Best Middle Eastern Salad Recipes

MIDDLE EASTERN VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Place the scallions, tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, parsley, mint, and basil in a large salad bowl and toss to combine.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour the dressing over the salad, tossing gently to coat all the vegetables. Add the feta, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss gently. Serve the salad with the toasted pita bread.

MIDDLE EASTERN PITA SALAD (FATTOUSH SALAD) RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Slice the pitas in half to make 4 thin rounds. Place the pitas on a nonstick sheet pan. Brush with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt.
• Bake for about 5 minutes, until the outside is golden brown. Let cool until they become crispy.
• Make 3 cuts lengthwise on each of the romaine hearts, remove the stems, and chop into smaller pieces. Rinse, drain, and add to a large salad bowl.
• Seed the cucumber, dice it, and add it to the salad bowl.
• Cut the tomatoes in half and add them to the salad bowl.
• Mince the scallions and add them to the salad bowl.
• Add the radishes, bell pepper, parsley, and mint to the salad bowl and toss to combine.
• In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, combine the remaining ½ cup (120 ml) of oil, the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, garlic, sumac, allspice, salt, and pepper and whisk until well-combined.
• Pour the dressing over the salad.
• Break the crispy pitas into small pieces and add to the salad. Toss well.
• Enjoy!

MIDDLE EASTERN TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• Place diced cucumber into a colander and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt or as needed; allow to drain for about 15 minutes. Toss drained cucumber with tomato, sweet onion, parsley, and mint. Drizzle salad with olive oil and fresh lemon juice and season with salt and black pepper. Serve immediately.

MIDDLE EASTERN BALELA SALAD

Steps:

• Stir chickpeas, black beans, tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and mint together in a large bowl.
• Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and ground pepper together in a bowl; pour over chickpea mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate salad until flavors blend, about 30 minutes.

SALATA TAHINI--MIDDLE EASTERN TAHINI SALAD

Steps:

• *May need to adjust tahini and water levels to desired consistency*. Consistency should be creamy.
• Dice up tomatoes and cucumbers and combine them together in a medium bowl.
• Place garlic, hot pepper and salt in a mortar.
• Smash until mushed.
• Tahini dressing takes a bit of stirring to become creamy so, you can either add tahini,and water in a bowl by itself and mix or you can add to the same bowl with the cucumbers and tomatoes.
• Add lemon in increments to achieve desired tartness.
• Stir the dressing until smooth and creamy.
• combine everything including garlic/hot pepper together making sure you have added the mint.
• Take tbsp of dried mint, Place in hand and take other hand and rub together, this will sort of grind the mint up smaller and separate it from any stems.
• Place in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
• Serve with a swirl of olive oil on top.
• Enjoy!

LENTIL AND CARROT SALAD WITH MIDDLE EASTERN SPICES

Steps:

• Place the lentils in a medium saucepan, cover by 1 inch with water, add the bay leaf and bring to a boil. Add salt to taste, reduce the heat and cook just until the lentils are al dente, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and the garlic in a small frying pan or saucepan over medium heat. When the garlic begins to sizzle, add the spices. Stir together for about 30 seconds, then remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl.
• While the lentils are simmering, steam the carrots for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender. Remove from the heat and transfer to the bowl with the garlic and spices. Add the lemon juice and salt to taste and toss together.
• When the lentils are cooked al dente, set a strainer over a bowl, drain the lentils and toss at once with the carrots. If desired, add some of the broth to moisten. Add cilantro and another tablespoon of olive oil and toss together. Add freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt. Transfer to a serving platter, drizzle the remaining olive oil over the top, and serve warm or at room temperature.

MIDDLE EASTERN BEAN SALAD WITH PARSLEY AND LEMON (BALELA)

Steps:

• Pour chick peas and black beans one at a time into colander placed in sink, rinse well until no more foam appears and let drain.Blot dry if they seem too wet.
• While beans are draining, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and let the flavors blend.
• Mix the salad ingredients together and let it marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
• Chop green onions, tomatoes and parsly and add to bowl. Combine this with the beans.
• Whisk dressing ingredients and gently add dressing to bean mixture.
• Add salt and pepper.

MIDDLE EASTERN LEBANESE FATTOUSH BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Cut open the breads and toast them under the broiler until they are crisp turning them over once. Break them into small pieces in your hands.
• Put all the vegetables in a large bowl with the onions, rocket and purslane leaves or lamb's lettuce, flat leaf parsley, and mint.
• For the dressing, mix the olive oil with the lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and sumac.
• Just before serving, add the toasted bread and toss well with the dressing. Serves 6-8.
• Variation: for the old style version, put the broken pieces of toast in a bowl. Moisten and soften with a little cold water or lemon juice before adding them to the salad.
• The New Book of Middle Eastern Food.

MIDDLE EASTERN YOGURT CUCUMBER SALAD

Steps:

• Cut cucumbers into cubes, set aside.
• In medium bowl add all other ingredients into bowl except for olive oil.
• Mix well until no clumps.
• Add cucumbers and mix well.
• Garnish with olive oil on top.
• *If you dont like hot foods, omit the pepper, but in order to stay true to this particular recipe please do not omit or substiture* I smash my garlic and hot pepper in a mortar or pestle together, or you could do it in a mini food processor and add the liquid to it.
• Enjoy.

MIDDLE EASTERN CARROT SALAD

Steps:

• Put the orange blossom water, cumin, oil, lemon juice and some seasoning into a jar. Screw on the lid and shake well to combine.
• Tip the carrots and mint into a bowl. Pour over the dressing, season and toss everything together.

