Balsamic-Dressed Cucumber with Olives

🥘 Ingredients

• cucumber 2
• black olives 10
• spring onions 3
• red chili (optional) ½
• balsamic vinegar 2 Tbsp
• olive oil 4 Tbsp
• lemon ½
• black pepper
• mint 6 sprigs

1. 1

   Run a fork down the length of the cucumber until it’s stripy all over.
2. 2

   On a chopping board , use a knife to chop off the ends.
3. 3

   Carefully cut them in half across the middle, then in half lengthways.
4. 4

   Use a teaspoon to gently scoop out and discard the seeds.
5. 5

   Chop the cucumber up into 1 cm chunks and place in a mixing bowl .
6. 6

   Place the black olives on a chopping board, squash them with the heel of your hand, pull out and discard the stones, then roughly chop them and add them to the bowl.
7. 7

   Trim and finely slice the spring onions and add them to the bowl.
8. 8

   Chop and add a red chili (optional) to the bowl.
9. 9

   Add the balsamic vinegar and 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil .
10. 10

    Squeeze in the juice of 1/2 a lemon , using your fingers to catch any pips.
11. 11

    Sprinkle over a pinch of black pepper .
12. 12

    Pick and tear over the mint leaves, toss everything together, then serve.