has drained.
- Marinate the feta: while cucumbers are sitting, prepare the feta. Crumble the feta using your hands and add to a large bowl. Add the juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. Let the feta stand for about 10 minutes.
- Drain the feta and reserve the oil.
- Assemble the salad. Add the smashed cucumbers to a large bowl. Add the white vinegar and the oil mixture from the feta. Toss to combine. Gently add the feta cheese.
- Add the sunflower seeds and pickled onion. Garnish with lots of fresh dill and serve.