A crisp Levantine salad of sliced radish, cucumber, onion, mint, and parsley, dressed with lemon, olive oil, sumac, and salt — a refreshing suhoor side.
Radish and cucumber salad is a simple Levantine mezze that shows up in every home in spring when radishes are plentiful.
Fresh mint gives it a refreshing flavor that suits summer suhoor. Radishes are rich in vitamin C and fiber, digest quickly, and do not weigh heavy on the stomach before the hours of fasting.
Wash the radishes, trim the ends, and slice them thinly. Cut the cucumber into thin half-moon slices. Chop the onion finely.
In a large bowl, combine the radish, cucumber, onion, mint, and parsley.
In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice with the salt, sumac, and pepper. Add the olive oil and stir until combined.
Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently. Serve immediately with Arabic bread or as a side dish with main courses.
The glycemic index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar, while the glycemic load (GL) measures how much a full serving raises it. Together they give the complete picture.
A low value (≤55) means a gradual rise in blood sugar — the most suitable range for diabetes and insulin resistance.
Glycemic load reflects the impact of the full serving. To lower it: take half a serving, or pair the recipe with a source of protein and fiber.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet per FDA food-label reference values — your daily needs may be higher or lower. Values are derived from the recipe's ingredients via the USDA database.
The most common problems when preparing Radish and Cucumber Salad with Mint, and how to fix them:
Soak it in cold water for 5 minutes and drain. Soaking reduces the pepperiness.
Double the sumac and add a pinch of sugar. Sumac adds natural acidity.
Cut it right before serving, salt it for 5 minutes, and drain. Salt draws out excess water.
Soak the mint leaves in cold water for 10 minutes before chopping. Old mint is more bitter.
One hour. Prepare the vegetables and the dressing ahead and combine them right before serving.
The cucumber and radish lose their crispness.
| Original Ingredient | Tested Substitute | Ratio | Flavor Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radish | White radish (daikon) | 1:1 | A milder flavor and a similar texture. |
| Fresh mint | Dried mint | 1:3 | Dried has a stronger flavor — reduce the amount. |
| White onion | Green onion | 1:1 | A milder flavor. |
| Ingredient | 4 people | 8 people | 12 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radish | 200 g | 400 g | 600 g |
| Cucumbers | 200 g | 400 g | 600 g |
| Lemon | 30 ml | 60 ml | 90 ml |
| Olive oil | 20 ml | 40 ml | 60 ml |
Slice the radish thinly because thick slices are too peppery. Fresh mint loses its freshness quickly — add it right before serving.
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