Fresh Dill Bell Pepper Salad: julienned red, orange and yellow bell pepper matchsticks mingle with garden dill and a light lemon vinaigrette. A bright and colorful veggie salad with crunchy snap. Quick and easy summer side, perfect alongside grilled chicken or fish.
Hope you’re having a fantastic summer so far! I’d like to tell you I put together this matchstick veggie salad with all the abundant produce from my prolific garden. That’s what I’d like to say. Ha.
I do have a garden, but not exactly prolific. So far it has produced baseball bat sized zucchini, bitter lettuce and green tomatoes. Also a few small green peppers, jalapenos and one particularly ugly and crooked cucumber.
I posted a picture of it on Facebook with this caption: “If this cucumber is an indication of my green thumb, I’m doomed.” Then a knowledgeable gardening friend commented that she thought it was a kind of Japanese cucumber. I’d never even heard of a Japanese cucumber, but apparently I’m growing one!
My herb pots are faring better than the raised beds — there’s plenty of lemon thyme, thyme, rosemary, basil, dill and sage.
We were a little worried about the garden the other night. The forecast predicted severe thunderstorms and we’d been watching the storm on the radar. It was a fast moving system with every threatening color on the screen and the possibility of hail.
Jon went out to grill some dinner quick later that afternoon and within just minutes the sky darkened and it got super windy. The trees were swirling, and small branches started flying. He was hurrying back into the house with the grilled hamburgers when the lights went out.
Folks, this was (insert Boston accent) “a wicked big summah storm.”
So we fumbled around for matches and had dinner at the dining room table by candle light. Just like Little House on the Prairie. Sort of. (Minus Laura. And Michael Landon. And the prairie.)
The problem was, that we were heading off on vacation to the Cape early the next morning — still had packing and laundry to do. In fact, there was a load already going in both the washer and dryer. Timing is everything.
So we tried to pack as best we could in the dark, but it was sweltering with no AC, and most of the beach towels and clothes were still piled high in the laundry chute. Finally, at elevenish, the lights flicked back on and we were able to get going on the laundry. Phew. There wasn’t a whole lot of sleep in our house that night, mostly laundry and packing.
And the garden fared ok in the storm. A few of the tomato cages blew over, but we didn’t lose any plants. And most importantly, we never did get the predicted hail.
Then when got back from vacation, the herb pots were just spilling over, the dill in particular. That’s why I made this Fresh Dill Bell Pepper Salad to go with our grilled chicken tonight.
The dill complements the bell pepper, cucumber and celery matchsticks perfectly. The light lemon juice vinaigrette ties it all together. But the key to this delicious and sophisticated summer salad? Slice the veggies very thin and use lots of aromatic freshly chopped dill! This salad is so easy to make and accompanies grilled fish and meats perfectly. Also packs well in a picnic basket.
So tell me: how does your garden grow? Had any wicked summah storms at your house lately?
Fresh Dill Bell Pepper Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 orange bell pepper
- 1 -2 ribs celery washed
- 1 medium cucumber peeled and seeds removed
- 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
Instructions
- Julienne peppers, celery, and cucumber by cutting into very thin strips;
- Cut strips into one inch length.
- Place all vegetables in a serving bowl.
- Combine juice, vinegar, oil, salt and garlic powder in a separate bowl.
- Whisk to blend well.
- Pour dressing over cut vegetables.
- Add the chopped dill.
- Mix well.
- Chill to blend flavors.
- Refrigerate leftovers.
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Sylvie says
I’ve only ever had the space to grow herbs but I dream of trying my hand at a proper garden one day!
Aunt Pinkie- says
Mmmm-looks so pretty and crunchy!
Catherine says
Dear Allie, save for only a few veggies and herbs my garden this year is modest but faring well. We haven’t had a whole lot of storms but the severe heat has taken its toll on my flower beds. Fortunately now that the temps have cooled, they have all come back. I love dill and this beautiful pepper salad is a perfect summer side. Fresh and bursting with colors and flavor, I know I would love this. xo, Catherine
Susie Mandel says
This sounds yummy and perfect for summer. Hey, and I got a story mixed in with the recipe…wicked awesome! Is that a phrase y’all use up there…maybe I can start a Valley-New England Girl dialect. 😉
Barbara Child says
Great salad! I have 1 tomato plant on my balcony with 5-6 small green tomatoes which don’t seem to be growing much, and one has turned red though it’s very small! No, this isn’t supposed to be a cherry tomato plant! I think it needs more sun. Also, it probably doesn’t like being bound in a big pot instead of the big field! No green thumb here!
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life says
Your salad sounds wonderful! In the summertime, I am constantly craving veggies and new ways to serve them! I have one kid who absolutely loves bell peppers, so I have a feeling this will be a hit!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
This salad sounds like a perfect summer salad! I love the dill and all the fresh veggies!
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Allie – so glad you are back!
Your garden sounds way more “prolific” than mine – am not sure what’s going on this year – though I must say, my grass and weeds are quite prolific! GAH!
I’ve had the good fortune to replicate some of your salads in our house and I know my daughter and I would tear up a bowl of this! Loving the dill and “matchstick” sliced peppers and celery with rice vinegar and lemon! Delicious! And hope your vacation was wonderful!
XOXO
Carina says
Hi Allie! We have some herbs in pots (mostly rosemary, thyme and oregano) that grow year-round by the windows in our family room. They do alright, but I wouldn’t say they are thriving wildly. This is a lovely, elegant salad recipe here today. I love fresh dill, the ingredient that makes any salad taste like summer. Glad that you were able to get the laundry ready in time for your holiday, though too bad it was late into the night! The last few years, the summer thunderstorms around here sure seem to be getting stronger and lasting longer. Yikes! You take care! XOXO
Tracy says
I just love reading your posts! Love the recipes but your stories!! They usually put a smile on my face? Never, ever a dull moment at the Taylor’s house! Well I hope the trip was less eventful and filled with fun and some relaxation!! You did have me fooled I thought those peppers were from your garden at first. I tried a garden for the first time last year and my peppers were teeny, tiny the size of a golf ball! This year we had water issues so no garden for us. I hope we can grow one next year!! Oh…… Salad looks wonderful! Thanks for the recipe. ?
Aunt Margie says
Dear Allie,
Anything dill works for me! What pictures and presentation! Looks lovely, and with cousin Jenny coming this week, it will be on the menu. Know you had an enviable vacation. So glad!
Allie says
I’m a dill lover too! Have a wonderful visit, I’ll be thinking of you. xo
Eva says
J’adore tous les ingrédients plein de couleurs et vitamines, idéal pour accompagner un barbecue ou autre. xxo