Pink Grapefruit and Sumac Salad
A salad, is a salad, is a salad, right? Well, at some point in my life this may have been true, but today it is unequivocally wrong. When I was growing up, salad was made from pale iceberg lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes, dressed with Thousand Island dressing. Do you remember those salads? I do, all too well! Today however, when I thumb through cookbooks or open food magazines, I feel a bit like Alice who fell through the looking glass! Salads are vivid and bursting with the flavour of exotic fruits, grains and vegetables. And the dressings! I could spend a lifetime sampling all of these scintillating dressings and never have to taste the same one twice!
Today’s salad is one that I found in “Plenty More”, by Yotam Ottolenghi, and made recently for a group of friends. Everyone agreed that it was more than “blog-worthy”. The dressing is a miracle to behold! Red grapefruit juice, sugar and chiles are reduced and then seasoned with tart sumac, which pairs perfectly with the grapefruit, watercress and basil.
I will be taking a big bowl of my salad over to Angie’s Fiesta Friday tomorrow. I think my buddies there will really enjoy this festival of flavours. If you haven’t joined us yet, I encourage you to do so at Angie’s blog – “The Novice Gardener”. While you are there, be sure to check out her wildly creative posts!
Pink Grapefruit and Sumac Salad
Ingredients:
6 pink or red grapefruits (about 5 pounds)
2 tablespoons superfine sugar
1 small dried red chile (use less if very hot)
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon sumac
½ medium red onion, very thinly sliced (about 2/3 cup)
2 or 3 small heads red Belgian endive, leaves separated and any large leaves cut in half on the diagonal (about 3 cups)
3 scant cups watercress leaves
2/3 cup basil leaves
salt
Method:
Using a small, sharp knife, slice off the top and tail of 5 of the grapefruits. Cut down the sides of each grapefruit, following its natural line to remove the skin and white pith. Over a small bowl, cut between the membranes to remove the individual segments. Place in a colander to drain and gently squeeze any remaining juices into a small saucepan.
Squeeze enough juice from the last grapefruit to bring the juice in the pan up to 1 ¼ cups. Add the sugar and chile and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens and you have about 5 tablespoons left, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool down, then whisk in the olive oil, lemon juice, sumac and ¼ teaspoon salt.
To assemble the salad, put the grapefruit segments, onion, endive, watercress, and basil in a large bowl. Pour over ¾ of the dressing and toss gently. Add the remainder of the dressing if the salad seems dry. Serve immediately.
48 Responses to “Pink Grapefruit and Sumac Salad”
How creative!…. The pink grapefruit and sumac combination sounds so tefreshing…lovely salad!
Isn’t it wonderful when we find a whole new bunch of flavours? This is what I discovered with this recipe! So glad that you like the post! 😀
I have a bagof sumac I bought for Ottolenghi’s beet salad. He is a magician with his combinations and never ceases to open my mind to new discoveries. Always bang on too. Will try this for sure?
Thanks Johanne! I could just cook from all of his amazing cookbooks for the next 5 years…. I would always be happy and ever so happy and satisfied : 😀
I can always count on you to try something creative! Hugs!
You are too sweet, Lori!
omg this looks so easy and delicious 🙂
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
Thanks! I am learning that often easy and delicious is the best beyond words!
I love your salad! I fortunately never grew up with those iceberg lettuce salads. And, my mum was big on fruity vinaigrettes, such as raspberry, which made me actually enjoy salad as I was growing up! Your pink grapefruit and sumac salad sounds delicious. I also love the pop of color that comes to the dish from the grapefruit. Happy FF, and have a wonderful weekend! 😀
Thanks Kaila! You are so very lucky to have skipped those ice-berg salad days! Salad is my favourite part of the meal and it seems like there is a growing number of us who appreciate all of the wonderful variations of salad!
I agree salads have come a long way. This looks delicious, I love Ottolenghi’s creations. Such fresh flavors- sumac seems to be good in most things too. Definitely one to try! Thanks for bringing to Fiesta Friday.
Thanks so much, Caroline! It seems to us that we will have wait for the extra terrestrial visits! 😀
This looks delicious, I’ll be sure to try it soon! Really liking your blog by the way – I’ve just nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. 🙂
So happy that you are enjoying my blog! It is very kind of you to let me know and also for nominating me for this award! I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness! 😀
I do love a good salad, and this one looks amazing!!
Thanks so much, Michelle! Really glad that you like the look of my salad! 🙂
Yum yum yum!!! Such a collection of lovely flavours 😀😀😀
Aha! I thought you might like this one, Elaine! 🙂
And you were right!
I love grapefruit in salads! This one looks and sounds very intriguing. Yummm….. 🙂
Thanks Geraldine! Grapefruit is really amazing in salads! Glad you like this! 😀
What a refreshing salad! I’ve been wondering what else to do with the sumac we have, so this is perfect!
This is a wonderful use for sumac! Hope you like it as much as I did!
[…] Julianna […]
This is a beautiful salad! I love pink grapefruit, but never thought of adding it to a salad–love it!
Thanks Nancy! I think you will really love grapefruit in your salads!
Julianna this salad looks divine.. and I’m not even a grapefruit (or sumac) fan! I’m sure my hubby would love for me to make him this… another thing to add to the list! Thank you 🙂
Haha! I imagine your list is probably as long as mine! Funny how that happens once we start blogging… 😀
I know! Too many things to make! 🙂
Fresh salad! and I do love both grapefruit and sumac! Yummy! 🙂
So very glad you like this! 😀
I think we call the pink grapefruit Pomelo. Is this the big one?
It is so genius of you to make it as a salad because I just eat this pink grapefruit with salt. 😀
Hey Jhuls! Pink grapefruit and pomelo are different fruits. Pomelo is not as sweet as the pink grapefruit, and the grapefruit is much smaller. However, I think they are in the same family. Why don’t you try making the salad with pomelo and let me know what you think of it! 🙂
Beautiful salad, Julianna…the pink grapefruit lends a gorgeous hue!
Thanks Nancy! Yes, I am very partial to these colours…! 😀
What a gorgeous salad! I do remember the iceberg lettuce salads and agree, there are so many variations. I am just recovering from your delicious curry, this is another recipe saved 🙂
Thanks Petra! Glad you can relate to my iceberg lettuce reference! Hope you like this salad if you find the time to make it! 😀
I have never tried sumac. I love to try new things, so I will need to try it! I love grapefruit in a salad. Beautiful photo!
Who said that salad are boring??? Love yours!
This is TOTALLY blog-worthy, and such a fancy salad, Julianna 🙂
I would definitely eat this refreshing salad as often as I can.
Love it 🙂
Just perfect for this season! I love it!
What a lovely salad. I think sumac is so underused and this is a great combination. My favorite place for sumac is in the classic fattoush. I think your salad will be a new favorite.
Gina
Thanks Gina! I am fairly new to sumac, but I will be using it a lot more in the future! 😀
I remember those salads, too, Julianna! Haha! 😀 Your grapefruit salad looks scrumptious. Perfect for spring!
Haha! Aren’t you glad that salads have evolved? I sure am! Glad you like it! 🙂
Your salad looks so yummy.nice clicks
Salad looks so tempting
Thanks Jayanthi! Glad you like this! 😀