This simple and delicious Fresh Jerusalem Salad Recipe takes a handful of crisper drawer staples and creates a surprisingly tasty, fresh vegetable salad in a matter of minutes.
Ripe tomatoes, Persian or English cucumbers, red onions, several handfuls of fresh herbs and a simple lime and olive oil dressing create the perfect side dish for your summer meal or topping for falafel gyros with shawarma sauce!
I've found dozens of different versions of this salad. Persian salad, Shirazi salad, Arabic salad and simple Israeli salad all share similar fresh produce ingredients with a citrus and olive oil dressing.
Ingredients needed to make this salad:
Before we get to the step by step directions, a few notes about the ingredients:
Cucumbers: English or Persian cucumbers are ideal here, but use what you have. If using regular cucumbers, peel and scoop out most of the seeds before slicing.
Tomatoes: cherry tomatoes give the most consistent flavor and texture, year-round. Substitute with grape tomatoes, or seed and dice Roma tomatoes.
Herbs: flat-leaf parsley and mint add refreshing flavor to the salad. Substitute dill, tarragon, chives or basil.
Sumac: this optional spice brings citrusy flavor and brightness to the salad. Do your best to track it down in your local grocery store or specialty market!
Full ingredient list and measurements included in the printable recipe card below.
Step by step instructions:
1. Prep vegetables
Begin by washing and dicing the cucumber, quartering the fresh tomatoes and slicing the onion. Wash, dry and dice the herbs. Add all the fresh vegetables and herbs to a large bowl.
2. Make dressing
Combine the fresh squeezed lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pour the dressing over the diced vegetables and herbs.
Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.
3. Garnish and serve
Garnish with sumac and additional herbs, if using. Serve with falafel pitas, Middle Eastern yellow rice and shawarma sauce.
FAQ's and Serving Suggestions:
Jerusalem salad is a great side dish for falafel pita sandwich topped with shawarma sauce. Or add it to middle eastern dishes like a big bowl of yellow rice, spicy garlic hummus and warm pita bread. It's also a great everyday salad to have on hand through the week. Add a drained can of tuna in olive oil and you have a quick and delicious lunch.
Red or yellow bell peppers would be tasty in this dressing, and you could substitute shallots or green onions for the red onion, if that's what you have on hand.
Red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar would be a good substitution for lime. Or if you have fresh lemons, a little bit of lemon juice would do the trick.
Adding diced hot pepper - like jalapeños or Serranos - would add fresh and spicy. Red pepper flakes or dried cayenne powder added to the dressing could also add the heat you're looking for.
To store, transfer vegetable salad to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This salad is not a good candidate for freezing, so make just enough to eat over 2-3 days.
Fresh Jerusalem Salad Recipe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4-6
Description
This fresh, herbaceous salad is bright with lime and a sprinkle of sumac. Perfect for your next backyard cookout or fish Friday.
Ingredients
1 large English cucumber, diced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 small red onion, quartered and sliced thin
⅓ cup fresh mint, diced
⅓ cup fresh parsley, diced
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon coarse sea salt, plus more to taste
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sumac, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Begin by washing and dicing the cucumber, quartering the fresh tomatoes and slicing the onion. Dice the fresh mint and parsley, add to the veggies in a large bowl.
- Combine the fresh squeezed lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pour the dressing over the diced vegetables and herbs. Toss to combine.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with sumac and additional herbs, if using. Serve with falafel pitas, Middle Eastern yellow rice and shawarma sauce.
Notes
Substitute lemon juice, red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar for lime juice, if needed.
- Prep Time: 15
- Category: Salads, Brunch, Sides
- Method: No cook
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Gene
Turned out great. The dressing and herbs were amazing in the salad. Buying sumac this weekend so my next batch will have it!
Christina Jolam
Great to hear, Gene! I think you'll love it even more with a sprinkle of sumac. Thanks for coming back to leave such a helpful review!