Simple Cucumber Salad – A perfect side dish for your summer barbecue!
In Loving Memory of my Baba (Grandmother)
Rest in Peace, Baba – I will always love you!
My Grandma passed away less than a month ago; she was 76 years old.
I have finally come to terms with her passing and am now somewhat able to talk about it.
I love her more than words can ever describe, and I will miss her very very much.
I want to share this cucumber salad with you because this is what she always served before setting up the table with a complete meal. This was part of our ‘meze’, or the appetizer.
In Macedonia it is a custom to serve this salad with a shot of homemade Rakija, or Moonshine, and nibble on it over an interesting conversation about life, politics, kids, etc…
Here’s to you, Baba. Say Hi to Dedo for me!
A perfect side dish for your summer barbecue!
- 1 cucumber peeled and sliced crosswise
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- sliced green onion, for garnish
Toss it all together and top with some green onion for garnish.
WW Freestyle SmartPoints: 2
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This has brought tears to my eyes.i am very sorry for ur loss. I still have my baba here today. My dedo n me were vey close. I miss him always. He was my best friend and somedays I dont know what to do with out him here to talk to. My boys miss him very much too. My boys love cucumber so im trying this today. Rip to ur baba I dedo and my dedo (trane muskarovski)
Jess perth Australia
Thank you SO much, Jess!! May they all rest in peace. Gospod da gi prosti. Pozdrav!
Omg, I just made this. Yum! Don’t think your grandmother has left your side for a minute! Thank you for sharing 🙂
THANK YOU!!! 😀
I bet your grandmother is really happy. Not only that you shared this wonderful recipe of hers with everyone, but you shared her. I posted this on my Facebook page, and a bunch of my friends loved it. Not only will they make it, but they’ll also appreciate spending time with their own grandmothers, or recalling great memories if theirs have also passed.
Not to state the obvious – but we are all going to pass at some point – so wherever your lovely grandmother is, you will go too. In the mean time, live with the love in your heart. You’re going to have some great stories to tell her. Of course, she may already know 🙂
I’m very sorry for your loss. This is a lovely post and it’s great that you have such nice memories.
She’ll be in your heart forever and think of all the lovely stories you can share with Ana about her. Simple but delicious salad.
I’m so sorry for your loss Kate… I didn’t realize or sense that from your posts at all. It must have been tough month for you. We’re all thankful for her delicious recipe and remember about your Baba. Thinking of you…
hug and a prayer*
btw, the salad is fabulous and simple. love it.
What a lovely tribute to your grandmother 🙂 This is exactly how I enjoy cucumbers…perfect!
Hi Kate – sorry for the loss of your precious Baba.
She must have been very proud of you and your cooking skills.
LL
Kate, I know you will never forget Baba, but trust me when I say recreating the foods she made will keep her in your heart and mind… most all of my cooking is based on family, and all I have are wonderful memories and great recipes… my grandmother made a similar dish using fresh slices of tomatoes, sometimes onions to go with summer vegetables…
Kate, I’m so sorry to hear about your Baba, my husbands family calls their Grandmother Baba. I’m glad it is getting a little easier, I know I still think about my Grandparents all the time.
Hugs,
Gina
Oh Kate, my deepest condolences. Such a tough time. The salad is a great ode to Baba and a great ode to tradtions! I hope the healing continues for you. Take care.
So sorry for your loss – you honor your grandmother every time you cook a wonderful dish like this that she used to prepare. Her legacy lives on.
Kate,
sorry about the loss of your Baba. I’m sure that she’s smiling, when she sees the cucumber salad that you made in her honor. What a wonderful tribute to her.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your Baba….
Thank you, Sandy. Gospod da ja prosti.
I am so sorry for your loss 🙁 I know how you feel. I lost my grandfather 9 years ago. I was very close to him and I miss him every day!!!
That salad looks so good and delicious, we make something similar too and I love it. And rakija is usually part of it not that I could handle it ever!
Kate, my wonderful friend… My heart goes out to you. I hope that making some of your Grandmother’s recipes keeps her memory sweet for you as Mine does for me. My most precious moments are the moments I remember of being in the kitchen with her. Thank you so much for having the courage to share this with us. You are in my thoughts
I’m sorry for your loss. What a tasty tradition to remember her by. 🙂
Kate, so sorry for your loss, my Grandpa died last month too. It is hard, so hard especially if you are far away from them…..life….
aww, what a sweet post Kate!! One of my favorite snacks is a sliced cucumber with a dash of salt!
I’m so sorry you lost your dear grandmother! I’m sure her love and joy continues to flow through you. I’m also sure she is proud of you and loves that you posted her delicious cucumber salad!
Kate, I am so sorry to hear about your Grandma. What a lovely post and I’m sure she’s smiling down on you at that lovely cucumber salad. J xoxo
So sorry for your loss Kate! It’s always great when we can find comfort in food & memories =)
This salad sounds so delicious – and simple too!
