Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Tabouli is perfect for those days when it's just too hot for a big meal.  Add a few pita bread, a little feta cheese, some good, Kalamata olives and our Cucumber Yogurt sauce and you've got a great, light Middle Eastern meal on your hands.  Add grill roasted lamb and it's a feast!

    Tabouli salad
1 C Bulghar wheat, dry
1-1/2 C Water, boiling
1-1/2 TSP Kosher salt
    Dressing
1/4 C Olive oil, extra virgin
1/4 C Lemon juice, fresh-squeezed
1 TBL Lime juice, fresh-squeezed
2 CLOVES Garlic, finely minced
1/2 TSP Mint, dried
    Finish
1 C Plum tomatoes, diced
1 C English cucumber, diced
1/2 C Scallions, chopped fine
1 BUNCH Italian parsley, chopped fine
2 TSP Kosher salt
  Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
    Cucumber yogurt sauce
1-1/2 C English cucumber, peeled
1/2 PINT Sour cream
1/2 PINT Yogurt
2 CLOVES Garlic, minced fine
1 TBL Mint, dried

   Salad
1. Pour the bulghar into a mixing bowl, then add the salt and pour in the boiling water.
2. Cover with plastic and let soak for 30 minutes.
3. Whisk dressing together and stir into the bulghur.
4. Allow flavors to blend in the refrigerator for three hours.
5. Carefully stir in finishing ingredients.
6. Taste to correct seasoning.
   Sauce
1. Shred cucumber with a cheese grater.
2. Combine all ingredients and allow to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.

Simple Smushy Summer Salad

Simple Smushy Summer Salad

3 C Assorted Tomatoes ( you know little ones, big ones, in as many colors as possible)

3/4 C Kalamata Olives, with pits (yes you can use pitted, but you'll miss the fun and some of the texture)

1/2- 3/4 C Fresh Arugula Or Basil

    For the Dressing

2 TBL Red Wine Vinegar

1/3 C Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  Fresh Ground Black Pepper

1. If using salad tomatoes cut them up first.

2. If using only the little baby tomatoes no need to cut them.

3. Smash the tomatoes, in a large mixing bowl, until broken up but not pulp, with a mallet, large fork or potato masher.

4. Smash the olives on a cutting board with a rolling pin and remove the pits.  Toss in the mixing bowl.

5. Toss in arugula or basil.

6. Whisk together dressing and stir in just before serving.

7. Also great on cold angel hair pasta.

   Serves 4-6 as a salad