In the summer, especially when I’m at the beach like these days, my desire to cook drops below zero. It’s hot, the air is still, the fridge is full but ideas are few, and any recipe involving the oven is automatically rejected.
So I often find myself looking for something fresh, quick, made with what I have on hand and without even breaking a sweat.
That’s how these seasoned cucumber slices with feta, tomatoes, green olives, and cracker crumbs came to be: a simple idea, but perfect for summer.
They are not true stuffed appetizers, nor elaborate recipes: they are just thick slices of cucumber, crunchy and light, seasoned with a tasty and fresh mix. No cooking, just a few minutes of preparation, and the result is a dish that’s beautiful to look at, delicious to eat, and even scenic if served well.
In these days at the beach, between a walk on the shoreline, a moment of relaxation, and a healthy swim, all I want is something fresh, that doesn’t take too much effort, but still offers satisfaction. That’s why these little cucumber bites are ideal: they are quick to make, served cold, keep well even for an impromptu aperitif, and easily adapt to what you have available.

I used feta because it adds character, tomatoes for sweetness, green olives for a salty touch, and cracker crumbs for a crunchy and tasty note.
But you can change everything: use cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, salted ricotta, or even some Taggiasca or Kalamata olives if you want something more distinct.
A clever idea to make even on vacation, when cooking is the last thing you want to do, but you don’t want to miss out on a neat and tasty dish.
In short: I’m at the beach, I’m hot, but that doesn’t mean I’ll settle for two sad lettuce leaves because I love, in fact, adore cooking and I enjoy trying to please not only the stomach but also the eyes every day.
With a few ingredients, even a simple cucumber slice can become a blog-worthy dish, ready to share and remake.

Little tip!

It’s best to prepare and serve these stuffed cucumber rounds immediately, but you can store the seasoning (without crackers which soften in two seconds flat) in the fridge for 1 day. Add the crumbs later and assemble before serving.

Would you like to receive a sweet and a savory recipe directly on your phone every day?
Subscribe to my WhatsApp channel “La cucina di ASI”: zero spam, only delicious inspirations from Monday to Friday!
Click here to subscribe now!           https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaHbGIn9cDDig7Cw2x0F   

Still on the topic of QUICK APPETIZERS, here are some other easy ideas just below: