Feeling like you need a light and refreshing salad? This Simple Middle Eastern Salad is hearty and refreshing, featuring delicious veggies doused in a tangy Middle Eastern-style dressing. Bright, crunchy, and hydrating: it’s perfect for summer as well as winter.
This Arabic Salad is full of all the right flavors and textures: crisp lettuce, crunchy cucumbers and radishes, juicy tomatoes, and toasted pita bread. The dressing is very simple, but will surely make the flavors sing! It can play sidekick to just about any other main dish.
It’s Salad Time!
Middle Eastern salad recipes are bright, light, and always high on flavor. They’re crunchy too. This salad also known as “Salata” is no exception.
It is wonderfully refreshing and has a rich lemony garlic dressing that will wake your taste buds! And if you haven’t tried any Arabic foods, this is an easy and healthy way to begin.
This Arabic salad is a cinch to make and full of fresh ingredients. It’s a combination of cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and a quick lemon dressing. Adding some toasted pita bread on top takes this salad to the next level.
What is Middle Eastern Salad?
This Middle Eastern salad is similar to Fattoush Salad, in that it has lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers as the main ingredients, but it’s quicker and easier to make! This recipe, in Arabic, is called Salata.
It’s a super common recipe served in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan and is usually served for lunch or dinner.
This Salad Is A Big Winner!
Why You Will Love this Salad?
You will need only 10 minutes to prepare this salad, which can be served as a light lunch or side dish.
It’s fresh and crispy, and pairs well with many dishes such as: Mujadara Hamra, Mujadaret Roz, Kibbeh Bil Sanieh , Simple Lebanese Meat and Rice-Hashweh, Beef Kabsa, and Turkish Kafta Kabobs.
Moreover, the dressing is delicious and worth making a double batch of to drizzle over any other salad.
Reasons to Eat Salad
Leafy greens and raw veggies are excellent sources of natural fiber.
When you eat salads and raw vegetables, you’re more likely to meet required intakes of vitamins C, E, and folic acid.
Salads can play an important role in reducing calories while also feeling satisfied.
Throw Some Toasted Pita on Top and Enjoy!
What You’ll Need to Make this Salad
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
Lettuce. I recommend using iceberg lettuce, but romaine lettuce works as well.
Cucumbers. This is a key ingredient in many Middle Eastern salads. Any cucumbers work, but Persian cucumbers are the most common.
Tomatoes. Vine tomato works perfectly in this salad.
Dried Mint. Dried mint is the most commonly used, but if you like to use fresh herbs like fresh mint or purslane, they will work as well.
Pita Bread. You can use pita bread or the traditional Lebanese flat breads that are round and thin in shape, found in middle eastern stores.
Radishes. These are optional, but they do add a mild spicy and zesty flavor that’s crisp and fresh.
Olive oil. Choose a good quality olive oil because it will be the base of the dressing.
Lemon juice. You will need freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Salt. To taste
You Might Not Be Able to Stop!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This recipe for Arabic Salad is a vegetarian side dish that is served with other main course meals. It can be served with meat, seafood, or rice.
Aside from adding vegetables in this middle eastern salad, you can also add other toppings like Feta cheese to make your salad delicious.
You can use pita bread or the traditional Lebanese flat breads that are round and thin in shape, found in middle eastern stores.
Sure. You can chop the vegetables and keep them in an air tight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Don’t add the dressing if you want to make this salad ahead of time.
Pro Tips
For the best salad, use the freshest ingredients possible. It may be difficult to do so during the winter months, but choosing high-quality fresh vegetables will yield the best results!
Use homemade pita chips instead of store-bought pita chips. Take the time to toast or fry your pita at home.
Use the best quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) you can find because it will be the base of your dressing.
This salad should be dressed right before serving. The toasted pita is the star of the show, so don’t let it get soggy.
Vegan, Fresh, and Delicious
What About the Dressing?
The key to this Middle eastern Salad is the mouth puckering dressing. It comes together quickly and is super refreshing! The main ingredients are lemon, olive oil, and crushed garlic. For a little kick, add your favorite Lebanese spices like sumac, za’atar (thyme), mint, parsley, etc.
You can add a bit more dressing than usual as the bread soaks some up.
Middle Eastern Salad Ingredients
- Iceberg lettuce/ chopped
- Vine tomato /cubed
- Cucumber/ cubed
- Radish/ sliced or chopped
- Garlic clove/ minced (can substitute with garlic powder)
- Dried mint
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil (EVOO)
- Salt
Steps to Prep
First, place all of the chopped vegetables in a medium bowl
Next, add in the minced garlic or garlic powder, dried mint, lemon, olive oil, & desired salt.
Finally, mix well. Enjoy topped with toasted pita bread, and or feta cheese.
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Other Salads You Must Try:
- Roasted Chickpea Avocado Salad
- Best Fattoush Salad with Dressing
- A Worthy Watermelon Burrata Salad
- Fantastic Kale Dijon Salad
- Citrus Vinaigrette Strawberry Mango Kale Salad
- Spicy Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Dressing
- Tastiest Tuna Egg Salad Recipe
- Mediterranean Salad Pita Wraps
- Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette Chef Salad
- Lebanese Tabouli Salad
Arabic Salad
Ingredients
- 1 small head iceberg lettuce chopped
- 1 large vine tomato cubed
- 2-3 medium cucumbers cubed
- 3 radishes sliced or chopped
- 1 large garlic clove minced (can substitute with 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 3 tablespoons dried mint
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- salt to taste
Toppings
- Pita Bread
Instructions
- Place all of the chopped vegetables in a medium bowl
- Add in the minced garlic or garlic powder, dried mint, lemon, olive oil, & desired salt.
- Mix well. Enjoy topped with toasted pita bread, and or feta cheese.
Notes
- For the best salad, use the freshest ingredients possible.
- Use homemade pita chips instead of store-bought pita chips. Take the time to toast or fry your pita at home.
- Use the best quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) you can find because it will be the base of your dressing.
- This salad should be dressed right before serving. The toasted pita is the star of the show, so don’t let it get soggy.
Debra says
Love this salad! So easy, so cruncy, and so tasty! I have a question.Can i fry the pita instead of toasting them?
Angie says
Served this salad with kabseh. It was soooo good and very easy to prepRe
Chirine says
This has become my go-to salad with almost every main dish. Easy. Healthy, and delicious!!!
Lama says
What a good choice!
Noha says
Perfect with almost all dishes! 5 stars
Lama says
YES!! 👍
Jamie says
My new favorite salad! It’s delicious and easy to make. The crunchy pita is a great addition