Best Cucumber And Apple Salad Recipes

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Cucumber, Apple and Mango Salad image

Provided by Megan Mitchell

Categories main-dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

One 1 1/2-pound pork tenderloin
Grapeseed oil, for greasing
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 English cucumber, cut into 3-inch-long matchsticks
1 green apple, cored and cut into 1/4-inch-thick half-moons
1 mango, pitted and cut into 1/4-inch-thick half-moons
1/2 cup loosely packed mint leaves, torn, plus whole leaves for garnish
1 small lime, zested and juiced
1 medium jalapeno, finely minced
1 clove garlic, minced or grated
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon tamari
2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup lightly salted, dry roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

Steps:

For the pork: Preheat the grill to medium-high, about 375 degrees F, or preheat a large grill pan over medium-high heat. Clean and oil the grill grates or grill pan.
Lightly oil the tenderloin and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill, covered, until you get nice grill marks and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 145 degrees F, flipping once, 14 to 16 minutes. Remove to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice into 1/2-inch thick pieces and transfer to a large plate or platter.
While the pork grills, make the salad: Combine the cucumber with the apple, mango and mint in a large bowl. Combine the lime zest with the juice, jalapeno, garlic, brown sugar, fish sauce, tamari, vinegar and salt in a small bowl. Whisk together then pour over the salad (see Cook's Note). Add some of the peanuts, saving the rest for garnish.
Top the pork with the salad, mounding it high in the middle of the platter. Sprinkle with the reserved peanuts and a few mint leaves.

Pesto-Rubbed Baked Salmon with Smashed Cucumber and Green Apple Salad image

Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian

Categories main-dish

Time 35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Unsalted butter, softened, as needed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Six 6-ounce skinless salmon fillets, preferably wild
3 tablespoons prepared pesto
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 English cucumber, peeled
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup finely diced pitted Medjool dates (about 6)
2 green apples, cored and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
Juice of 1 lemon

Steps:

For the salmon: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Brush a baking dish with a thin coat of softened butter and sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the surface. Set the salmon fillets upright (flat-side down) on the baking dish, brush a little soft butter over each fillet and sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, whisk the pesto, mustard and lemon juice together and season it with salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture evenly over the salmon, covering the top surface only. Bake until the desired doneness, about 14 minutes for medium rare for 1 1/2-inch-thick fillets (cook longer for thicker pieces).
For the salad: Meanwhile, put the cucumber into a clean towel on a cutting board and smash it with the heel of your hand. Unwrap the cucumber and slice it crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces; transfer them to a mixing bowl and sprinkle a little salt over them. Add the dates and apples and stir to mix. Add the pine nuts, olive oil, mint and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper, and toss until evenly combined.
Serve the salmon fillets on warm plates with the salad on the side.