The Best Mediterranean Salad Recipe

The Best Mediterranean Style Salad

Mediterranean food is made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. Vegetables such as olive oil, tomatoes and onion have a bold role in almost all the Mediterranean recipes such as briam or ratatouille which makes them healthy and great for families.

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.

Like our Mediterranean three bean salad, 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 is a wonderful alternative to your usual salads.

Ingredients To Make Mediterranean Salad

To make Mediterranean cucumber salad you need tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, artichokes, olives, olive oil, sumac and lemon.

Cucumber: 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.

Tomatoes: 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.

Red onion: I love adding red onion to salads, it adds flavor and a nice kick to the salad.

Kalamata olives: Chopped olives are so good in salads. Make sure the olives are pitted. You can slice them or add them whole.

Artichokes: 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.

Herbs: I love using parsley but you can also use cilantro, mint or green onions.

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

Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil works best for this recipe.

Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds so much brightness to the dish.

Garlic: It's best to mince your own garlic for this recipe and avoid packaged minced garlic.

Sumac: If you've never tried sumac, now is the time. It's tangy and so delicious.

How To Make Mediterranean Salad

chop all the vegetables and mix with the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and sumac.

Wash all the vegetables (except artichoke and olives) and let them dry.

Once they are completely dry, chop them (make sure not to chop them too small) and place them in a large bowl.

Using two large spoons, mix them all together. Make sure not to over mix the vegetables.

Mix all the dressing ingredients in a mason jar or a bowl and pour it over the salad.

Give it a final stir and serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Serving Suggestions

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 salad with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean main dishes such as Shish tawook, Mediterranena chicken or Beef shish kabob.

Serve Mediterranean cucumber and tomato salad in a bowl with extra dressing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Would any kind of olives work?

My Personal favorite is kalamata olives but you can also use jarred green olives as long as they're pitted.

I don't have sumac, is there an ingredient I can use instead?

Sumac has a unique tangy flavor and bright color that cannot be substituted with any other spice. However, if you don't have it on hand, add some more lemon juice so the dressing is tangy enough for you.

Can I use any other herbs?

The recipe calls for parsley but you can use mint, cilantro, green onions, basil or a combination of a few herbs.

This easy Mediterranean salad recipe comes together in no time and is a great side dish for many dishes.

Step-by-Step Recipe

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