Recipes for Health - Spinach Salad With Tomatoes, Cucumber and Feta

1/2 small red onion, sliced (optional)

6 ounces baby spinach

1 pound tomatoes, cut in wedges or diced

1 small cucumber, cut in half lengthwise, then sliced

8 calamata olives, pitted and cut in half lengthwise

1 green or red pepper, thinly sliced

2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill

1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Salt to taste

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 ounces feta cheese, cut in small dice or crumbled

1.Place the onion in a bowl, cover with cold water and let sit for five minutes. Drain, rinse and dry on paper towels. (The reason for soaking the onion is to wash away some of the compounds that cause the onion flavor to linger in your mouth.) Combine with the tomatoes, cucumber, olives, pepper, dill and mint in a large bowl.

2.Mix together the lemon juice, salt and olive oil. Toss half of the dressing with the tomato mixture and half with the spinach. Combine everything in one bowl, add the feta, toss together thoroughly and serve.

Yield:Serves six.

Advance preparation:You can prepare the ingredients and dressing several hours before you toss the salad. Keep them in the refrigerator.

Nutritional information per serving:167calories; 15 grams fat; 3 gramssaturated fat; 8 milligramscholesterol; 7 gramscarbohydrates; 2 gramsdietary fiber; 215 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 3 grams protein

Martha Rose Shulman can be reached atmartha-rose-shulman.com.

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