This Lebanese salad is a mouthwatering toss of crisp chopped vegetables and creamy lemon dressing. Make this recipe for a fresh meal.

Ramsha Baig

Statistics display that salads have been enjoyed by people going as far back as the historical Romans or in addition. In fact, the word salad comes from the Latin ‘herb salta’ or salted herbs, because early salads consisted of vegetables covered in oil with masses of salt.

But we don’t need records to inform us that this recipe will have you coming back for more. Looking for a healthy salad recipe that provides a fulfilling crunch and a kick of flavor? appearance not similarly. The citrus and greek yoghurt within the creamy lemon dressing deliver a unique flavor to the dish. Also, the dressing provides a creamy touch that compliments the crisp garden vegetables.

Lebanese Salad Ingredients:

1. Persian Cucumbers – Persian Cucumbers are ideal for this salad due to their skinny skins and extra-crisp texture. Add that they are almost seedless and have a low moisture content material and they win first prize in my salad choice awards. now not to fear although, if Persian cucumbers aren’t available, an English cucumber (Hothouse) will do as well.
2. Roma Tomatoes – While you may use any tomato you like for this recipe, I choose to stick with Roma for a few reasons. One is the sweetness these tomatoes provide. I opt for Romas for his or her thick and quite chewy texture. No grittiness right here.

Pro Tip: Additionally, Romas have less water content material than different tomatoes, making them perfect for a chopped salad, where the vegetables are likely to end up soggy.

3. Red Bell Pepper – The sweetest member of the bell pepper circle of relatives, the red bell not best provides sugar, but additionally a few colourful shades to the Lebanese salad. attempt substituting various shades of bell peppers for a unique twist in colour and flavor.
4. Red Onion – This variety is my go-to for salads when I need a slight kind of spice. they’re crisp and add a few top notch shade varieties to the dish.
5. Radishes – Radishes add more diffused spice and their crunch can’t be beat. While shopping for radishes, choose smaller ones – ping pong ball size is best – to make sure they have got a very good flavor. additionally make sure their vegetables are crisp and bright, as wilted or discoloured veggies indicate the veggie is beyond its prime. 
6. Parsley – This commonplace little herb is filled with vitamin A and C, so in conjunction with getting flavor and added texture on this dish, you furthermore may get a nutrition enhancement.
7. Cilantro – every so often categorised chinese parsley, this garnish does more than make this salad look high-quality. The flavor of cilantro is unmistakable and blended with all the different ingredients, cilantro pulls all of the flavors collectively.

Creamy Lemon Dressing

There will be plenty of creamy vinaigrette, definitely enough to thoroughly cover all of the chopped vegetables. Although it’s made with Greek yoghurt, the salad still feels light.

The lemon and wine vinegar bring the burst of zest. while the hardy seasonings, sugar, and red pepper flakes add a touch of spiciness.

As an advantage, the dressing is a snap to make! simply whisk the whole thing together in a bowl, then allow the flavors to mix even as you put together the chopped vegetables.

Recipe Tips

1. The flavor of the dressing improves with time. For extra flavor, whisk all the dressing ingredients together for a minimum 15 minutes before you plan to serve it. you may even do this a day or  beforehand of time if you’d like.
2. Even after it’s been covered with lemon dressing, the Lebanese salad will stay fresh and crisp within the refrigerator for at the least three days, and likely longer. As an advantage, the flavors get better with time. 

Note: Avoid eating watery or discoloured salad, because it’s a signal that the vegetables have long gone bad.

Serving Suggestions For Lebanese Salad

This dish is truly flexible! It’s perfect to serve as an appetiser, aspect dish, or even as a major dinner salad. I’ll frequently add chopped rotisserie chicken, lentils, chickpeas, or grilled meats for some protein.

Take it to the following stage by pairing the dish with roasted pomegranate chicken. Or, serve alongside Berbere chicken and lentils for the proper dinner combination.