Israeli salad is an incredibly simple combination that's deliciously fresh. It's an iconic tomato cucumber salad that you'll find everywhere in Israel from alongside breakfast to in your pita with warm falafel. It's similar to other crunchy chopped salads in the region and perfect as a side to so many dishes.
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I decided that for once, I would try to actually make and share some of the tasty dishes that we had on our trip soon after we got back. In fact as well as this Israeli salad (pareve), I have another recipe from our trip this week.
I admit my track record is a bit patchy - while I did manage to share asam laksa relatively soon after being in Malaysia, it took quite a while to share Danish smørrebrød (open sandwiches) after being in Denmark and baba ghanoush after our Greece/Cyprus trip.
One of the reasons I'm doing better this time is this salad is so easy but so worthy of sharing while there are lovely tomatoes coming through in our garden and at the farmers market. I've called it Israeli salad here, but it goes by other names with only slight variations across the region (like salad shirazi).
We enjoyed this salad a few times during our trip since, as I say, it's found alongside a number of dishes. One of the times that stands out the most for me, though, is the day we hired bikes in Tel Aviv.
My elder son has grown to love his bike since he got it last year and even more so now he can ride without training wheels. I decided while we were away to see if there was any way to hire bikes so that he could ride, and I managed to find a place that rented bikes including children's and trailers right next to Tel Aviv's main park.
Unfortunately he was a little too small for the smallest bikes they had so he ended up on a kind of third wheel extension behind my husband while I pulled the younger one in a trailer.
We rode through the park to the port where we enjoyed a well-deserved lunch. While it wasn't a huge distance (not that 15km/9miles round trip is nothing), being so warm and humid it felt like more, particularly pulling an extra load.
It meant I wasn't feeling like anything heavy and so I had what was technically a breakfast of a small herb omelette and savory pastry with a big bowl of Israeli salad. It was perfect.
How to make Israeli salad
- Dice the tomato, cucumber and pepper.
- Put all in a bowl and add the oil, lemon, salt and pepper.
- Toss everything together and serve.
The simple lemon olive oil dressing makes it so fresh and perfect for the heat. It's also ideal to make on a warm day as there is so little to prepare.
How to serve Israeli salad
As I mentioned, you'll find Israeli salad with many dishes in Israel. That can be anything from alongside breakfast as I had that day, to stuffed in a pitta bread with falafel or other fillings. Or enjoy it simply as a side to kebabs and other mains. It's incredibly versatile, and tasty, despite how simple it is. No wonder you find it everywhere.
As for us, well apparently the bike ride was one of my elder son's favorite parts of the trip so he has some good memories there. And I'll definitely be making this salad a few more times at home too. Give it a try and discover it's endless uses.
Try these other favorite dishes from our trip to Israel:
Plus here are some other tasty simple salads perfect for summer:
- Grilled chicken and blueberry salad
- Prosciutto salad with mozzarella and peach
- Grilled peach salad
- Laos salad (Luang Prabang salad)
- Plus get more summer recipes in the archives.
Israeli salad
Ingredients
- 1 tomato
- ½ Persian cucumber or around ¼ English cucumber
- ¼ red pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley approx
- 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon sumac (optional, and to taste)
Instructions
- Finely dice the tomato, cucumber and pepper removing any tough stems and pepper seeds. Finely chop the parsley.
- Put all of the above in a bowl with the oil, lemon juice salt and pepper (along with sumac, if using)and toss. Serve immediately and keep any leftover a day or two in the fridge.
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Try these other farmers market inspired recipes:
Aunt Mary's Refrigerator Bread & Butter Pickles by Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
BBQ Corn on the Cob with dilled butter by Red Cottage Chronicles
Beef Tacos with Peppers, Onions & Salsa Verde by Books n' Cooks
Blistered Tomato Dutch Baby by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Blueberry Crisp for Two by Family Around The Table
Blueberry Scones by The Freshman Cook
Cherry Stout Jam by The Redhead Baker
Farmer’s Market Breakfast Casserole by New South Charm
Freshly Dug Potato Salad by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Marinated Mozzarella and Tomato Appetizers by Jolene's Recipe Journal
Peach and Blueberry Overnight Oats by Simple and Savory
Peaches and Cream Overnight Oats by Cooking with Carlee
Strawberry Mango Jam by Palatable Pastime
Summer Veggies & Kielbasa Sheet Pan Dinner by Tip Garden
Remember to pin for later!
Victoria Esipovich
super but missing one thing!
this dish (traditionally speaking) is missing the sumac (enough to add a bit of red colour I use roughly 1-1.5 tbsp) .. in Germany I find this in the Turkish shops rather easily and also the rare Israeli Markt but I am not certain where in America to purchase this, other than Amazon of course. but this salad is fabulous! and I saw your eggplant recipe.. also great but for the Tahin it is actually quite important that you first mix the tahin with COLD water (to taste of course.. my ratio is something like 3:2 tahin) and then add the lemon, salt and garlic powder. 🙂 or so my in law would say this is the right way haha.
Caroline's Cooking
I am a big fan of sumac and did consider adding some, though I don't think when I had it in Israel it was served that way. But I will amend to suggest it as optional. You can certainly get it in some specialty spice stores and is gradually becoming more available. And thanks re eggplant as well - I think some depends how thin the tahini is on the water as it can definitely vary but appreciate the insight.
Christie
So bright and fresh! Definitely highlights the flavors of summer.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Christie, I agree very summery!
Ellen
Perfect timing for your tomatoes. Sounds like a lovely trip.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Ellen, it is! And yes a great trip.
Jolene
It's been hot here this summer, and this is exactly the kind of dish I look for. Can't wait to give it a try!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Jolene, I agree great for hot days - hope you enjoy. We've had a good number of hot days too.
Carlee
I want to travel the world with you! I can see why you came home and made this right away. It is perfect for summer and all of its seasonal produce!.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Carlee, there are always so many more places to go but I appreciate the travel I do for sure. And yes this is perfect for the produce available now.
anne
THis is the perfect summer salad!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Anne, it's definitely a great way to use summer produce and wonderfully refreshing for summer too.
Cynthia
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I think trying new dishes while on vacation is the best. Making them at home gives you an easy way to remember your vacation. Love this recipe, so simple and that is perfect for summer.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Cynthia, it was hot but still fun and interesting, and I agree it's great to try new things while away. This is indeed perfect for summer, so easy and fresh.
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
Perfect timing for this recipe with cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes in season right now!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks Val, indeed no excuse not to make it in other words 🙂