Description
A refreshing Cucumber Avocado Salad featuring sumac-marinated shallots, toasted sesame seeds, and fresh dill. This vibrant salad is quick to prepare, vegan, and gluten free, making it a perfect light side dish for warm weather meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade
- 1 medium shallot, thinly sliced (about 1/3 cup)
- 3 Tbsp. rice vinegar
- 2 tsp. ground sumac
- 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided
Salad
- 2 scant Tbsp. sesame seeds
- 1 lb. cucumbers (English/Hot House or Persian, ideally), cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1 medium ripe avocado, cut into small pieces or thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup fresh dill, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Marinate Shallots: Combine the thinly sliced shallots, rice vinegar, ground sumac, and 1/4 tsp. kosher salt in a small bowl. Gently massage the sumac into the shallots, then let the mixture sit at room temperature for at least 20 minutes or up to 3 hours to develop flavor.
- Toast Sesame Seeds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the sesame seeds for 3 to 5 minutes until they become lightly browned and aromatic, stirring often to prevent burning. Once toasted, set them aside to cool.
- Assemble Salad: Arrange the cucumber chunks and avocado pieces on a large plate or serving platter. Season evenly with the remaining 3/4 tsp. kosher salt and drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil over the top.
- Add Shallots and Garnish: Scatter the marinated shallots along with any residual rice vinegar over the cucumber and avocado. Finally, sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds and freshly chopped dill over the salad to finish.
Notes
- Sumac adds a tangy, lemony flavor that brightens the salad—if unavailable, a small splash of lemon juice can be used as a substitute.
- Use English, Hot House, or Persian cucumbers for the best texture and fewer seeds.
- Prepare the sumac-marinated shallots ahead of time to let flavors meld, enhancing the overall taste.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 4 hours before serving to maintain crispness.
- For added crunch, lightly toast the sesame seeds but watch carefully to avoid burning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 0.6 cup
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 390 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.5 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
