Everyday Tomato and Cucumber Salad With Dad’s Salad ‘Whisky’

Caitlin Bensel

For most meals at my parents’ house, my dad was in charge of the “extras”: the salad, the feta plate, the pickles or olives—all the things he loved that made the meal a little more special. His “three-ingredient Mediterranean salad” literally had chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and parsley. He seasoned it simply with salt and pepper, lime juice or vinegar, and a good drizzle of olive oil. Baba loved it when the salad sat long enough for all the juices to concentrate in the bowl. He called this delicious liquid “salad whisky” because once everyone was served and the bowl was empty, he collected the liquid in a small glass and drank it like a shot of whisky! I inherited my love for “salad whisky” from Baba and passed it on to my girls, who now fight over who gets to drink it.

Serves 4 to 6

• 3 vine-ripened medium tomatoes, cored and diced
• 1 English (hothouse) cucumber, diced
• 3 scallions, trimmed, white and green parts roughly chopped
• 2 or 3 radishes, diced
• 1 cup roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh dill fronds
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh mint leaves
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sumac
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• Juice of 1 lime or lemon, plus more to taste (2 to 4 tablespoons)
• Extra-virgin olive oil

In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, scallions, radishes, herbs, and garlic. Season well with salt and pepper to taste. Add the sumac and red pepper flakes (if using).