Meatless Monday Thai Sesame & Ginger-Dressed Armenian Cucumber Salad

Some days you just need something quick and easy.

Oh, it needs to be flavorful, and healthy, and seasonal, and all that, but some days, like MONdays, and many other days as well, you just want to dispense with the chit-chat and get on with things.

Today. Is. One. Of. Those. Days.

There are about a million things going on in this world of mine, and I bet you could say the same.

BECAUSE IT'S MONDAY.

You may find yourself in the same to-do list on steroids boat. And there's nothing more dangerous to your healthy-eating plans than hurry up when you're hungry. Because when hurry up and hungry show up, drive-thru isn't far behind. Nutritional disaster.

I'm tellin' you, hurry up + hungry--it's a trap, y'all!! Unless you're prepared, that is.

Little dishes like this multi-cultural Thai Sesame Ginger-Dressed Armenian Cucumber Salad, prepared at the beginning of the week, and just waiting for hurried and hungry, save my nutritional day. Bright, flavor-packed, easy-- I make sure I'm prepared for days like this, with dishes like these.

Thai Sesame Ginger-Dressed Armenian Cucumber Salad



Dressing
1/2 cup seasoned rice wine vinegar
2-3T sesame oil, to taste
1/2-1tsp nam pla, or fish sauce, to taste
1 habanero chili, or more, to taste, seeded, de-pithed, and minced (or substitute serrano chiles, which are a bit milder, but not by much!)
1 'thumb'-sized knob of fresh ginger, grated fine
salt, and brown sugar, to taste

Salad
1 Armenian cucumber, sliced thinly
3T sliced scallions
1/4 bunch cilantro, chopped, with stems (about 3T, packed firmly)

About Armenian Cucumbers

The Armenian cucumber is thin, elongated, curved and often irregularly curled with a dark green to creamy pistachio colored skin that is textured with smooth longitudinal furrows. Actually a melon in classification, its flesh is crisp, succulent and mildly flavored, similar to a common cucumber. Ideally-sized Armenian cucumbers will range in length from 10-15 inches. Longer cucumbers will tend to be not just over-sized, but also overly mature with less moisture content. The Armenian cucumber is entirely edible. Available in local farmers markets and produce sections, now.

Combine dressing ingredients in a medium bowl, whisking well to blend, and adjusting seasonings to taste.  (Watch out for those peppers!  Wash hands after handling and be aware that they will 'bloom' as time goes by-- making this salad more fiery by the day. Which is great for your metabolism, incidentally!)

Add remaining salad ingredients to dressing, toss, and allow to chill for one hour before serving. Keep covered and refrigerate for as long as a week, though best eaten within the first few days of preparing.




Take THAT, drive-thru!

If healthy, wealthy, and wise are your thing, be sure to stop back by this week for seasonal, economical, nutritious, and superfood-packed recipes, (including the hipster-fabulous and favorite shishito peppers!) on Notes From Maggie's Farm.