I prefer cucumbers on their own and not in a leafy green salad like my hubby did. This recipe has so many great flavors; lemon, tahini, sumac and with the addition of red onions, parsley (Alison used cilantro) and sesame seeds. Such a wonderful combination!
Citrusy Cucumbers and Red Onions With a Tahini/Sumac Sauce
Recipe by Alison Roman in “Nothing Fancy” slightly adapted
- small red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp. tahini
- 1 tbsp. toasted sesame oil
- 3 tbsp. water
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 large (but small diameter) English cucumber, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. finely grated lemon zest
- 1/2 tsp. ground sumac to taste
- fresh parsley or cilantro leaves to taste
- sesame seeds toasted to taste
- olive oil for drizzling
If desired place the onion slices in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes to take the edge off of the onions.
Whisk the tahini, sesame oil and water in a bowl until smooth. My tahini separated so I blended it briefly in my Vitamix to make it creamy again. Season with pepper (salt if desired).
Toss the cucumbers, red onion slices, lemon juice, lemon zest and sumac (if using) – I highly recommend! Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Spoon the tahini sauce in the bottom of a bowl and top with the cucumbers, red onions, parsley (cilantro), sesame seeds and a drizzle of olive oil.
Recipe by cookingwithauntjuju.com
I sometimes crave this combination of cucumbers and red onions. It reminds me of summer days as a kid. 🥒🧅😋
Yes, this salad is especially good during the warmer months of the year. Perfect side to almost anything grilled 🙂
Cucumbers are a delicious vegetable to make a stand alone salad. This looks delicious.
Cukes are a favorite and such an easy salad. This recipe is a keeper and one I plan to enjoy all year long 🙂
This is definitely my kind of salad, though I prefer the smaller cucumbers, which for me at least, are tastier.
The Tahini you’re using is the one of the most popular in Israel. Good stuff! 🙂
I like the little Persian cukes too and use both. I found such a nice, slender English cuke (normally they are big in diameter). Love that there are more choices than those fat, kind of tasteless cukes I actually use to grow 🙂
It is indeed so great to have more to choose from. 🙂
This sounds wonderful. LoVe the addition of the red onions, too!
Yes, it is. Besides loving cukes and red onions the sumac/tahini sauce is really nice 🙂
oh yes a great combo – red onion and cucumber. so tasty.
I agree Sherry – you can never go wrong with this combination. A tasty and crisp salad 🙂