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    Home » Mediterranean recipes

    Turkish Tomato Salad Recipe (Gavurdagi)+[Video]

    Published: May 31, 2019 · Modified: Jul 8, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    2023 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Turkish tomato salad made with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and crunchy walnuts is absolutely delicious. This salad is flavored with pomegranate molasses and is the perfect side dish. You can make this fresh and tasty salad in only 15 minutes!

    A bowl of tomato salad Turkish style with a bunch of parsley and salt on a blue background.

    I love sharing tasty Turkish recipes here on the blog. From Turkish traditional bread, simit and Turkish white bean salad to yogurt and cucumber (cacik), Turkish cuisine always calls for fresh and seasonal ingredients that make the dishes light and bright. Today I'm going to show you how to make my favorite Turkish tomato salad, also known as gavurdagi. 

    Table Of Contents:
    • About this recipe
    • What tomatoes are good for salad?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Notes and tips
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    About this recipe

    Fresh produce is essential for maximizing the flavor in Mediterranean recipes and tomatoes are very common in Turkish cuisine and you can see them used in so many different recipes. They're always so plump and juicy in Turkey and they're similar to roma tomatoes. Gavurdagi Salad (gavurdağı salatası) is a delicious Turkish classic salad that's made mainly with tomatoes and is packed with amazing flavors. 

    Gavurdagi salad is from the Gaziantep region in Turkey where it's popular for delicious food. What's special about this recipe is the dressing. The combination of pomegranate molasses and sumac gives this salad a nice flavor that's tart and bright.

    Close up shot of gavurdagi.

    What tomatoes are good for salad?

    Heirloom tomatoes are the best for salads because of their delicious and bright flavor. However, since they're not available year round and in every supermarket, my second choice is roma tomatoes because of their thin skin and bright flavor. Tomatoes are widely used in Mediterranean salads such as fattoush Salad and Greek salad. 

    Ingredients

    This image shows the ingredients used to make gavurdagi. You need tomatoes, pepper, cucumbers, walnuts, salt and sumac
    • Tomatoes: I prefer roma tomatoes because of their firmness and flavor. If available, heirloom tomatoes would work too. 
    • Green Italian pepper: This type of pepper has a light flavor and texture. You could also use sweet banana pepper. 
    • Onion: White onion is best for this salad.
    • Cucumbers: Persian cucumbers are preferred because they don't have seeds. If not available, use English cucumber. 
    • Walnuts: They add a nice crunch and pair so well with the vegetables. 
    • Olive oil: Always try to get high quality extra virgin olive oil.
    • Pomegranate molasses: Adds so much flavor to the salad. You can find pomegranate molasses in supermarkets or Middle Eastern and Mediterranean shops. You can also make it at home.
    • Sumac: If you have never used sumac, it's a spice made from sumac berries and it's tart. 

    Instructions

    chop the tomatoes, add cucumber, pepper, onion, parsley and walnuts. Mix and add pomegranate molasses and sumac and olive oil.
    • Chop the tomatoes and place them in a large bow. Add chopped green peppers to the tomatoes. 
    • Add chopped white onion, cucumber and chopped parsley. 
    • Add in the chopped walnuts as well and give it a nice toss so all ingredients are combined. 
    • Season the salad with sumac, salt, olive oil and pomegranate molasses. 
    • Mix until all is well combined. refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. 

    Serving suggestions

    I love serving this tomato salad alongside dishes such as Turkish chicken stew, Turkish stuffed eggplant (karniyarik), bulgur pilaf with some kofta kebab, and lahmacun. It will add the right amount of brightness and tangy flavor to the dish that will make you want to take a few more bites! 

    You can also serve gavurdagi salad as part of a mezze platter with vegan lentil balls, hummus, muhammara and bulgur salad (kisir).

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I use cherry tomatoes for this recipe? 

    Turkish salads are usually made large tomatoes and cherry tomatoes are normally served for breakfast. Since cherry tomatoes have thinner flesh, they're not suitable for this salad recipe. 

    How long does this salad keep?

    Because tomatoes tend to release their juice pretty soon after they're chopped, this salad is best served right away. However, you can keep the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 24 hours. 

    Can I make this salad ahead of time?

    It's best to serve this salad within a few hours of making as the tomatoes would start releasing their juices. You can make this salad up to one hour before serving. 

    Can I use anything else instead of walnuts?

    You can use pecans. If you're allergic to nuts in general, you can just leave the walnuts out.

    two bowls of gavurdagi salad with some parsley and walnuts.

    Notes and tips

    • Persian cucumbers have less seed than English cucumbers therefore they're perfect for this tomato salad. 
    • The tomatoes you're going to use for this recipe should be firm and plump. Soft tomatoes will release their juice easier. 
    • If pomegranate molasses is not available, a splash of balsamic vinegar would work, too. 
    • You can add more chopped walnuts to this tomato salad if you would like it to be more crunchy. 
    Easy Turkish style salad made with fresh ingredients. It's perfect for summer.
    • Salad Shirazi (Persian Cucumber Tomato Salad)
    • Fattoush Salad Recipe
    • Easy Mediterranean Potato Salad
    • Greek Chickpea Salad with Feta

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Turkish Tomato Salad Gavurdagi

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Turkish tomato salad made with fresh, plump tomatoes, cucumbers and crunchy walnuts is absolutely delicious. Flavored with pomegranate molasses and ready in 15 minutes, this is the perfect side dish.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Appetizer, Salad
    Cuisine Mediterranean, Turkish
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 357 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 roma tomatoes chopped
    • 1 Italian green pepper diced
    • 1 white onion diced
    • 2 Persian cucumbers diced
    • ¾ cup walnuts chopped
    • 1 cup parsley chopped
    • ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
    • 4 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
    • 1 teaspoon sumac
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Place the chopped tomatoes, green Italian pepper, onion, cucumbers, walnuts and parsley in a large bowl and mix well.
    • Mix olive oil, pomegranate molasses, sumac and salt in a small bowl and pour it over the salad.
    • Mix well and cover the salad with a plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

    Video

    Notes

    • Persian cucumbers have less seed than English cucumbers therefore they're perfect for this tomato salad. 
    • The tomatoes you're going to use for this recipe should be firm and plump. Soft tomatoes will release their juice easier. 
    • If pomegranate molasses is not available, a splash of balsamic vinegar would work, too. 
    • You can add more chopped walnuts to this tomato salad if you would like it to be more crunchy. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 357kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 5gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gSodium: 311mgPotassium: 477mgFiber: 4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 2746IUVitamin C: 70mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessica Formicola

      July 06, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      Now this is my kind of salad! I love that you added pomegranate molasses. What an awesome flavor combo!

      Reply
    2. Lindsay

      July 06, 2021 at 11:05 am

      5 stars
      what an amazing way to use some of the veggies coming out of my garden right now! it's delicious.

      Reply
    3. Andrea

      July 06, 2021 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      Wow! I can't stop thinking about pomegranate molasses. This tomato salad has such great flavors going on!

      Reply
    4. Dannii

      July 06, 2021 at 9:01 am

      5 stars
      A tomato and cucumber salad is one of my favourite salads. So easy, and so much flavour. Yours looks amazing.

      Reply
    5. Andrea

      July 06, 2021 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      Wow, this salad has everything, sweetness, tartness and a little bitterness from the parsley. It sounds fabulous!

      Reply
    6. Bahareh Vahid

      July 10, 2019 at 10:54 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the recipe! I couldn't find the amount of walnuts for the salad.

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        July 11, 2019 at 6:59 am

        Thank you for catching that, just fixed it <3

        Reply

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