This is one of my favorite backyard gathering recipes. It's the type of event where people come over for a leisurely dinner and yard games in the cool of the evening (one of my favorite gatherings). I like to do a mix of make-ahead and hot dishes for these types of gatherings and while this cucumber salad can be made ahead, I really love this as a warm, served-fresh salad. The chickpeas are cooked with sumac until golden then tossed with the fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. It's the perfect blend of hot and fresh. Unfamiliar with sumac? It's a lovely, tart spice that is a main ingredient in za'atar and also fattoush salad.
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A flavorful summer salad that uses fresh, summer cucumber and tomatoes paired with easy sumac spiced chickpeas.
Tips & Tricks: If you find yourself with a cucumber that has thicker skin, I recommend peeling. The cucumber plays a supporting role in this salad and I like it to be on the delicate side.
Stock up: get the pantry ingredients you will need: cumin, chickpeas, tomatoes
Nutrition: see the information.
This cucumber salad is simple enough that you can play around with some of the ingredients. If you're into the bread aspect of the fattoush salad, you could easily bring that into this recipe. Also, don't try and swap out the sumac. It's flavor isn't easily matched and once you pick up sumac, you can make za'atar whenever you want!
Beans: I also love this salad with just-warmed plump white beans or if you want to go the heirloom route, these Royal Corona Beans.
Greens: Make this a more traditional salad by using lettuce or spinach as a base. This is also a great route if you want to make this salad ahead, let the beans cool, then toss with greens before serving.
Grains: I love this salad with grains or even pearl couscous. Quinoa also works but I recommend only tossing in 1/2 to 1 cup cooked grains as to not overpower the fresh cucumber/tomato combination.
Sumac adds the tartness to help balance the more earthy and sweet aspects of a lot of dishes (which is why it works so well with sesame seeds in the za'atar blend). Sumac can be a bit tricky to buy, so use caution when purchasing. Some brands have added salt or might have sat some time (lessening the flavor). I recommend this company.
Grilled Zucchini with Za'atar
Za'atar Roasted Tomatoes
Roasted Za'atar Sweet Potatoes
This salad looks amazing! I just love sumac.... such an underutilized spice! 🙂
I think this salad looks amazing. I have never used sumac but I will definitely give this salad a try.
Spiced Chickpea Cucumber Salad is looking so spicy. Sometimes i don't like to eat anything, i think that kind of situation it will work for me.
★★★★★
This looks amazing - I absolutely love chickpeas I have never before used sumac as spice but am really interested also in the middle east kitchen so thank you for the inspiration! xoxo Katie
This salad sounds wonderful. I did purchase some sumac, which I haven't used yet, but will definitely be using to make za'atar. It's nice to have other uses for it. I really like tart flavors like tamarind, so i'm looking forward to using the sumac.
We love chickpeas but have never tried them roasted. I didn't have sumac, but loved this recipe without it. We loved it! Great way to get carbs on Phase 1 of fast metabolism diet. Thank you!
★★★★★
The salad looks yummy and amazing. Never thought one can make a spicy cucumber and chickpea salad. This is something I am really going to try out. Being health-conscious, I feel like trying out some delicious and nutritious food items.
★★★★
I love this salad! I could not find the sumac in my grocery store, but it was still very good without it. Thanks for sharing!
Looks amazing salad ll differently try
★★★★★