1 / 1
Crisp Marinated Cucumber Salad
The secret here is a quick soak in dry white wine and salt, which lightly pickles the cucumbers and scallions before they even hit the bowl. It's a simple trick that brings massive flavor to a bed of crisp romaine and juicy cherry tomatoes. You'll love how the bright lemon and olive oil dressing ties everything together without overpowering the fresh basil. It makes a brilliantly refreshing side dish for warm weather dinners or weekend cookouts.
Ingredients
- 2 small English cucumbers, thinly sliced into half-moons (about 4 cups)
- 4 medium scallions, thinly sliced (about ¾ cup)
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 1½ tsp. kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1½ Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- 2 medium romaine lettuce hearts, chopped (about 6 cups)
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- 1Combine the sliced cucumbers, scallions, white wine, and a half teaspoon of salt in a medium glass or ceramic bowl. Using a nonreactive bowl prevents the wine's acid from picking up metallic flavors. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about 1 hour, stirring a few times while it chills.
- 2Whisk the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, black pepper, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt in a large serving bowl. Add the chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, and the chilled cucumber mixture along with its liquid. Toss everything well to coat the greens.
- 3Gently fold in the sliced fresh basil. Taste the salad and add more salt if needed. Top with extra basil leaves right before bringing it to the table.
Notes
- Make ahead: You can marinate the cucumbers and scallions up to 4 hours in advance. Keep them covered in the fridge until you're ready to assemble the salad.
- Swap: If you don't want to use white wine, substitute white wine vinegar diluted with a splash of water.
- Storage: This salad is best eaten the day it's made, as the romaine will wilt quickly once dressed.