Spanish salad

 

A Spanish salad, often referred to as "Ensalada Española" in Spanish, is a refreshing and flavorful salad that typically features a combination of fresh vegetables, olives, and sometimes tuna or hard-boiled eggs. While there are various regional variations, here's a basic recipe for a Spanish salad:

Ingredients:

• Lettuce leaves (such as iceberg or romaine)
• Tomatoes, sliced or diced
• Cucumber, sliced
• Red bell pepper, sliced
• Red onion, thinly sliced (you can soak it in cold water for a milder flavor)
• Black olives or green olives (pitted)
• Hard-boiled eggs, sliced (optional)
• Canned tuna in olive oil, drained (optional)
• Olive oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Wash and chop the lettuce leaves into bite-sized pieces and place them in a salad bowl.
2. Add the sliced or diced tomatoes, cucumber slices, red bell pepper slices, and thinly sliced red onion to the bowl. You can adjust the quantities of these vegetables according to your preference.
3. If you're including hard-boiled eggs, slice them and add them to the salad.
4. If you'd like to incorporate canned tuna, flake it into the salad.
5. Add the olives to the salad for a burst of briny flavor.
6. In a small bowl, prepare the dressing by whisking together olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. The typical ratio is about 3 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar, but adjust to taste.
7. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss everything gently to ensure all ingredients are coated evenly.
8. Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning if necessary by adding more salt, pepper, or vinegar.
9. Optionally, garnish the salad with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro for added flavor and a pop of color.
10. Serve your Spanish salad immediately as a refreshing side dish or add some crusty bread to make it a light meal.

Spanish salad is a versatile dish, and you can customize it to your taste by adding other ingredients like roasted red peppers, capers, or even anchovies. Enjoy your delicious and healthy Spanish salad!