Refreshing Cool Relish/Salad

Background: If you have ever tried a simple salad of greens, tomato and onion with a touch of light dressing, you are going to love this one. It's practically fat free and a good filler snack or salad. The basic ingredients are same as in another side item popularly called Raita in India. Raita is salad in a yogurt base. This particular relish has no yogurt but offers a cool, sweet and tingly refreshing taste. My daughter's all time favorite one. It's a great one for summer picnics as well as it has no mayo or yogurt.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cucumber (any type)

1 large tomato (any type)

2 shallots or half a white onion

1 chili or jalapeno (for a spicy kick)

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. sugar

Kosher salt or Rock salt to taste

1 Tbsp. Italian parsley or cilantro

METHOD:

• Peel the skin off the cucumber completely. If it is an English cucumber with no wax on the skin, it is okay to leave the skin on.
• Dice the cucumber into small cube shaped pieces.
• Dice the tomato and the onion/shallots in matching size cubes.
• Throw them all in a bowl and toss with the sugar, salt and lemon juice.
• Chop the chili/jalapeno at the very end (optional) and toss with the salad.
• Garnish with sprinkles of finely chopped parsley or cilantro.
• Cool in the refrigerator for an hour before serving.