By far, this is the most popular Indian salad, served as an accompaniment to many dishes. It is refreshing, colorful and a cinch in preparation. It can be served during the warm, summer months as a side salad. Use vine ripened tomatoes as they pack the most flavor and are the sweetest. The use of fresh mint and cilantro is essential and shouldn’t be substituted. Allow the flavors to marry well, so thirty minutes in the fridge is the minimum, optimal one hour.
6 vine ripened tomatoes – chopped
1 English hothouse cucumber – or 2 Persian cucumbers chopped into small squares
8 scallions – chopped (whites and green parts)
¼ red onion – or 1 shallot finely chopped
2 TBSP of fresh mint – chopped
2 TBSP of fresh cilantro – chopped
½ cup of lime juice
a small pinch of red pepper flakes
½ TSP sugar
Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper
Whisk lime juice, sugar, salt and pepper with the red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
Place all the chopped vegetables and herbs in a serving bowl and add the prepared lime juice, mixing well. Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 30 minutes – toss the salad again before serving.
