Turkish Shepherd Salad

What is Shepherd Salad?

If location were specified a point arsenic nan easiest crockery successful nan world, Shepherd Salad would astir apt apical nan list. 

The sanction whitethorn sound a small unusual, but it comes from humble origins. In nan countryside of Turkey, shepherds carried simple, inexpensive ingredients for illustration tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and peppers. Out successful nan fields, they would quickly chop everything and dress it pinch oliva lipid and citrus juice for a fresh, no-cook meal.

Because these were nan kinds of ingredients that were affordable and easy to find, Shepherd Salad has ever been considered a simple, mundane crockery alternatively than a luxury.

Today, Çoban Salatası remains a staple crossed Turkey and nan Eastern Mediterranean. While it shares immoderate similarities pinch Greek Salad, Shepherd Salad does not usually see food aliases olives, keeping it lighter and much refreshing. 

I near Turkey complete 20 years ago, but to this day, I still make this crockery almost regular erstwhile summertime nutrient is astatine its peak. It’s 1 of those recipes that instantly brings maine backmost home.

Simple Ingredients You’ll Need 

You’ll only request a fistful of caller vegetables and pantry staples to make this easy summertime salad. You tin find nan afloat constituent database successful nan recipe card below, but present are a fewer adjuvant notes from my acquisition and from really it is traditionally made successful Turkey:

Tomatoes: Use nan ripest, juiciest tomatoes you tin find. Heirloom, Roma, cherry, aliases moreover steak tomatoes each activity well.

Cucumbers: The authentic Turkish shepherd crockery look uses Persian cucumbers, which are crunchy and pinch less seeds compared to English cucumbers. However, some types tin beryllium utilized successful this recipe. If your cucumbers are freshly picked, it is not basal to peel them, but I urge tasting them, arsenic older cucumbers whitethorn person bitter skin.

Scallions: I opted for scallions (also known arsenic greenish onions) for their mild flavor, but finely chopped reddish bulb aliases achromatic bulb tin beryllium utilized if you for illustration a sharper bite. If you’re utilizing greenish onions, you tin usage some nan achromatic parts and nan greenish parts.

Green peppers: Traditionally, this crockery is made pinch a Turkish capsicum called sivri biber, a long, slender capsicum that tin scope from mild to hot. Since I can’t find it present successful nan US, I usually usage Anaheim peppers aliases jalapeños. For a milder option, a greenish doorbell capsicum useful arsenic well.

Lemon juice: For nan champion taste, usage freshly squeezed citrus juice, but successful a pinch, bottled juice would besides work. You tin besides switch it pinch achromatic vino vinegar, pome cider vinegar aliases reddish vino vinegar for a somewhat different tang.

Olive oil: I urge utilizing a mild-flavored other virgin oliva oil.

Sumac powder: Sumac is usually disposable successful nan Middle Eastern aliases Mediterranean conception of astir market stores, sold arsenic sumac herb aliases sumac powder. I often bargain excavation online, and if you are caller to sumac, I really for illustration Eastanbul Sumac Spice.

Just beryllium judge to cheque nan best-by date, arsenic sumac has a shorter support life than galore different spices (usually astir 6 months).

Fresh herbs: I usage caller flat-leaf parsley successful this recipe, but you tin easy move it up pinch immoderate herbs you person connected hand. In Turkey, it is very communal to adhd caller mint, caller dill, aliases moreover a operation of nan two.

How to Make Turkish Shepherd Salad (Step-by-Step Guide)

Making Shepherd’s Salad couldn’t beryllium simpler. You don’t request immoderate typical equipment; conscionable a crisp knife, a cutting board, and a bowl. Here’s really to hole it:

Step 1 – Chop nan vegetables: One of nan hallmarks of this crockery is that everything is trim into small, moreover pieces. This way, each wound has a small spot of everything. Dice nan tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, and peppers, past transportation them to a ample bowl.

Step 2 – Add nan dressing: Drizzle nan vegetables pinch citrus juice and oliva oil. Sprinkle pinch sumac, salt, and achromatic pepper.

Step 3 – Finish pinch herbs: Add nan chopped parsley connected top. Using crockery tongs (or cleanable hands), mildly flip until nan vegetables are evenly coated. Tossing mildly is key, arsenic it helps support nan tomatoes from getting mushy.

Step 4 – Serve: Enjoy correct distant while nan vegetables are crisp and fresh. Shepherd’s Salad is champion served immediately, since nan brackish and citrus juice tie h2o retired of nan vegetables, and nan crockery tin go watery if it sits excessively long.

Storing Leftovers & Making Ahead

Making Ahead: You tin chop nan vegetables a fewer hours successful beforehand and shop them covered successful nan refrigerator. For nan champion texture, hold to adhd nan dressing until conscionable earlier serving to support nan vegetables crisp and forestall excessively overmuch liquid from collecting successful nan bowl.

Storing Leftovers: Place immoderate leftovers successful an airtight instrumentality and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Keep successful mind that nan vegetables will people merchandise immoderate liquid arsenic they sit, which will make nan crockery softer nan adjacent day. If that happens, conscionable springiness it a speedy flip and, if needed, adhd a compression of caller citrus juice to brighten it backmost up.

Freezing: Freezing is not recommended since nan vegetables suffer their crisp texture erstwhile thawed. For nan freshest sensation and crunch, bask this crockery correct away.

Delicious Ways to Serve Turkish Shepherd Salad:

The pairing options are endless for this Turkish herb and cucumber salad. While you tin bask it pinch astir immoderate meal, present are immoderate of my favourite ways to service it:

• As a broadside dish: Shepherd’s Salad is simply a earthy pairing pinch grilled meats for illustration Adana Kebab and Grilled Harissa Chicken, but it besides makes an fantabulous summation to classical Turkish summertime dinners specified arsenic Karniyarik, stuffed eggplants pinch crushed beef and vegetables. 
• As portion of a vegetarian meal: If you want to service it nan measurement we often do successful Turkey, brace Shepherd’s Salad pinch a vessel of Bulgur Pilaf and a solid of Ayran, nan accepted yogurt drink. This is really I’ve enjoyed speedy summertime lunches for years. Simple, refreshing, and satisfying.
• As a topping for atom bowls: Use it arsenic a light, refreshing topping successful dishes for illustration Chicken Shawarma Bowls aliases Beef Shawarma, paired pinch rice aliases bulgur pilaf.
• In a mezze platter: If you want to proceed pinch nan Mediterranean flavors, you tin service it successful a mezze dispersed pinch Pita Bread, aliases tuck it into Lavash Bread pinch Hummus for a ray and satisfying bite.

FAQ’s

Other Turkish Salads You Might Like:

Turkish cuisine is known for similar, easy-to-make salads for illustration this 1 that you tin make during nan highest herb season. A fewer of my favorites are:

• Summer tomatoes mixed successful pinch achromatic beans and reddish onions, Piyaz (Turkish White Bean Salad) is yet different elemental salad 
• At each kebab edifice successful Turkey, you’ll find a broadside of ezme, and my type shows you really to make this authentic “Turkish salsa” astatine location pinch conscionable a fewer elemental ingredients.

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