Cumin-Scented Summer Squash Salad Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Cumin-Scented Summer Squash Salad Recipe (1)

Total Time
10 minutes, plus refrigeration
Rating
5(196)
Notes
Read community notes

In the summer, squash of all kinds is in abundance. This recipe uses zucchini, or any other summer variety you have on hand or pick up at the farmers’ market. The squash in this North African salad is lightly steamed.

Featured in: Summer Squash, With a Lighter Touch

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Ingredients

Yield:Serves four

  • 1pound zucchini or other summer squash, thinly sliced or cut in ½-inch dice
  • 3tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1garlic clove, minced or puréed
  • ¾ to 1teaspoon cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground
  • Salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • ¼cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2tablespoons chopped cilantro

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

144 calories; 14 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 327 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Cumin-Scented Summer Squash Salad Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Steam the squash for three to five minutes until just tender. Remove from the heat.

  2. Step

    2

    Mix together the lemon juice, garlic, cumin, salt, pepper and olive oil. Toss with the squash. You can serve this warm, in which case add the cilantro and serve. Alternately, refrigerate until shortly before serving. Toss with the cilantro and serve.

Tip

  • Advance preparation: This will keep for a day or two in the refrigerator, but the colors and flavors will be less vivid.

Ratings

5

out of 5

196

user ratings

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Christa

Absolutely wonderful on a hot summer evening--tossed with noodles. Three-quarters of a teaspoon of cumin was wonderfully fragrant & flavorful. Used a nice, big, fat clove of garlic for some good garlicky flavor. Wonderfully easy & surprisingly flavorful.

Karen L Davis

Yum! I used a mixture of yellow and green squashes for color. Quartered some cherry tomatoes and tossed them in the dressing first, then added the steamed squash tomthe same bowl, tossed again and refrigerated, while I worked on the main dish. Tossed it all with a tiny bit more dressing and some spring lettuce leaves to serve. A hit! Next time I might add a bit more roasted cumin.

Josh

Really nice refreshing summer lunch or snack. I mixed zucchini and yellow squash. Also added diced red onions for the last minute or so of steaming. Added some great color and flavor.

gloria

DELICIOUS!! Respectful of the summer squash. And it's quick and easy to prepare. I cut the oil by about 1/2.

Mintie

A pretty tasty, cooking salad. Agree with cutting the oil a smidge.

Julie

This was not my favorite. I didn't think the dressing worked well with the squash. I prefer summer squash cooked with onions, dill, and butter.

leah

Really fresh salad. Of course I had to add Red onion and jalapeño, feel free to improvise as the dressing is generic and easily complements other veggies.

Kim

Wow! What an interesting and creative way to get rid of excess zucchini! Steaming until just tender is key! I topped it with fresh basil from the garden. Fabulous!

Mia

I steamed the squash lightly (3 minutes), which left it crisp but tender. To the cumin and garlic I added ground coriander, and extra lemon juice. It was good for dinner but even better cold the next day (without the suggested cilantro) - tart and refreshing on a hot summer day.

Peter

Very good. Less oil needed. Added some quick pickled red onion (chopped onion, a little sugar, cider or other vinegar, pickled for 30 min. or more) which was nice for color and flavor.

Manisha

This is so simple, yet so good! Thanks to other reviewers, I added halved grape tomatoes and sliced red onion to give it some additional textures and flavors. I ate it with a different grain each day for lunch (brown rice, farro, and whole wheat noodles). I would definitely make this regularly and I would also bring it to a potluck.

Kristine

Maybe I steamed the squash too long - it tasted ok but was mushy. I added some red onion and some cherry tomatoes, which helped by adding some crunch. I did use up 2 big zucchini, so that’s something.

verna

quite yummy and easy to make. Used yellow squash and ground cumin.

DK

Elegant in it's simplicity and presentation. Delicious. If raw garlic is not your thing, simmer the dressing for a minute or two and serve warm or at room temperature.

chris

Nice, Easy dish, but lemon overwhelmed the freshly ground cumin and just-picked cilantro. Less juice next time!

M.M.

Great for summer and very tasty, but better served warm. I made it early and refrigerated it for later, and liked it better when just prepared.

gloria

DELICIOUS!! Respectful of the summer squash. And it's quick and easy to prepare. I cut the oil by about 1/2.

Mary G.

So tasty! I randomly found this while searching for recipes to use squash from my CSA. Great recipe, and easy to prepare.

Josh

Really nice refreshing summer lunch or snack. I mixed zucchini and yellow squash. Also added diced red onions for the last minute or so of steaming. Added some great color and flavor.

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Cumin-Scented Summer Squash Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you give squash more flavor? ›

Brown Nicely When cooking summer squash, don't be afraid of a little browning. A nicely browned surface adds great flavor. 5. Partner Strategically Finally, balance squash's milder taste with stronger flavors like chilies, curry, ginger, garlic, lemon, goat cheese and so on.

