After years of reading and collecting recipes and testing out a great number of them, I now tend to be drawn to those recipes that are a bit different. Ones that are a twist on a classic. Or a variation on the usual. And definitely, ones with unexpected ingredient pairings. I would put today’s offering in the unexpected ingredient pairing category.

At first glance, cucumbers, green apples, and dates may not seem like too appetizing of a combination for a salad. But it is! Eric always says, if you like all the individual ingredients, there’s a good chance you’ll like the end result. Even though we both like these three components, there was still a bit of doubt about how the trio would taste together in the finished product. It is not a medley I would have thought to put together on my own.

We tried it anyway. After all, I am fan of both Granny Smith apples and cucumbers. We both like dates and you can never go wrong with pine nuts. And, as predicted, we did enjoy this refreshing, great tasting side dish.

Cucumber & Green Apple Salad

Cucumber & Green Apple Salad (adapted from a recipe by Geoffrey Zakarian via foodnetwork.com) Total Time Required: 15 minutes, Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, peeled & seeded
• kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup finely diced pitted Medjool dates (about 6)
• 1 large or 2 small green apples, cored and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• juice of 1 lemon

Directions:

Slice the cucumber crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer the slices to a mixing bowl and sprinkle a little salt over them.

Slice the cucumber and place it in a large serving bowl.

Add the dates and apples and stir to mix.

Add the dates & apple to the cucumber.

Add the pine nuts, olive oil, mint, and lemon juice. Season the salad with salt and pepper and toss it all together until it is evenly combined.

Add the pine nuts, olive oil, mint, lemon juice and seasonings and mix well.

Serve as a side salad for fish, chicken, or burgers.

This side dish goes with everything!

A spectacular side dish for Summer!  ~Linda

Cucumber & Green Apple Salad (adapted from a recipe by Geoffrey Zakarian via foodnetwork.com) Total Time Required: 15 minutes, Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, peeled & seeded
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup finely diced pitted Medjool dates (about 6)
• 2 small (or 1 large) green apples, cored and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• juice of 1 lemon

Directions:

Slice the cucumber crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer the slices to a mixing bowl and sprinkle a little salt over them. Add the dates and apples and stir to mix. Add the pine nuts, olive oil, mint, and lemon juice. Season the salad with salt and pepper and toss it all together until it is evenly combined. Serve as a side salad for fish, chicken, or burgers.