MIDDLE EASTERN TUNA SALAD PITAS

Steps:

• To prepare tuna salad:
• Combine all ingredients except pitas, lettuce, and tomato in a medium-sized mixing bowl and stir well to mix.
• Taste and add salt and more cayenne, if desired.
• Salad can be prepared 1 day ahead. To store, cover and refrigerate.
• To assemble sandwiches: Divide tuna salad equally and mound in pita pockets. Add several tomatoes slices and a lettuce leaf to each pocket. Arrange sandwiches in a basket or on a serving plate. Serve immediately.

MIDDLE EASTERN BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic together in a bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add parsley, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and onion; toss to coat. Sprinkle sumac over salad; season with salt and pepper.

MIDDLE EASTERN PITA AND VEGETABLE SALAD (FATTOUSH)

Steps:

• If your pita breads are hard, break them up into pieces. If they are not, cut them into quarters and split the quarters open. Toast the pieces in a toaster oven, or in a 325ºF oven, until lightly browned and crisp.
• Combine the garlic, lemon juice, salt, olive oil, yogurt, and pepper in a small bowl.
• Toss the salad ingredients together in a large bowl. Just before serving, add the dressing and toss together. Crumble in the pita bread and toss again. Taste, adjust seasonings, and serve.

MIDDLE EASTERN POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• In a large pot, put the potatoes and cover with cold water; salt and bring to a boil.
• Cook potatoes for 10-12 min or until fork tender.
• Cool and quarter, or cut into 8 pieces depending on size.
• Meanwhile, in another large bowl, stir together the green onions, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, ground cumin, salt, black pepper, allspice, and coriander.
• Add the potatoes, parsley, and tomatoes; toss well to coat.

SPICY MIDDLE-EASTERN ALLIGATOR WITH RICE PILAF AND TABBOULEH SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, thoroughly combine the beaten egg whites, garlic, lemon juice, and red chili powder. Using a meat tenderizer, pound all of the alligator fillets until they are tender. Marinate the alligator in the egg white mixture for about 20 minutes.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Remove the alligator fillets from the marinade and sprinkle them with salt. Carefully place the alligator fillets in the pan, and saute them until browned. Work in batches as necessary. Flip the fillets with tongs or with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side, and the meat is cooked through.
• In a medium bowl, cover the bulgur wheat with warm water and allow it to soak for approximately 20 minutes. Pour the bulgur wheat into a strainer, and then squeeze out all of the excess water. Mix the lemon juice, salt, and pepper with the bulgur wheat and set aside.
• Wash the parsley, and dry it thoroughly. Chop the parsley very finely and combine it, along with the tomatoes and scallions, with the bulgur wheat mixture. Stir the olive oil into the salad until it is thoroughly covered. Add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper as desired, to adjust the taste.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over high heat. Add the rice and noodles to the pan, and fry them in the butter. Add approximately 1 1/2 cups of water to the pan and lower the heat to medium-low. Cover the pan with a tightly-fitting lid, and allow the rice mixture to steam until all the water is absorbed. Season with salt, to taste.

MIDDLE EASTERN-INSPIRED MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Cool completely. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, cook lamb over medium heat until no longer pink, 6-7 minutes, breaking into crumbles; drain. Set aside to cool completely. , For dressing, in a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper. In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, onion, za'atar seasoning, macaroni and lamb. Add dressing; gently toss to coat. , Refrigerate until serving. Top with yogurt and lemon zest if desired.

MIDDLE EASTERN BEAN AND ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Chill the chick peas and beans for as long as possible. Steep couscous in boiling salted water.
• In a blender or food processor or by hand, blend until smooth the tahini paste, garlic, cumin, coriander, lowfat yogurt, parsley, olive oil, grated lemon zest and juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to a mixing bowl.
• Add the chilled beans to the dressing and walnuts. Fluff up the couscous with a fork and add to beans and walnuts; toss the ingredients together and adjust the seasoning.
• On each dinner plate make an outer wreath of dressed greens, an inner wreath of mixed grilled vegetables of choice and center couscous and chick peas in the middle. Garnish top with roasted red peppers.

CHICKPEA, QUINOA AND CELERY SALAD WITH MIDDLE EASTERN FLAVORS

Steps:

• In a salad bowl, combine chickpeas, quinoa, celery, tomatoes, dill, mint, chives, onion and sumac and toss together.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and garlic. Whisk in the olive oil. Pour over the salad and toss well. Sprinkle more sumac on top, and serve.

MIDDLE EASTERN STYLE POTATO SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Cook potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Drain well. Place in large bowl and cool slightly.
• 2. While potatoes are cooling, mix together olive oil, lemon juice (start with 3 tbsp), parsley, salt, and pepper.
• 3. Add a little over half the dressing to the potatoes and mix well.
• 4. Mix in kalamata olives and green onion. Check seasoning. Add a little more dressing if needed. (Serve at room temp or if you prefer, chilled.) Just before serving sprinkle with Feta cheese, if desired.

MIDDLE EASTERN STYLE PASTA AND CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse with cold water and drain well. Place in a large bowl.
• 2. Rinse and drain chickpeas and add to pasta in bowl.
• 3. Add tomatoes, celery, olives and green onion to pasta.
• 4. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine dressing ingredients. Place lid on jar and shake well.
• 5. Pour over pasta mixture and gently toss until coated. Let stand about 30 minutes or so.
• 6. Garnish with crumbled feta just before serving, if desired.