This Middle Eastern Salad is part of our daily fare. Delicious, healthy, and wonderfully versatile, it goes with just about any dish you can think of! A true passe-partout salad, it makes a refreshing addition to barbecues, pilafs, mujadara, stews, hummus, and dips. It is also the perfect accompaniment to any hearty main dish your heart desires.
The vegetables are classics found in cuisines around the world: juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, sliced onions, roughly chopped romaine lettuce, and crunchy red cabbage. But what truly sets this Middle Eastern salad recipe apart is its extraordinary dressing! A vibrant combination of olive oil, tangy sumac, sweet-tart pomegranate molasses, and a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice brings all the ingredients together beautifully.
Fresh, colorful, incredibly flavorful, and packed with wholesome vegetables, this easy Middle Eastern salad is a delicious way to brighten up any meal!
Hadia’s Secret to a More Flavorful Middle Eastern Salad
Here’s a little trick that takes this Middle Eastern salad to another level of flavor: crush the fresh mint leaves and garlic together using a mortar and pestle. Crushing the mint releases its natural aromatic oils, allowing them to spread throughout the dressing and infuse the salad with a wonderful, fresh minty fragrance. If you’re lucky enough to have fresh mint growing in your garden, this salad is a must on your table!
A little Lebanese pantry tip: If you love cooking Lebanese food, keep a bottle of pomegranate molasses in your pantry. This sweet-and-tangy staple is wonderfully versatile and adds a distinctive depth of flavor to countless Lebanese dishes, from salads and marinades to stews and more.
The Perfect Balance of Sweet, Tangy, and Zesty Flavors
Pomegranate molasses, tangy sumac, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and extra-virgin olive oil come together to create a delicious, vibrant dressing that is bursting with flavor! The sweet-tart richness of the pomegranate molasses, the citrusy tang of the lemon, and the distinctive, lemony notes of sumac blend beautifully with the fruity olive oil, coating every bite of this Middle Eastern salad with a wonderful balance of flavors. It’s a simple yet extraordinary dressing that makes this salad truly irresistible!
FAQ
What can I substitute for sumac and pomegranate molasses?
- For Sumac: Use extra lemon zest. Sumac has a distinct, fruity-tart flavor, so lemon zest provides a similar bright, citrusy punch.
- For Pomegranate Molasses: Mix 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar with a tiny pinch of honey or brown sugar. This mimics the thick, sweet-and-tart profile well.
Is this Middle Eastern salad gluten-free and vegan?
More Lebanese Salad Recipes to Freshen Up Your Table
Let’s Stay in Touch!
Middle Eastern Salad
Description
Ingredients
- 5 tomatoes sliced into discs
- 3 medium cucumbers sliced into discs
- 6 romaine lettuce leaves shredded
- 2 red cabbage leaves shredded (optional)
- 1 onion sliced into discs
- 2 radishes sliced into discs
- ¼ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- 6 fresh mint leaves
Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 freshly squeezed lemon
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- A dash of sumac
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Add the mint leaves to the garlic and crush them together using a mortar and pestle until you obtain a smooth, fragrant paste.
- Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, parsley, onions, and radishes to the garlic and mint paste. Toss gently to combine.
- Drizzle with the olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice, then add the sumac, salt, and pomegranate molasses. Toss everything together until the vegetables are evenly coated with the flavorful dressing. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
1 Comment
[…] Recipes; Seafood Fra Diavolo, Chicken Stuffed Tomato Bites, 10 Minute Cucumber Tomato Salad, How to Make Tomato Juice, Summer Tomato Garden Sauce Pasta, Bruschetta Chicken, Farro Salad with Tomatoes and Herbs, Middle Eastern Salad, […]