Cucumber and Strawberry Kachumar Salad with Lemon Balm
Kachumar means “mash” in Urdu––think of this as a relish or a mini chopped salad. Strawberries (AND SUMAC), cucumbers, red onion, lime, brown sugar, herbs! You can have it with tortilla chips, on top of grilled fish, or as a side, with lentils and rice. Sumac and strawberries are MFEO, guys! (My fellow Nora Ephron fans will understand the reference.)
This dish is made in Pakistan and India; traditionally it is made with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, green chilies, and coriander.
Cucumber and Strawberry Kachumar Salad with Lemon Balm
Ingredients
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 3 Tbsp light brown sugar
- 1½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp sumac plus more, for garnish
- 2 cups English cucumber finely diced
- 2 cups strawberries hulled and finely diced
- ½ cup red onion finely diced
- 4 leaves lemon balm or mint, cut into thin ribbons (chiffonade)
- 6 mint leaves julienned
Instructions
- Dressing: In small bowl, whisk together lime juice, sea salt, light brown sugar and sumac. Pour dressing into serving dish.
- Gently toss cucumber, strawberries, and red onion in dressing.
- Before serving, add lemon balm (or mint). Garnish with more sumac.