Shepherd’s Salad
I’ve never eaten with a shepherd, but I know if I ever did, he would serve me a lively salad with cucumbers and olives from his orchard, and plenty of sheep’s milk cheese that he made himself. I just know it. He would be humble and hospitable, and we would candidly eat, talk and laugh as if we had known each other for ages. Our conversation would be as honest as the ingredients in his salad and we would remember both for a very long time.
My dream of eating with a shepherd will come true one day. I’m not sure if it’ll happen in Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Morocco, Syria or Egypt but I know it will happen.
Meanwhile I have this salad to keep me happy.
SHEPHERD'S SALAD RECIPE
Yield: 4 SERVINGS
Total Time: 10 MINUTES
This salad is wonderful with grilled meats. You can easily make it at the last minute but it tastes better if you let it sit for a little while before serving.
Ingredients:
For the salad
1 English or Armenian cucumber, quartered and chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 large tomato, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1/2 small red onion, cut into thin strips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley
1/2 cup pitted black olives
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheeseFor the dressing
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon tahini
Sea salt and ground black pepper, to tasteDirections:
Place all the ingredients for the salad in a large bowl.
Whisk all the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl.
Add the dressing to the salad and toss to combine.
Serve at room temperature. If the ingredients are cold from refrigeration, let them come to room temperature before serving.
rss feed
email
twitter
facebook
pinterest
Barbara — 02/20/2012 @ 7:24 am
A wonderfully simple salad to put together, Nisrine. And that touch of tahini in the vinaigrette is perfect.
bryan — 02/20/2012 @ 7:46 am
Looks great! I hope that you find that shepard to ask you to luncg soon.
melissa blake — 02/20/2012 @ 3:09 pm
Ohhh, i love this! My mother makes something like this, and it’s the perfect meal for the summer! :)
jennifurla — 02/20/2012 @ 4:51 pm
This looks very refreshing
parisbreakfast — 02/21/2012 @ 5:44 am
I lurve this salad though I’ll pass on the accompanying shepard.
merci carolg
Kalyn — 02/23/2012 @ 2:20 am
Oh yes, this is my kind of salad. Love the idea of adding some tahini in the dressing!
Sara — 02/23/2012 @ 9:05 am
Now you have got me dreaming about this delicious shepherd salad! I always order this salad at my local fav Turkish restaurant!
Trina — 03/21/2012 @ 6:51 pm
I made the Shepard Salad this evening and it was delicious. I always keep tahini for making humus, but had never used it for anything else. Thank you for broadening my culinary horizons! I plan to make this salad often!
Nisrine replied: — March 24th, 2012 @ 8:38 pm
Trina, I’m happy you liked it. Thanks for the feedback.