This middle eastern salad has a zesty, bright flavor in a chopped salad. Our version of Arabic salad is made with fresh tomatoes, cool cucumbers, lettuce, fresh herbs and sumac spices. All tossed in a light olive oil and lemon vinaigrette that will excite your taste buds!
Change up your salad game with this delicious Arabic salad recipe. It's a chopped salad made with the freshest ingredients. Everything is cut into small pieces creating a great texture. It lasts well in the refrigerator even after dressing is added.
It's the perfect salad to serve as a side dish with a heavy dinner or for main course meals at lunch. This is one of the best salads to serve with a simple chicken breast or grilled meat dishes.
If you love vegetable salads this is one of the most refreshing salads you'll make! No more boring green salad.
Serve Arab salad with our Lebanese Chicken skewers with some skinny Tzatziki sauce for dipping!
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What makes this skinny?
The main ingredients are fresh vegetables and loads of them. Our version uses the classic key ingredients for the chopped vegetables and dressing and adds green leaf lettuce too. This both extends the salad's volume and also adds more vegetables.
The dressing is light with only a small amount of oil used (3 tablespoons across 11 cups of salad).
Recipe Ingredients Notes
Fresh mint leaves. You'll find these in the fresh herb section of the grocery store. Remove the leaves from the stem before chopping them. We used this instead of dried mint.
Fresh parsley. We use Italian parsley though any parsley can be used.
Sumac. This spice is often used in Middle Eastern dishes and has a wonderful lemony flavor. Once you've tried it you'll find lots of uses for it! It's available in regular grocery stores in the spice section.
Cucumbers. English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers can be used. These varieties are considered seedless and their skin is very thin so does not need to be peeled unless you prefer it. If substituting a regular cucumber, peel it and remove the seeds before chopping it.
Grape tomatoes. Instead of regular tomatoes we love grape tomatoes for this salad recipe. They are fast to prepare and have a slightly sweet flavor without being watery. This small size tomato is the size and shape of a grape, hence the name. They are sold in containers similar to cherry tomatoes. You'll halve the tomatoes.
Fresh lemon juice. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for best results.
How to make Arabic Salad - Step-by-Step
STEP 1. Make the dressing
In a small bowl mix together the mint, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, sumac, salt and pepper (photos 1-2).
STEP 2. Combine the vegetables
In a large bowl combine the tomatoes, cucumber, and bell pepper (photo 3). Toss to combine with the dressing (photo 4).
STEP 3. Toss
Add the chopped lettuce and toss to fully coat the fresh ingredients (photos 5-6).
Variations
Feta Cheese. Add some crumbled feta for a tangy flavor addition. Reduced fat feta crumbles will keep the calories down too.
Red onion. Chopped red onion could be added for more flavor and color. Spring onions (green onions) could be used for a milder onion flavor.
Add more herbs. The dressing gives a mild flavor of each mint and parsley. You can add more if you prefer a stronger flavor of either.
How to Store
The Arabic salad is best served when made. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
MAKE AHEAD: If you won't serve the salad immediately store the dressing and chopped vegetables separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 1 day before combining. Toss with dressing a few minutes before serving.
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Recipe
Arabic Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons sumac (spice)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Salad
- 1 10-ounce container grape tomatoes rinsed and halved (if they are large quarter them)
- 1 small small English or Persian cucumber chopped (yield: 2 cups chopped)
- 1 medium red bell pepper seeds and stem removed, chopped (1 ½ cups)
- 1 large head green leaf lettuce rinsed and chopped (6 ½ cups chopped)
Instructions
- Mix the mint, parsley, lemon juice, olive oil, sumac, salt and pepper together in a small mixing bowl.
- Toss in the tomatoes, cucumber and bell pepper then toss in the lettuce.
- Serve with additional lemon wedges and freshly minced parsley for garnish if desired.
cate says
This was absolutely amazing in every way possible!
Noreen says
My mother made this salad all the time when I was growing up. It's so refreshing with the best texture I thought. I love that you added lettuce to your version! I've been eating it the last couple days and just love it.
wilhelmina says
We loved this salad! The flavors are exceptional and it was a crowd pleaser!
Kristyn says
I love everything about this salad!! The dressing is delicious!! I love light & tasty salads that are easy & don't require too much.
Eden says
This salad was really good. We made it as a side dish and loved it!
Taylor says
This is my favorite salad to make with fresh veggies and herbs from my garden! It is so crisp and delicious, with the best flavor. On repeat all summer long!
Kim says
This salad was perfection. Had it for dinner the other night and the whole family loved it.
Sisley says
This is so fresh and crunchy - a perfect addition to our BBQ.
Beth says
This is the kind of salad I love! There's such a depth of flavor here. It's not just boring leaves.
Nic says
This was absolutely delicious, I love using sumac! Reminded me of a good tabouleh, but in like a full green leafy salad. Thanks for a yummy recipe!
Sharon G says
We made this salad yesterday and man was it ever good! We loved the fresh ingredients and crunch. The dressing was just right in flavor and amount. No soggy salad. Thank you!
Gloria says
We had this salad for dinner tonight. I was looking for some new flavours and this post came up. Loved it.
Carrie D says
I think I just found my new favorite salad! Even my picky son loved it!
Ieva says
I was so pleased to find this recipe! I was looking to use my somewhat neglected jar of sumac that's been in the cupboard for a few months, and this salad looked just perfect! We all enjoyed it last night and will definitely be making it again soon! Thanks for the recipe.