Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Black Lava Salt

Fresh from the garden to you. 

There is nothing more straightforward or more delicious than a sun drenched tomato and cucumber salad. Lime juice enlivens the flavors of the vegetables while a heavy drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil, smoky black lava salt, and baby basil are a flawless finish.

This salad is the perfect canvas for a variety of finishing salts. As they gain popularity finishing salts are becoming easier to find, and if you do not want to commit to one flavor they often come in an assortment (like this gorgeous set from Williams-Sonoma). Try Hawaiian black lava salt if you are pairing this salad with grilled meat.

The secret is fresh ingredients. It will not taste the same if you use tomatoes that have been hiding in the fridge for a few days. Prepare this with tomatoes from your garden or your local farmer's market. And for the love of all things sacred, please do not store your tomatoes in the fridge.

Perfect, juicy tomato tip: Keep them on your counter, stem side down, and try to avoid piling them. The less tomatoes touch one another the better.You will thank me for these tips after you eat this salad, and shed a tear for all those bad tomatoes you never had to eat.

Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Black Lava Salt

Time in Kitchen: 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Nutrition information per serving: 80 calories, 4 grams fat, 11 grams carbohydrates, 6 grams sugar

Ingredients:
4 garden fresh beefsteak tomatoes, sliced thick (large heirlooms would also be wonderful)
4 persian cucumbers, sliced on a diagonal

Handful of fresh basil, hand ripped
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
Juice from 1/2 a lime
A heavy drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Black Lava Salt, to taste

Directions:
On your favorite medium sized platter, layer the tomato and cucumber slices in a circular pattern one on top of the other. Sprinkle with thinly sliced red onion, a handful of ripped basil, and lime juice. To finish, drizzle liberally with extra virgin olive oil, cracked pepper and black salt to taste. Enjoy at room temperature. Perfect paired with grilled meat, poultry or fish.