My favorite part of Middle Eastern meals is their delicious salads loaded with fresh ingredients. They perfectly balance the richness of the main course dishes of this cuisine. Today, I am sharing the recipe for one of my favorite salads from this region-Middle Eastern tomato parsley salad. This amazing salad is also popular by the name Lebanese tomato salad. Though this is a traditional salad from the Middle East, its simple refreshing flavors make it a perfect side dish for meals from other cuisines too. If you are looking for recipes for side dishes that can bring life to your simplest meals then this easy tomato salad recipe is something you must try. You can make it in just 10 minutes. It’s vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
Tomato: Roma tomatoes (plum tomatoes) are the best for this summer salad. But, you can also use cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or any other variety of ripe tomatoes that you like in your salads. Large tomatoes can be used too, just cut them into bite-size pieces. Onion: Use red onion in salads. Fresh herbs: Fresh parsley and mint are the most commonly used herbs in Middle Eastern salads. Dried mint can be used too if you don’t have fresh mint. You can also use fresh cilantro and green onions. Za’atar: It’s a very popular and delicious blend of Middle Eastern spices and dried herbs. This spice is a must-have in your pantry if you like Middle Eastern food. You will easily find it in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean grocery stores, or order online too. Sumac: Sumac, is another very popular seasoning from this region which is made with dried berries also called Sumac. It’s used to add a sour taste and a beautiful red color to the dishes.
Other ingredient details and nutritional information are given in the recipe card ahead.
Step 1: Cut the plum tomatoes in half. Step 2: Prepare the salad dressing by mixing extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced fresh garlic, red chili flakes, cumin powder, za’atar, sumac, salt, and ground black pepper in a bowl. Mix and keep the salad dressing aside. Step 3: Put the tomato halves, sliced onions, and chopped herbs in a big bowl. Pour salad dressing. Step 4: Gently toss. Check and adjust the seasoning. Your delicious Middle Eastern tomato parsley salad is ready to be enjoyed!
Serving tomato parsley salad
You can serve this tomato salad as a side dish with meals from different cuisines. Though it’s a Middle Eastern salad, the fresh flavor of this healthy salad goes really well not only with Arabic meals but also with many Indian, American, and Mediterranean dishes. I love having them with these falafel wraps. You can also stuff them in any wrap of your choice or use them to make falafel bowls. To make an easy and healthy Arabic meal at home, serve this simple salad with falafels, hummus, and pita bread. If you want, you can add a Middle Eastern soup like this red lentil soup to your meal. This Lebanese salad also tastes amazing with the combination of Bamia and vermicelli rice. Or, enjoy it as a light lunch with some crunchy toasted bread. You can also pair it up with a quinoa or couscous dish like this Moroccan couscous, curried quinoa, or quinoa pulao.
How to store?
Store the leftover salad in an airtight container and refrigerate. Consume within 2 days.
Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions
After washing, pat dry the vegetables and herbs with a clean kitchen towel before using them in a salad. You can also use cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or any other variety of tomatoes that you like in a salad. Chop the tomatoes into smaller pieces, if you don’t like big pieces of ingredients in your salad. Other vegetables like bell peppers and Persian or English cucumbers can also be used in this recipe. Non-vegans may also add cubes or crumbled feta cheese to this salad. Sliced kalamata olives also taste great in this Arabic salad. Generally, in Middle Eastern salads, parsley is added in excess. If you don’t like to add a lot of herbs to your salad, you can reduce the amount of parsley used in this recipe. If you don’t like parsley, add cilantro. You may also add some fresh dill or green onions to it. Olive oil is a key ingredient in Middle Eastern salads so, use a good quality extra virgin olive oil so that you get the full flavor of olive oil.
Frequently asked questions
Other Middle Eastern salad recipes
If you enjoyed this easy Middle Eastern salad and are looking for other refreshing salad recipes from this cuisine then the following links are worth checking out:
Balela- Middle Eastern bean salad Lebanese butter bean salad Fattoush Tabbouleh Middle Eastern quinoa beet salad Egyptian farro salad Fava bean chickpea salad
Tomato recipes from around the world
Looking for ideas to use tomatoes in your recipes? Don’t miss to check out the following easy tomato recipes from around the world:
Quinoa salad with lentils and tomatoes Tomato rice Bengali tomato chutney Roasted red pepper and tomato soup Tomato puff pastry tarts Vietnamese tofu in tomato sauce
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Recipe
