Recipes

Tomato-Cucumber Salad with Fennel Dressing

When you have ingredients this fresh, don’t overthink it.

  • Serves

    serves 4

  • Cook

    35 minutes

MATT TAYLOR-GROSS

By Eli Sussman


Updated on August 20, 2021

Chef Eli Sussman of Samesa updates the classic combination of tomatoes and cucumbers with heirloom varieties of the titular ingredients. Produce at the height of summer needs no embellishment. Here, he dresses them in a simple, caramelized fennel citronette. For more ways to use the shoulder-season vegetables, check out all of our tomato recipes.

Ingredients

  • 2 fennel bulbs (about 3/4 lb.), trimmed and thinly sliced, fronds reserved for garnish
  • 14 cup plus 1 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tbsp. fennel pollen
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 12 tbsp. fennel seed
  • 2 lb. heirloom tomatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 12 lb. lemon cucumbers, thinly sliced
  • 12 lb. watermelon cucumbers, halved lengthwise
  • Flaky sea salt, for garnish

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, toss the sliced fennel with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread into an even layer on a baking sheet and bake until slightly golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely, then transfer to a blender with the remaining oil, the fennel pollen, lemon juice, fennel seeds, and 1⁄2 cup water. Blend until smooth and season with salt and pepper.

Step 2

In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes and cucumbers with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter and garnish with fennel fronds and flaky sea salt to serve.

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