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Sandra Valvassori

Sandra Valvassori

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Home โ€บ Salad

Cucumber Salad with Hearts of Palm

Posted: March 25, 2020 | by Sandra Valvassori
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This Cucumber Salad with Hearts of Palm leans heavily on the vinegar for a fresh and tangy bite. Mysteriously more delicious and satisfying than the sum of its part, it is a salad that you need to try yourself to understand why.

Cucumber Salad with hearts of palm

It is hard to stock up on lettuce and greens right now. But friends, cucumbers are wildly abundant no matter where you shop and they last long in your fridge. And in case you’re wondering, cucumbers are not only delicious, but quite healthy too. They are rich in B and K vitamins, contain folic acid, and are a good source of Vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc.

Table of Contents[Hide]
  • What are hearts of palm
  • Cucumber salad with hearts of palm
  • Variations

Lately, whenever I venture out to buy anything, I always grab a few more cucumbers and we have some version of a cucumber salad almost every night. An all-time favourite is thisย cucumber salad with hearts of palm which has been getting us through these dismal times. Hearts of palm, mild and delicate in flavour, pair beautifully with the crunchy cucumbers.

What are hearts of palm

Canned hearts of palm may be something you haven’t thought of buying before but they are truly delicious. Known asย palmitoย in Spanish, hearts of palm come fromย the inner core of palm trees. Shaped in long chubby sticks and white in colour, you can find them in the canned vegetable aisle at almost all grocery stores.

They have a creamy interior and taste slightly like a soft artichoke. Though I grew up eating hearts of palm, for many years now I have tried to avoid them for ethical and health reasons. Heart of palm itself is not an unhealthy vegetable, in fact quite the opposite. High in fibre and with a low glycemic index, hearts of palm are also high in protein which makes them a great addition to vegan diets. However, I have only been able to find canned hearts of palm, as opposed to jarred, or fresh. For obvious reasons, I try and avoid buying too many vegetables that are sold in cans.

Ethically, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the sustainability of harvesting palm trees. But this article has made me feel better about occasionally consuming hearts of palm. During these panicked times, we have to make do with whatever is available to us. When we once again have the luxury of being selective of the foods we eat, I encourage you to support the companies and organizations doing the right thing.

Recently, a friend sent me a picture of the canned vegetable isle at the grocery store. It was of course almost completely empty except for rows and rows of hearts of palm! So sad that they aren’t the coolest kids on the block. But it’s good news if you want to give hearts of palm a try and make this salad :))ย Right now, having a few cans of hearts of palm in my pantry is helpful for nights when I have nothing fresh left in my fridge.

Cucumber salad with hearts of palm

Who knew that when my kids were little, opening a can of heart of palm, slicing a cucumber, and drizzling not much more than vinegar and olive oil all over it, would make me famous among their circle of friends. I do not exaggerate. These now grown friends who occasionally waltz back into our lives seem to always remember and reminisce about this very simple salad.

In all honestly, this salad is much, much better when it includes sliced avocados. Sadly, it is hard to stock up on avocados right now but if you are lucky to have one on hand, please go ahead and add it. To me, sliced red onions or shallots, which become quickly pickled in the vinegar juice, make this salad irresistible. Feel free to leave them out if serving it to little kids.

Variations

The refreshing flavour of cucumbers and hearts of palm lends itself to all sorts of garnishes. Have some fun with this salad. If you have fresh herbs like dill or cilantro, add those in. Cherry tomatoes or even chopped iceberg lettuce would be fantastic and add even more bulk to the salad. If you prefer it a little creamy, add a few dollops of your favourite mayo.

Close up of Cucumber Salad with hearts of palm

Of course cool cucumber salads are ideal in the summertime served alongside anything you grill. But we love them just as much in the winter when you need a refreshing pick-me-up, or when the winter greens are just not cutting it. This salad would be lovely served with this chicken shawarma, these albondigas, with rice and beans, or alongside any roasted fish or meat. Enjoy!

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Cucumber Salad with Hearts of Palm

Author: Sandra Valvassori
This cucumber salad with hearts of palm leans heavily on the vinegar for a delciously fresh and tangy bite. Mysteriously more delicious and satisfying than the sum of its part, it is a salad that you need to try yourself to understand why.
ย 
Prep Time 10 mins
Servings 4
Cucumber Salad with hearts of palm

Ingredients  

  • 1 large English cucumber, peeld and sliced
  • 1 14-oz can hearts of palm, drained and sliced 1/2 inch thick
  • 1 small shallot, thinly sliced or 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • freshly cracked pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Place the cucumbers, hearts of palm and shallots in a medium-sized, shallow bowl. Drizzle the vinegar and olive oil over the vegetables. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste. Toss gently, taste and add more vinegar or olive oil to taste. Keep in mind It should be heavier on the vinegar than the oil.

Notes

The cucumber and hearts of palm salad can be made ahead, without the dressing or seasoning, and kept tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Note, however, that the cucumbers will not be as crunchy when sliced ahead of time.ย 
Keywords: Cucumber, Hearts of palm, Salad
Cuisine Latin American
Tried this recipe?Tag @sandra_valvassori on Instagram or hashtag #sandravalvassori!

 

 

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Recipe Rating




  1. Nicole

    5 stars
    Simple and delicious! Would add a little lemon and parsley for flare next time! Was great for lunch with the leftover mixed grains I had.

    Reply
    • Sandra Valvassori

      So happy to hear you enjoyed the salad! Adding lemon and parsley sounds fantastic – thank you for writing and sharing!

      Reply
  2. Inge Tempel

    Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon everyday. It’s always helpful to read articles from other writers and practice a little something from other sites.

    Reply
    • Sandra Valvassori

      Thank you!

      Reply

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