Period Tomato and Cucumber Salad

[Mrs. V]

It's August and the 'maters and 'cukes are doing their best to overwhelm the kitchen. But I have a solution and it's fairly period too!

Tomato and Cucumber Salad

2 large tomatos diced
1-2 medium cukes.diced. (younger are more tender and less seedy. Older cucumbers can be used if seeded).
1 small onion minced.
2-3 T Olive oil
1T Red wine vinegar/balsamic
1-2 tsp fresh basil

Combine chopped veggies in a bowl. Mix well. In seperate bowl whisk oil, vinegar and basil together. Pour over veggies. Refigerate at least 2 hrs. But the longer it sits, the better it gets!

Serve as side dish or on top of a garden salad.

Oil and Vinegar are really to taste, so feel free to add of subract. I usually have oil and vinegar on the table for people to add as desired.

 

[dlofting]

Tomatoes and cucumbers are my favourite raw vegetables, plus I like the taste of balsamic vinegar and basil so will have to try this one.

 

[lelliott19]

This sounds delicious. Maybe it's just because I am starving right now? I happen to have everything in the kitchen except the basil, so I'm going to give it a try without basil.

 

[donna]

It is similar to cucumber salad my Mom made. Always one we liked.

 

[Kathy the history sleuth]

It's August and the 'maters and 'cukes are doing their best to overwhelm the kitchen. But I have a solution and it's fairly period too!

Tomato and Cucumber Salad

2 large tomatos diced
1-2 medium cukes.diced. (younger are more tender and less seedy. Older cucumbers can be used if seeded).
1 small onion minced.
2-3 T Olive oil
1T Red wine vinegar/balsamic
1-2 tsp fresh basil

Combine chopped veggies in a bowl. Mix well. In seperate bowl whisk oil, vinegar and basil together. Pour over veggies. Refigerate at least 2 hrs. But the longer it sits, the better it gets!

Serve as side dish or on top of a garden salad.

Oil and Vinegar are really to taste, so feel free to add of subract. I usually have oil and vinegar on the table for people to add as desired.

Someone gave me some cukes at work today. This is perfect, thanks!

 

[bdtex]

It's August and the 'maters and 'cukes are doing their best to overwhelm the kitchen. But I have a solution and it's fairly period too!

Tomato and Cucumber Salad

2 large tomatos diced
1-2 medium cukes.diced. (younger are more tender and less seedy. Older cucumbers can be used if seeded).
1 small onion minced.
2-3 T Olive oil
1T Red wine vinegar/balsamic
1-2 tsp fresh basil

Combine chopped veggies in a bowl. Mix well. In seperate bowl whisk oil, vinegar and basil together. Pour over veggies. Refigerate at least 2 hrs. But the longer it sits, the better it gets!

Serve as side dish or on top of a garden salad.

Oil and Vinegar are really to taste, so feel free to add of subract. I usually have oil and vinegar on the table for people to add as desired.

How available were all those ingredients during the Civil War?

 

[AnnaLee]

We've had cukes, tomatoes & onions since early July from our garden. I grew up with this salad and my son-in-law who is from Roanoke, Va said he did too. My husband and I have been eating these veggies every day. My family and I prefer the balsamic vinegar in this salad.

 

[Story]

it's fairly period too!

Source?

 

[lupaglupa]

How available were all those ingredients during the Civil War?

I would say all were around and common except the basil. That seems to have come to the USA with Italian immigrants post Civil War. Now, how many folks in the South had olive oil as the War went on is questionable. That was an import item and likely hard to get once the blockades set in.

 

[RobertP]

It is similar to cucumber salad my Mom made. Always one we liked.

My mother used to call this "cut up stuff". I guess that meant chopped.

 

[bdtex]

I would say all were around and common except the basil. That seems to have come to the USA with Italian immigrants post Civil War. Now, how many folks in the South had olive oil as the War went on is questionable. That was an import item and likely hard to get once the blockades set in.

My immediate thought was that it was probably only occasionally on the menu in Southern cities that were Union occupied. I'm guessing only on Officers' menus too.

 

[Merlin1066]

Ok, sounds like I'm going to the local farm right after work today LOL. Thanks for the dinner idea!!

 

[Story]

I would say all were around and common except the basil. That seems to have come to the USA with Italian immigrants post Civil War. Now, how many folks in the South had olive oil as the War went on is questionable. That was an import item and likely hard to get once the blockades set in.

If olive oil comes from Olives and corn oil comes from Corn, where does baby oil come from?

 

[lupaglupa]

If olive oil comes from Olives and corn oil comes from Corn, where does baby oil come from?

Johnson and Johnson, of course!

 

[Rebel_Giratina]

Add feta cheese and it would be (chef smooch) perfect!

 

[Story]

Add feta cheese and it would be (chef smooch) perfect!

No reason goat cheese wouldn't be period correct.

Learn to Make Goat Cheese With Starter Culture. It's Easy!

Learn how to make homemade goat cheese from the starter culture with this remarkably simple recipe.

www.thespruceeats.com

 

[lupaglupa]

Add feta cheese and it would be (chef smooch) perfect!

That's how I had it for lunch! Plus a green pepper - all veggies from my garden. I do love this time of year

 

[Mrs. V]

How available were all those ingredients during the Civil War?

All except the olive oil and basil maybe? Ya never know what the immigrants brought..I bet peanut oil would be interesting to use too..different flavor profile. I can see doing this salad with bacon bits and bacon bits too.

 

[Mrs. V]

Source?

I dont' know, but it's been in the family since before the civil war. Many recipes were never written down, just passed by word of mouth and/or seeing it made when you were a youngin..

 

[Story]

I dont' know, but it's been in the family since before the civil war. Many recipes were never written down, just passed by word of mouth and/or seeing it made when you were a youngin..

Note that the question was posed in jest.