One evening last week, well after midnight if I’m to be honest, I started writing a story inspired by this salad. Or perhaps, more accurately, this salad brought back memories of the Scandinavia portion of our trip a few years back.
However life (social and otherwise) reared its head once again and somewhere between working out how to make my computer see the images from my new camera (sigh) and juggling meetings and plans of world domination (only half kidding) the story was put on hold. It happens.
This salad comes to you via my November Secret Recipe Club assigned blog, Without Adornment. The blog’s author, Bean, is gluten-free and many of her creations are dairy and refined sugar-free too. Back in July she had my blog for SRC, turning my Spiced Cherry Pie into a brilliant Saskatoon Berry Tart, and that recipe plus many others have since been bookmarked.
But back to the inspiration bit, this meal is a little peek into what we ate our first morning in Copenhagen — ratty from a long flight and lack of destination research — well past hangry and in desperate need of sustenance. With any luck the story will still see the light of day… one day. In the meantime there’s always brunch.
Swedish Cucumber Salad
A little sweet and a little sour this salad is like a fresh pickle. Eat it straight, use to top a sandwich or green salad, or serve as an accompaniment to a ploughman-style platter. Adapted from Without Adornment.
Serves 4 – 6
INGREDIENTS
- 3 thin-skinned Lebanese cucumbers, or 2 long English ones
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp rice syrup, honey or other sweetener
- 1 – 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 – 2 Tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
METHOD
Shave strips of peel off cucumber to create a striped appearance. Slice lengthwise and scrape out seeds with a spoon (save and add to a smoothie, juice or slushy). Slice cucumber thinly into half moons.
Combine all ingredients and stir well. Allow to marinate for as little as five minutes or overnight.
vegetarian // vegan // gluten-free // dairy-free // refined sugar-free // soy-free
——
Scandinavian Inspired Brunch Spread
INGREDIENTS
- dark rye bread
- grilled sardines or smoked salmon
- boiled egg
- Swedish Cucumber Salad
METHOD
Arrange ingredients on a large share platter or individual plates. Dig in.
dairy-free // refined sugar-free // soy-free
This salad sounds super fresh & crisp! It would definitely pair well with some smoked salmon… great pick!
Would you believe I bought smoked salmon for the shot then forgot and cooked up sardines instead! whoops…
Cool, crisp and refreshing, perfect addition to any table~ Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
Your salad looks so crisp and tasty, and your photos are beautiful. Great job. 🙂
Thanks April
Ohhhh this has summer written all over it! Lovely, simple salad and nice pics!
I bake some scandinavian recipes, but this is a great take on brunch! So fresh and vibrant, love the whole set up!
What a great pick this month! This is the perfect side dish. I love the combination.
I love this salad! It’s probably one of the favorite things I’ve made thus far for SRC, so I’m glad that you liked it!
I am also a fan of Scandinavian breakfas t spreads (“smorgasbord”, if you will) as it’s so tasty and not sugar based. My husband holds the breakfasts we had on our trip to Sweden a few years ago on a pedestal because he liked them so much!
We eat a lot of cucumber salad, but this is a new (and tasty) Scandinavian twist. I can’t wait to try it – in a Scandinavian brunch, of course. Great SRC post.
Beautiful photos! I love cucumber salads.
This looks so fresh and healthy with the bread and eggs!
This sounds absolutely delicious! Great pick this month 🙂
I do love the sound of this cucumber salad. Bizarrely, I didn’t really eat cucumber till later in life (I know its weird), but now I can’t get enough.
Such beautiful photographs of this delicious looking salad. Everything about it looks delicious.
im goign thru a cucumber phase, love it in salads and slightly flavoured! this looks amazing!
I have zero experience with Scandinavian food, so your post is a nice way to learn something about it.
Don’t even tell me about computer troubles, my MacBook Pro died (only 9 months old) and I am facing the harsh fact that I lost 1,500 photos with it. Such is life!
What a gorgeous photo!! And it looks so refreshing, and perfect sustenance after a long trip.
This looks lovely and light. And I adore that blue bowl too – so pretty!
Yum! Sounds good!!
Sounds really refreshing and reminiscent of summer! Great SRC pick!
Wow!! loved your cucumber salad!! looking so good!!