I fondly remember an afternoon spent in the dappled shade of my grandmother’s garden, playing a game of cricket with my extended family, which, if happy hindsight has not altered my memory, would have lasted all evening had it not been interrupted by crustless cucumber sandwiches served on a doily-adorned tray. 

Unlike the stereotypical family matriarch, my grandmother isn’t the best cook. But what she does, she does well. She is the master chef of alfresco afternoon teas, keeping the components simple, light, and refreshing. Cucumber sandwiches and salad, followed by meringues and berries, all washed down with lemonade — these were the flavors of my childhood summers. 

Meringues, berries, and cucumber “sarnies” are all quite delightful and worthy of replication. A cucumber sandwich may suffer mockery from those west of the Atlantic Ocean, but such derision would be unfair. “Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it”, goes the old adage — and it applies especially to cucumber sandwiches. Meringues might also lack lavish ingredients and strike some readers as dry or bland, but nothing could be further from the truth.  Those who harbor such prejudice need to cleanse their palates —with meringues I might suggest — until the ethereal sweetness of whisked egg whites and sugar satisfies the sweet tooth and shop-bought cookies seem sickly by comparison. Any summer afternoon can be elevated by cucumber sarnies and meringues. 

But it was my grandmother’s bowl of salad that left guests remarking on how effectively the ingredients complemented one another. It is perhaps no wonder, then, that this feta and rocket (arugula) salad features in the background of many a happy summer memory — this recipe was, and still is, her warm weather go-to. 

I like this salad for many reasons. First and foremost, there’s the association of home and lazy, hazy afternoons. But one does not need a dose of nostalgia to appreciate this dish. It boasts no frills or fancy ingredients — just fresh, summery flavors that speak for themselves. Too often, salad dressings are either cloying or contain more ingredients than the salad itself. A simple squeeze of lemon juice, however, evades both critiques. It may sound overly simple — perhaps, even, a cop-out — but when paired with the right main ingredients lemon juice works beyond compare. 

So, reach for your finest salad bowl and serving plates, and invite some friends into the garden while the weather stays on side. This spread will not disappoint.