What are the 5 basic salad types? ›

The five basic types of salad are green salads (tossed or composed), bound, vegetable, fruit, and combination. The five basic salads that can be served throughout the course of a meal are starter, accompaniment, main course, intermezzo, and dessert.

What are 5 types of other ingredients that can be used for salads? ›

Top 20 Healthy Salad Toppings
  • Salads are typically made by combining lettuce or mixed greens with an assortment of toppings and a dressing. ...
  • Chopped Raw Vegetables. ...
  • Nuts and Seeds. ...
  • Dried Fruit. ...
  • Whole Grains. ...
  • Beans and Legumes. ...
  • Fresh Fruit. ...
  • Baked Tortilla or Pita Chips.
Dec 17, 2018

What is the most flavorful squash? ›

  1. 1 • Delicata / Sweet Dumpling. These are the most delectable of the pepo squashes, often much sweeter than their close cousins, the green acorns. ...
  2. 2 • Kabocha. ...
  3. 3 • Butternut. ...
  4. 4 • Acorn. ...
  5. 5 • Spaghetti. ...
  6. 6 • Buttercup. ...
  7. 7 • Hubbard.

Why does my squash taste bland? ›

If you pick too early, the flesh will not be fully developed and the squash will lack flavor and not be that wonderfully vegetal sweet that is the wonder of butternut, honeynut, delicata, acorn, pumpkin and kabocha, among dozens of other winter squash.

What salads are they always eating on Keeping Up with the Kardashians? ›

The most common order from the Kardashian crew is the Chinese Chicken Salad. The salad is made up of chopped romaine lettuce, shredded chicken breast, shredded carrots, pickled ginger, chow mein noodles, and a creamy sesame dressing.

What is the number one salad dressing? ›

Ranch Dressing

The ranch is hands down America's most beloved salad dressings. It is made from a number of ingredients such as buttermilk, mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, onion, chives, salt, and pepper.

What is the oldest salad? ›

The first recordings of people enjoying salad date back to Ancient Roman times. The salads of that time were not much different than the modern-day garden salads of today. They consisted of fresh, edible herbs, lettuce, and raw vegetables, and the dressing of the time was a simple mixture of oil and salt.

What are the three 3 keys to a quality salad? ›

The three keys to ensuring a quality salad are:
  • freshness of ingredients.
  • the ingredients blend together in harmony.
  • appealing to the eye.

What does the perfect salad contain? ›

Throw in some orange veggies such as carrots which are rich in contain beta carotene and add tomatoes which contain lycopene. Other great options are vitamin C-rich yellow and red peppers, broccoli, cucumbers, and mushrooms.

Which salad is most often used slightly sweeter? ›

Boston lettuce is usually larger than bibb, and a little sweeter and milder. But they can be used interchangeably in most recipes. The cuplike shape of butterhead lettuce makes it ideal for lettuce cups or lettuce wraps: Fill each leaf with larb, chicken salad, egg salad, chopped tomatoes and avocado, you name it.

What is the key to a good salad? ›

The secret to a good salad
  • Be gentle with lettuce. Balsamic dressing. ...
  • Serve up perfect avocado. Forget lemon juice or cold water – the only way to stop an avocado going brown in a salad is to peel and chop them right before serving. ...
  • Say goodbye to onion tears. ...
  • Adore your dressing. ...
  • Sprinkle in some protein.

What to add to salad for flavor? ›

Dried Cherries, Cranberries or Raisins: Add these dried fruits for their flavor and texture. They are also quick easy to add with no preparation required! Basil, Chives, Dill or Parsley: Toss small basil leaves or chopped larger ones in with your greens. Try chopped fresh dill.

How do you make squash produce more fruit? ›

To do so, you'll need to transfer pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers. How to Hand-Pollinate: First, identify the male and female flowers. Female flowers have a small bulbous growth at their base, which will eventually develop into the squash fruit. Male flowers do not have this growth.

How can I enhance the flavor of zucchini? ›

You can season the oil before you add the zucchini with garlic, shallots, spices, or red pepper flakes, it's totally up to you. Once the oil, butter, or combination thereof is heated, add all of the zucchini. If the pan seems crowded at first, don't worry. Season with salt and toss to begin drawing out the moisture.

Why does my butternut squash have no flavor? ›

If it's underripe, the squash won't have developed its signature taste. If it's overripe, it may be dry, mushy or flavorless.

How do you boost squash plants? ›

Squash plants have high yields, making them a heavy feeder. To encourage squash growth, it is important to fertilize prior to planting the seeds and during its growing season as well. Prior to planting seeds, mix up to 3 inches of compost into the soil where you plan to plant the seeds.

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