My beautiful wife made this English cumber salad the other day. This was the first time I have ever had English cucumbers, and I liked them pretty well. I am not one who normally eats raw cucumbers as I really just don’t care for their taste. But these were different, they are a little sweeter than the common cucumber.

English cucumbers were actually bred to create a cucumber without some of the more undesirable characteristics that this vegetable has, such as a tough outer skin, large seeds, and a bitter taste. They are also known as hothouse cucumber, burpless cucumber, seedless cucumber, and European cucumber.

Healthy eating is not expensive!

We like to keep our healthy eating as simple and inexpensive as possible. Using fresh vegetables allows us to do so. This bowl of salad that yielded about 6 servings cost less than $6.00 US is filling enough you could make a small meal of it alone. But it pairs nicely with grilled chicken.

Ingredients:

• 1 – English cucumber
• 1/2 – red onion
• 10 ounce – cherry tomatoes

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp – Italian seasoning
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic
• salt and pepper

1. Slice cucumbers and red onion to your desired thickness, then place in a large bowl.
2. Halve the cherry tomatoes and add to the bowl.
3. Combine all dressing ingredients in another bowl, and then add to salad and mix well.
4. Salt and pepper to taste, then either serve right away or place in the refrigerator for a later meal. The longer this salad sits, the tastier it becomes.

Nutrition: 

192 calories per serving,   3.3 grams carbs,   18.4 grams fat,   0.3 grams protein,

Most of the calories in this salad come from the Olive Oil. Olive oil provides many health benefits and we recommend you add it to your daily nutrition.

Olive Oil Facts

From Healthline.com:

• Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated oleic acid. This fatty acid is believed to have many beneficial effects and is a healthy choice for cooking.
• Extra virgin olive oil is loaded with antioxidants, some of which have powerful biological effects.
• Olive oil contains nutrients that fight inflammation. These include oleic acid as well as the antioxidant oleocanthal.
• Several large studies demonstrate that people who consume olive oil have a much lower risk of stroke, the second biggest killer in developed countries.
• Extra virgin olive oil has numerous benefits for heart health. It lowers blood pressure, protects “bad” LDL cholesterol particles from oxidation and improves the function of blood vessels.
• Consuming olive oil does not appear to increase the likelihood of weight gain. Moderate intake may even aid weight loss.
• Both observational studies and clinical trials suggest that olive oil, combined with a Mediterranean diet, can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Olive oil can help reduce joint pain and swelling from rheumatoid arthritis. The beneficial effects are greatly increased when combined with fish oil.
• Extra virgin olive oil has antibacterial properties and has been found to be particularly effective against Helicobacter pylori, a type of bacterium that can cause stomach ulcers and stomach cancer.