The Best Ever Sumac-Watermelon Salad Recipe

It happens every year. You get invited to the summer BBQ and the host asks you to bring a salad. You rack your brain for days thinking about what to make, because let's be real...no one ever eats the salad! Well, this Summer we're changing it up and focusing on making salad the star of the show and we're doing it by adding our new favorite ingredient...sumac.

Sumac is a spice most commonly found all over the Middle East. It presents itself in the form of a lemony berry that gets ground up and adds a beautiful tartness to your dish. It's an integral ingredient in za'atar and regularly gets sprinkled on kebabs to enhance the flavor of the meat and we're hellbent on making it the new Tajin! While sumac is super versatile and can be added to anything from proteins to whole grilled fish, this year we're loving it on cold, fresh salads and here's one of our Favorites.

Arugula and Watermelon Salad with Sumac Vinaigrette

• Total Time: 20 minutes

• Prep Time: 20 minutes

• Yield: 4-5 servings

• Category: Salad

INGREDIENTS:

Salad

• 5 ounces bag of arugula

• 2 cups cubed seedless watermelon

• 1/3 cup feta cheese (French or Bulgarian is what we like)

• 1/4 of a red onion, thinly sliced (pickled onions work nicely too)

• 2 persian cucumbers sliced

• 10-15 mint leaves chopped or cut chiffonade style

• Pita chips to sprinkle on top (optional)

Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 clove of minced garlic

• 1/2 tsp of grain mustard

• 1/2 a tsp of maple syrup, honey or agave

• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 1 1/2 tsp sumac

• Nice pinch of salt

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To assemble the salad: In a medium bowl, combine the arugula, watermelon, feta, red onion, mint and cucumbers

2. To make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl or smoothie blender, combine all of the ingredients and whisk or blend until combined. Taste, and add more salt and pepper if you think it needs it.

3. Mix the vinaigrette into the salad only once you are ready to serve and make sure it's whisked or fully combined when you add it to the salad

4. If desired, sprinkle the pita chips on top for a fun crunch!