Description
A refreshing and easy cucumber avocado salad featuring sumac-marinated shallots, toasted sesame seeds, and fresh dill. Perfect as a light and vibrant side dish for warm weather meals, this salad is both vegan and gluten free, coming together in just 30 minutes.
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. of the kosher salt in a small bowl. Massage the sumac into the shallots thoroughly, then let the mixture sit for a minimum of 20 minutes or up to 3 hours to develop flavor.
- Toast Sesame Seeds: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and toast the sesame seeds for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until they become lightly browned and aromatic. Be careful not to burn them. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Assemble Salad: Arrange the cucumber chunks and avocado pieces on a large plate or serving platter. Season with the remaining 3/4 tsp. salt and drizzle with the extra-virgin olive oil.
- Add Shallots and Garnish: Scatter the sumac-marinated shallots with their residual vinegar evenly over the cucumber and avocado. Then sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds and fresh chopped dill on top for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Sumac adds a tangy, lemony flavor that brightens the salad—if unavailable, lemon zest can be a substitute.
- Use English or Persian cucumbers for less bitterness and more tenderness in the salad.
- The salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 2 hours before serving.
- For extra texture, consider adding thinly sliced radishes or toasted nuts like almonds or pistachios.
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: 9.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.5 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
