Pair crisp cucumber slices with tangy sumac, fresh parsley, lemon juice, and a generous helping of olive oil to make fresh sumac cucumbers. And for all you cucumber lovers, try cucumber beet salad and cucumber carrot salad!
What is Sumac?
Sumac (summāq) means dark red in Arabic, and it is a spice used in Middle Eastern cuisine to garnish and flavor meals like fattoush and sumac onions. It comes from sumac berries, which are dried and ground into a coarse red powder for culinary purposes. Like fresh lemons, ground sumac has a tart and slightly sweet flavor, and it’s an excellent way to add acidity to recipes without using citrus.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cucumber: Look for firm, crisp cucumbers without soft spots or blemishes. Persian cucumbers or English cucumbers work well for this recipe.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice from one lemon is all you need.
- Parsley: Fresh parsley adds color and complements the cucumber flavor.
- Spices: Season the fresh cucumbers with ground sumac and kosher salt. Sumac is a floral spice found online and in health stores. However, I recommend visiting a local Middle Eastern grocery store to explore. The ground-up sumac berries give the dish its signature color and flavor.
- Olive Oil: Massage the cucumbers with high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
Additions and Substitutions
- Experiment with mix-ins. Add juicy tomatoes, red onions, or fresh herbs like mint leaves or dill.
- Balance the flavor. Some sumac cucumber recipes call for red wine vinegar or pomegranate molasses instead of fresh lemon juice.
- Spice things up. Include a pinch of ground Aleppo pepper or Urfa pepper flakes for even more flavor and a bit of heat.
How to Make Sumac Cucumbers
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Add the ingredients to a serving bowl and massage them with clean hands to combine for 2-3 minutes.
Step 2: Taste and season with ground sumac. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Prepare the cucumbers. Uniformly slice the cucumbers with a chef’s knife or a mandoline.
- Marinate the salad. Marinate the cucumbers for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors combine.
If you enjoy the sumac cucumbers, pair them with one of these dinner recipes!
Serving Suggestions
Marinated sumac cucumbers accompany meat dishes like Adana kebab, al faham chicken, and lamb shoulder chop, but they are an excellent addition to fresh salad recipes. You can brighten any meal with this healthy side dish; try them with beef seekh kabobs, falafel gyro, joojeh kabob and BBQ baked chicken legs.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftover cucumbers in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I peel the cucumbers?
Peeling the cucumbers is entirely up to you. The peel is edible, but some people dislike the texture. Use a vegetable peeler if you prefer peeled cucumbers.
Sumac Cucumbers
- 5-6 Persian cucumbers, thinly sliced into rounds
- lemon juice, 1 lemon
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground sumac
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Add the ingredients to a serving bowl and massage them with clean hands to combine for 2-3 minutes.
- Taste and season with ground sumac. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes.
- Prepare the cucumbers. Uniformly slice the cucumbers with a chef’s knife or a mandoline.
- Marinate the salad. Marinate the cucumbers for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors combine.
Rccola
Friday 9th of February 2024
This turned out great! I made it with Greek chicken and rice and it was the perfect compliment. I thought I made enough but everyone loved it so much I should have made more. Thank you for the recipe.
Tressa Jamil
Friday 9th of February 2024
I'm thrilled to hear that my sumac cucumbers were a success. It's always nice hearing positive feedback, so thank you for taking the time to comment.
Elizabeth H
Tuesday 3rd of October 2023
Wow, these sumac cucumbers were a hit at our family gathering! Tangy, refreshing, and super easy to make. A new favorite in our house!
Tressa Jamil
Tuesday 3rd of October 2023
You've got to love a recipe the whole family enjoys. I am happy it worked out for you.