Kate, I am so sorry for your loss 🙁 I cannot imagine losing my grandma. I can imagine how hard it must have been. Hugs! This post is a beautiful tribute to her… Thank you for sharing this dish that’s so close to your heart. Sounds delicious & perfect for warm weather… Hugs!!
Kate – I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my grandma two years ago and I still miss her dearly. I think about her often – especially when I’m cooking. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this special dish. It looks like the perfect summer salad!
I am so sorry for your loss! My grandma died almost 1 year ago and it is still hard for me to believe it…
so sorry to hear about your loss 🙁 i hope you are doing fine. just remember that our Creator doesn’t give us challenges we can’t handle, i’m pretty sure you’ll cope gracefully. the cucumber salad looks divine and it reminds me of the momofuku one with sugar and salt only 🙂
I am sorry for your loss…I am truly sorry! This is one of my favorite salads too, and just like you my baba’s fast and easy recipe!!!
Great photos as always, I hope that you are doing alright?
What a lovely way of paying tribute to your Baba, Kate. Thank you for sharing this simple and refreshing recipe!
I’m so sorry for your loss, Kate!
Looks like a delicious salad and the perfect way to remember her…
So sorry to hear about your loss! My Grandma passed away last summer very suddenly. It took awhile to be able to talk about it. Still sometimes are harder than others to talk about. Glad you can at least make this dish and remember her fondly!
Oh, I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your Baba…I imagine she felt exactly the same about you! I’d love to start all my meals with this simple, but yummy salad~
Kate…I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your grandmother. She is now looking down from heaven with a glow about her because of this tribute to her recipe and what it will always mean to you…I believe that. My dear grandma often mixed in or topped off her cucumber salad with sour cream and just a touch of sugar.
This is so simple and delicious! I’m so sorry about your grandmother but I am sure she is very proud of you and would love to see you sharing her traditions. It’s amazing how simple things like a meal can help to create a lasting memory of a person.
I send you my condolences, so sorry for the passing of your Baba, and young still. I think this is a very long post in her memory and what a great light way to start a meal. Family food traditions can be so comforting.
Simple recipes are best when it’s warm out! This salad looks great. My mother-in-law would love it! So sorry to hear of your loss 🙁
What a nice way to honour your grandmother, Kate. You know, there must be something comforting about cucumber… when I was in my twenties, I would often make cucumber, carrot salad – just those two vegetables – with vinegar (not even oil!) I just loved it. Thank you for sharing this piece of your history, and your grandmother, with us.
I love memories and traditions like this, it is one of my favorite aspects of food. A simple dish can mean so much more. So happy you could share your recipe and memories with us!
I’m so sorry you lost her – but the memories you will cherish forever. Wonderful salad! xoxo
Awww RIP Baba. Don’t you love that even when people aren’t with you, you can still cook something that’s theirs and they will appear right by your side in your memory. She lives on in you. <3
What a beautiful tribute to your grandmother. So nice to have her recipe in your memories forever.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Grandmother. It sounds like you have great memories with her. This cucumber salad looks just perfect- lovely photos!
I have all of this in my pantry. My awesome neigbor gave me cucumbers from her garden. Mine are not ready yet. This I will make with dinner. I dont have green onions, I will substitute with chives. Thanks for the recipe!
Lovely salad! We usually use Green Goddess dressing but it sounds nice and refreshing with the oil olive and the vinegar 🙂 Well done! Buzzed
Your lovely cucumber salad has brought tears to my eyes. How heartfelt and beautiful to honor your grandmother like this. You also have made a very simple dish look just gorgeous and divine with your photography. I am sure your grandmother would be proud that you have dedicated this dish to her. : )
The simplist ways to cook are the very best, your grandma was a wise woman and cook… its really tragic on her passing 76 is so young in this time period. She is so lucky to have had you as her granddaughter, your heartfelt post is a wonderful tribute to her. Not too many out there that feels that family unit today… god bless.. beautifully done here. xo
Really sorry about your grandmother 🙁 Your post is a great way to pay her homage though — shows you’ll always carry those little, but precious things which will remind you of her.
It doesn’t get much more summer than this, great recipe!
Sorry foryour loss, Kate!! My first and best ever teacher in the kitchen is my grandma and keep cooking most of the daily dishes exactly like her too…
Your salad looks great!! That is a clasic one over here too and very favourite at home!
I am so sorry for your loss. Food has always been something that brings people together and it is a great way to remember and honor her. Cucumber salad is definitely a great way to start a meal!
Aww, I am sorry about your grandmother. It’s so wonderful that you can keep her present in your heart and honor her memory with the foods she shared with you.
I’m so sorry about you losing your grandmother. : ( Eating foods that remind you of her and the loving and wonderful person she was can help you during this time of grieving. It can help you continue to feel that connection with her.
The cucumber salad is so pretty and it’s certainly something I would love! 🙂
Beautiful salad and a beautiful tribute to your grandmother.
I am so very sorry for your loss. This is a beautiful love letter to your grandmother! Isn’t it amazing how much love and emotion can be found in food memories? This is lovely.