Description
A crisp, refreshing, and lightning-fast salad that stays fresh all day without reheating. Perfect for picky eaters and busy school mornings.
Ingredients
- 1 large English cucumber, diced (about 300g)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (about 150g)
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled (about 75g)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- Optional: ¼ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
- Optional: 2 tablespoons fresh mint or dill, chopped
- Optional: 2 tablespoons red onion, finely diced
Instructions
- Wash the cucumber and tomatoes. Dice the cucumber into half-inch cubes and halve the cherry tomatoes. If using red onion, dice it finely and soak in cold water for 5 minutes to mellow the sharpness. Set aside in a bowl.
- In a small jar or bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Shake or whisk vigorously until the dressing is emulsified.
- Pour the dressing over the chopped vegetables and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
- Add the crumbled feta cheese last and fold it in gently to avoid crushing the cheese.
- Divide the salad into lunch containers, leaving a little space at the top for the lid to seal properly. Pack optional add-ins like olives or extra cheese in separate small containers if needed.
- Seal tightly and serve cold.
Notes
[‘Use English cucumbers for better texture; if using regular cucumbers, peel and seed them first.’, ‘Do not dress the salad the night before if meal prepping, as cucumbers will release water and become soggy. Chop veggies in advance but add dressing in the morning.’, ‘Take feta out of the fridge 10 minutes before packing for better flavor and texture.’, ‘Use an ice pack in the lunch bag to keep the salad crisp and safe.’, ‘If feta is too salty, rinse the block under cold water for 10 seconds before crumbling.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. h
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 320
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: back to school lunch, quick lunch, healthy lunch, cucumber salad, feta salad, kid-friendly lunch, no-cook lunch, meal prep