Sweet Domesticity: Cucumber and Radish Salsa

I think we're finally back in business! Of all the times to have technical difficulties, the middle of Salsa Week was certainly not ideal, but the glitch has been fixed and things seem to be back to normal again. So, let's get on with the salsa!

September is that perfect time of year where summer and fall sort of overlap and intertwine. The days are still warm and summery, but the evenings are cool and comfortable. In a month or so, we’ll wake up one morning and realize that it is definitely fall and there's no turning back, but right now things are a little more fluid, giving us the best of what each season has to offer.

Likewise, the garden is starting to make that same gradual transition. The summer veggies are still going strong, but little by little, the garden is starting to open up to allow for the fall garden to take shape, which is what makes today’s Salsa Week recipe so very timely.

Summer cucumbers and the first of the fall plantings of radishes combine forces in a salsa that is layered in flavor. On the one hand, the freshness of the cucumbers and lime and the heat of the pepper scream summer, but the earthy radish, onion, and garlic are perfectly suited for fall. Together, they work surprisingly well together.

It took me a number of attempts to get the proportions and flavor to my liking. I'll be honest, I wasn't so sure about this salsa with the first bite, but there was definitely something about it that made me want to come back for more and keep trying to find the right combination. I started out with too many radishes (they overpowered everything), so I cut way back on the number of radishes. The jalapeno just got lost with all the different flavors going on, so I upped the heat with a serrano pepper and got a little closer to where I wanted to be. It still needed a little something more to push it over the edge of spicy garden salad and into the realm of salsa, and ultimately that something was a handful of diced tomatoes. The final result is a salsa that is unexpected and unique - and packed with the best that the garden has to offer right now.

Cucumber and Radish Salsa

1 large cucumber, finely diced

2-3 radishes, finely diced

1-2 tomatoes, seeded and diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 serrano pepper, extra finely diced or minced

Fresh cilantro, chopped

Clean and prepare all of the ingredients, and combine in a medium-sized bowl. Add a sprinkle of sea salt, a little freshly chopped cilantro, and squeeze lime juice over the salsa. Gently toss until all ingredients are well integrated and serve with tortilla chips.