Description
A refreshing and vibrant Cucumber Avocado Salad featuring sumac-marinated shallots, toasted sesame seeds, and fresh dill. This easy-to-make vegan and gluten-free salad is perfect as a light side dish for warmer 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
- Prepare sumac-marinated shallots: Combine shallots, rice vinegar, sumac, and 1/4 tsp. salt in a small bowl. Massage the sumac into the shallots, then let the mixture sit for a minimum of 20 minutes, up to 3 hours, to develop flavor.
- Toast sesame seeds: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add sesame seeds and toast for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often and watching closely to prevent burning. Once lightly browned and aromatic, remove from heat and set aside.
- Assemble the salad: Arrange cucumber and avocado chunks on a large plate or serving platter. Season with the remaining 3/4 tsp. kosher salt and drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil evenly over the top.
- Add shallots and garnish: Scatter the sumac-marinated shallots along with the residual rice vinegar over the cucumber and avocado. Finally, garnish with the toasted sesame seeds and chopped fresh dill for a fresh, crunchy finish.
Notes
- This salad can be prepared up to 3 hours in advance for deeper flavor as the sumac marinates the shallots.
- Use English or Persian cucumbers for a less seedy, crisper texture.
- To make it nut-free, ensure sesame seeds are suitable or substitute with toasted pumpkin seeds.
- Best served chilled or at room temperature for maximum freshness.
- Sumac adds a tangy citrus flavor; if unavailable, a little lemon zest can be a mild substitute.
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
