Recipe: English cucumber salad with balsamic vinaigrette

Dietitian's tip: English cucumbers, also referred to as "burpless" cucumbers, tend to be long and narrow and have a mild taste. Though the English cucumber works best in this recipe, you can use any variety of cucumber.

SERVES 2

Ingredients

For the dressing
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 English cucumber with peel, washed and thinly sliced
Cracked black pepper, to taste

Directions

In a small saucepan, add the rosemary, vinegar and olive oil. Heat over very low heat to blend and intensify the flavors, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in the mustard until well blended.

In a serving bowl, add the cucumber slices. Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and toss to coat evenly. Add the black pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutritional Analysis

(per serving)

Calories	160	Cholesterol	0 mg
Protein	3 g	Sodium	184 mg
Carbohydrate	8 g	Fiber	1 g
Total fat	14 g	Potassium	255 mg
Saturated fat	2 g	Calcium	37 mg
Monounsaturated fat	10 g