Salad

Last night, I was craving something light, so I rummaged through the fridge and whipped up a salad with what I had at home. I found a tomato, a boiled egg left over from breakfast, some feta cheese, a bit of smoked meat, and a small red onion. Without hesitation, I tossed everything into a bowl, added a little salt, pepper, and oil. It turned out to be a quick salad that I really enjoyed, requiring minimal preparation or cooking.

Quick Info

Total Time: 10-15 minutes
Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking Time: just for the boiled egg (if you don't already have one)
Servings: 1
Difficulty: easy
Recipe Type: quick salad, great for dinner or a snack

Ingredients

- 1 tomato
- 1 boiled egg
- 1 small red onion
- feta cheese (amount to taste, about a thick slice)
- 3 slices of smoked meat
- 1 slice of toasted bread
- salt
- pepper
- 1 tablespoon of oil

Preparation Method

1. Dice the tomato. Place it in a bowl and sprinkle a little salt over it. Gently mix and let it sit for 5 minutes. The salt will draw out the juices from the tomato, so after 5 minutes, drain the accumulated liquid.
2. Finely chop the red onion. Peel the boiled eggs and cut them into cubes or slices, depending on your preference.
3. Cut the slices of smoked meat into small pieces suitable for a salad.
4. Cut the feta cheese into cubes or crumble it by hand.
5. Add the onion, egg, smoked meat, and feta to the tomatoes in the bowl.
6. Toast a slice of bread. Cut or tear it into suitable pieces and add them to the salad.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then drizzle a tablespoon of oil over all the ingredients.
8. Gently mix, just enough to combine everything without crushing the ingredients.

Why I Make This Recipe Often

This salad is practical when I have leftover ingredients in the fridge and don't want to spend much time in the kitchen. It's filling, doesn't require many dishes, and can be easily adapted based on what I have on hand. The flavor is balanced between salty, fresh, and smoky.

Tips and Variations

Tips

- If the tomato is very juicy, it's better to drain it to avoid diluting the other ingredients.
- You don't need much oil – one tablespoon is enough to bind the salad.
- The ingredients should be chopped small enough to be able to pick up everything with a fork.

Substitutions

- Feta cheese can be replaced with any other white cheese.
- Smoked meat can be substituted with ham, cooked chicken breast, or even a few slices of salami.
- You can use any bread you have on hand, as long as you toast it lightly.

Variations

- If you like, you can add half a cucumber or olives, but I kept the recipe as I initially made it.
- For a fresher taste, a bit of lemon juice or some chopped parsley works well, but they are not mandatory.

Serving Ideas

- The salad is great as a quick dinner or a cold lunch to go.
- You can place it on a slice of fresh bread, not just toasted.
- If you have more people at the table, double the quantities without any other changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use a soft-boiled egg or just a hard-boiled one?
For the texture of this salad, a hard-boiled egg is the most suitable. If you use a soft-boiled egg, the yolk will mix with the other ingredients and may change the consistency.

2. What kind of smoked meat should I choose?
Any type of smoked meat is fine. I used one that I bought, sliced thinly. Smoked fillet or other sliced smoked meats also work.

3. Do I have to toast the bread?
Toasted bread adds a crunchy texture, but it's not mandatory. You can also use fresh bread, but the final texture will be softer.

4. Do I need to add lemon or vinegar?
The original recipe doesn't include them, but if you like a tangier taste, you can add a bit of lemon. It's not required.

5. Can I make the salad without meat?
Yes, you can leave out the smoked meat. The result will be lighter but still tasty.

Nutritional Values

Estimate for one serving:
- Calories: approximately 350-400 kcal
- Protein: 18-20 g (from the egg, cheese, and meat)
- Fat: 22-25 g (oil, feta, meat)
- Carbohydrates: 20-25 g (tomato, onion, bread)
Values are approximate and depend on the exact amount of cheese, oil, and the type of bread or meat used.

Storage and Reheating

The salad is best consumed immediately. If there are leftovers, it can be stored in the fridge for a few hours, but the bread will become soft and the ingredients will lose their texture. I do not recommend reheating it. It's better to make it fresh when you need it.