The Best Mediterranean Salad Recipe

This Mediterranean salad is loaded with fresh vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs. This fresh salad is flavored with a delicious dressing.

What I love the most about Mediterranean recipes is that they always call for fresh ingredients. Simple recipes like fattoush, Turkish tomato salad and tabbouleh are some of the best Mediterranean side dishes that compliment almost every dish out there. Today I’m going to show you how to make another show stopper Mediterranean salad with just a few ingredients.

Mediterranean Flavors

Mediterranean food is made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. Vegetables have a bold role in almost all the Mediterranean recipes which makes them healthy and great for families. Olive oil, tomatoes, red onion, parsley, mint and artichokes are common Mediterranean ingredients that can be used in different recipes to bring fresh flavors and great texture to the dish. We always keep fresh vegetables in the fridge so when we decide to make a salad, it’s pretty easy and quick to put together a tasty side dish in no time.

This salad is packed with so much flavor and fresh vegetables. It makes a great side dish for many dishes and is so simple to make. A great option for your parties and gatherings, this salad is a wonderful alternative to your usual salads.

What do you put in a Mediterranean salad?

A combination of vegetables and herbs makes the best Mediterranean style salad:

• Cucumber
• Tomatoes
• Red onion
• Kalamata Olives
• Artichoke
• Herbs

When it comes to making salads, I love using mini or Persian cucumbers because they are crisper and their seeds are smaller therefore there is no need to scoop them out. Any kind of tomato would work for this easy everyday Mediterranean salad, I usually use roma tomatoes because they are firm and easy to slice. 

To make a salad with artichokes, it’s best to use marinated artichokes because they add so much flavor to the salad and you can even add some of the marinade to the dressing for more flavor. 

Always make sure that all your vegetables are fresh and clean. Please wash all the greens and vegetables with water thoroughly and dry them completely before cutting them. 

How to make Mediterranean salad with tomatoes and cucumbers

Wash all the vegetables (except artichoke) and let them dry. Once they are completely dry, chop them and place them in a large bowl. Using two large spoons, mix them all together. Make sure you don’t chop the ingredients too small or over mix the vegetables. 

I prefer using pitted kalamata olives but you can also use green olives. You can either use them whole or halve them before adding to the salad.

To make the best Mediterranean salad dressing you need the following ingredients:

• Olive oil
• Lemon
• Garlic
• Sumac
• Salt and pepper

Simply mix all the ingredients in a mason jar or a bowl and pour it over the tomato salad and mix right before serving. I love this dressing so much I always have a jar in the fridge in case of a salad emergency!

Can I make this salad ahead of time? 

Mediterranean salad is best served right away but it can also be made some hours ahead and serve the same day. In this case, add the dressing to the salad right before serving.

More Mediterranean style salad recipes:

• Traditional Greek Salad Recipe
• Cucumber tomato feta salad
• Mediterranean couscous salad

What to serve with Mediterranean salad

Like our favorite Persian salad, Mediterranean cucumber salad is a great side for rice dishes such as mujaddara or tomato rice. You can also serve this easy Mediterranean side dish with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean main dishes such as Shish tawook or Beef shish kabob.

Tools and ingredients used in this recipe:

• Knife
• Mixing bowls
• Cutting board
• Olive oil 
• Kalamata olives
• Sumac