This simple, colorful salad is packed with bright flavor and has a satisfying crunch. It’s also filled with healthy, fresh ingredients that pair well with most entrees.
You can never have enough variations on the basic Israeli salad. The crisp cucumbers, sweet tomatoes, tart lemon juice and sultry olive oil make an irresistible combination. But this version takes it a few steps further, including ripe avocado, red bell pepper and fresh mint in the mix.
What is commonly called Israeli Salad evolved from a Turkish salad known as shepherd’s salad – coban salatsi, which is closely related to a Persian salad known as salad shirazi, named for the ancient city of Shiraz. This salad is known by different names with small variations throughout the Middle East. In the late 1800′s, coban salatsi became popular on Israeli kibbutzim (communal agricultural collectives) because the ingredients were easy to grow in the warm Mediterranean climate… tomatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, onions and peppers. The vegetables are always diced, usually quite small, a practice that started in the Ottoman Empire. Although this salad has different names throughout the Middle East, many people call it Israeli salad because it resonates with their background.
Here are some other Israeli Salad recipes you might enjoy:
You can see the recipe and ingredient amounts broken down below. This would be the perfect salad to make for a Labor Day weekend. This refreshing, low-calorie side dish complements a variety of main dishes. It can be served with any meal– even breakfast or brunch!
israeli salad with avocado and mint
Servings: 12 side servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Kosher Key: Pareve
Description
A flavorful, lemony side salad with lots of crunchy colorful fresh vegetables.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs Persian cucumbers diced small
- 1 red bell pepper diced small
- 1 yellow bell pepper diced small
- 1 oz fresh mint chopped
- 1 avocado diced
- 2 tomatoes diced small
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice or more to taste
- 3/4 tsp salt or more to taste
Instructions
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Combine all vegetable ingredients in a bowl. Add olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Stir gently to combine. Taste; add more lemon juice or salt, if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature. As the salad sits, a delicious liquid will collect in the bottom of the bowl. Stir the salad to meld the flavors, or dip bread in this juice for a treat.
Originally posted at Tori Avey.