cucumber Archives - Jackie Newgent

fattoush with heirloom tomatoes

by Jackie Newgent | April 11, 2021 | 2 Comments

If you don’t already have a favorite fattoush salad, you need this fattoush with heirloom tomatoes in your life. It’s fresh, vibrant, and even fun. And for me, it’s quite comforting. I know, I know! Leafy salads aren’t usually thought of as comforting. But it is for me since fattoush is the first salad I ate as a child. And it’s the only one I actually liked until I was a teen and started to experiment with “diet” salads. (Yikes!)

lemon-ginger farro salad with pomegranate & pistachios

by Jackie Newgent | January 21, 2018 | 7 Comments

I make this salad a lot when pomegranates are in season! I never actually wrote down a recipe for it … I just wing it, which is the way I prefer to cook. But I wanted to share this farro salad, so here’s the official recipe! It’s so refreshing and satisfying and loaded with colors, textures, and aromatic delight. A couple of its flavor “secrets” are freshly grated gingerroot and lemon zest. You’ll actually feel so good after eating it knowing you punched up your plant quotient for the day (it’s vegan!). Enjoy this dish any day of the week, especially Meatless Monday, of course!

grilled hummus toast with middle eastern salsa

by Jackie Newgent | February 12, 2017 | 3 Comments

Sure, I’m a big fan of avocado toast. I know I’m not alone in that! But when I don’t have a ripe avocado, this is my toast of choice! It’s inspired by my heritage—-I’m half Lebanese. That means I’m pretty much going to enjoy hummus anything. For this recipe, instead of toasting bread, I grill it for extra interest and smoky flair. And yes, a pan grill works well. The salsa is inspired by Mexican pico de gallo, but it includes cucumber and the herbs are switched up a bit. (I enjoy this salsa anytime; but it’s especially delicious when tomatoes are at peak season, of course!) As for the hummus, make your own or take a shortcut and buy...

fresh pineapple-cucumber salsa

by Jackie Newgent | December 22, 2015 | 4 Comments

Happy New Year! With that in mind, I wanted to share something tasty to help kick-start your healthful eating efforts. This fresh pineapple-cucumber salsa is a winner.

sesame soba noodle bowl

by Jackie Newgent | June 25, 2012 | 3 Comments

Surprisingly, the biggest caloric issue with sesame noodles is often not the sesame oil or the peanut butter … it’s the actual noodles. So here’s how I solve this quandary. Bell peppers basically become part of the noodles to provide fewer calories and bigger flavor. You’ll cook the bell peppers right along with the noodles; so there’s no extra cooking step required either. This cool meal in one is a definite winner (for lunch, dinner or a picnic) for my eyes and palate. It was for my summer intern, Sarah Gelman, too (who helped me test this recipe). Hoping you fall in love with this delicious dish like we did. Please let us know what you think!