Georgian Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Very often, delicious dishes are also very simple. That’s exactly the case with probably one of the most popular salads in Georgia, which doesn’t even have a fancy name. However, using just the simplest ingredients, you get a salad bursting with rich, vibrant flavor..

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

Vegetables:

• 4 small tomatoes

• 4 small cucumbers

• ½ medium red (purple) onion

For the dressing:

• ½ cup walnuts

• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or grated

• 2 tbsp white wine vinegar (can substitute with red or apple cider vinegar)

• 4 tbsp olive oil

• ¼ tsp ground coriander

• ¼ tsp ground cumin

• Salt to taste

• Optional: ¼ tsp ground fenugreek

For garnish and extra flavor:

• A few tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs: cilantro, parsley, purple basil

• A few whole herb leaves for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prepare the vegetables:

   • Wash the tomatoes and cucumbers, then cut them into your preferred shape (half-moons, cubes, etc.).

   • Slice the onion into thin half-rings.

2. Make the dressing:

   • Using a mortar and pestle or a food processor (manual method is preferred to avoid over-blending), crush the walnuts together with the garlic.

   • Add vinegar, olive oil, and spices.

   • If you want a thinner consistency, you can add a little water, but traditionally the dressing is thick.

3. Assemble the salad:

   • Mix the vegetables with the walnut dressing.

   • Top with chopped herbs and garnish with a few whole herb leaves.

Tips:

• This salad pairs wonderfully with Georgian-style grilled meat (shashlik) or flatbread.

• You can adjust the amount of walnuts to your taste – they provide the signature richness of this salad.

• Even if you don’t have all the spices, the salad will still be delicious. However, fenugreek and coriander give it that distinctive Georgian flavor.