Refreshing Mediterranean Magic: Ina Garten Middle Eastern Vegetable Salad

Middle Eastern vegetable salads can transform ordinary ingredients into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Bold Mediterranean flavors dance through crisp, colorful produce that sparkles with vibrant energy.

Fresh herbs and bright seasonings elevate simple vegetables into something magical and irresistible.

Each ingredient contributes its unique personality to create a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Bright, zesty elements interplay with smooth, creamy components for balanced satisfaction.

The salad represents a celebration of natural ingredients and traditional cooking wisdom.

Preparing this recipe connects you with generations of culinary creativity: grab your chopping board and let’s begin!

Why Middle Eastern Vegetable Salad Is a Feast of Color

• Burst with Fresh Mediterranean Flavors: This vibrant salad combines crisp vegetables, aromatic herbs, and tangy feta cheese, delivering an explosion of authentic Middle Eastern taste sensations in every single bite.
• Master a Quick and Easy Nutrition Powerhouse: Packed with protein-rich chickpeas, nutrient-dense herbs, and colorful vegetables, this recipe offers a super-fast 15-minute meal that's incredibly healthy and satisfying without complicated cooking techniques.
• Celebrate Versatile Serving Possibilities: Perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, potlucks, or as a refreshing side dish, this salad adapts beautifully to multiple occasions and can be enjoyed alongside grilled meats, as a light lunch, or a standalone vegetarian meal with toasted pita bread.
• Experience Delightful Textural Contrasts: The salad delivers an incredible mix of crunchy cucumber, juicy tomatoes, soft chickpeas, and creamy feta, creating a multi-dimensional eating experience that keeps every forkful interesting and exciting.

Ingredients for Ina’s Middle Eastern Vegetable Salad

• Scallions: Mild onion flavor with a fresh, crisp texture that adds brightness to the salad.
• Tomatoes: Juicy and sweet, providing a vibrant color and fresh taste to the dish.
• Cucumber: Crisp and refreshing, adding a cool and light element to the salad.
• Parsley, Mint, Basil: Fresh herbs that bring aromatic and zesty flavors to enhance the overall taste.
• Chickpeas: Protein-packed legumes that add substance and a nutty flavor to the salad.

• Lemon Juice: Bright and tangy base that helps balance and freshen the salad.
• Garlic: Pungent and aromatic, adding depth and complexity to the dressing.
• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance and balance the flavors.
• Olive Oil: Smooth and rich oil that helps emulsify the dressing and adds a silky texture.

• Feta Cheese: Salty and creamy cheese that provides a rich, tangy flavor to the salad.
• Pita Bread: Soft, warm bread perfect for dipping or scooping the salad.

How to Toss a Middle Eastern Salad Full of Texture

Step 1: Gather Fresh Ingredients

• Scallions
• Tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Chickpeas
• Parsley
• Mint
• Basil
• Feta cheese
• Lemon
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Pita bread

Step 2: Chop Vegetables and Herbs

Wash and finely slice scallions, dice tomatoes and cucumber, and roughly chop fresh herbs into small pieces.

Step 3: Combine Vegetable Mix

Place chopped scallions, tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, parsley, mint, and basil into a large mixing bowl. Gently toss ingredients together.

Step 4: Create Zesty Dressing

• Fresh lemon juice
• Minced garlic
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Slowly whisk in olive oil until the mixture becomes smooth and well combined.

Step 5: Dress the Salad

Pour prepared dressing over vegetable mixture. Softly toss to ensure even coating of all ingredients.

Step 6: Add Crumbled Cheese

Sprinkle diced feta cheese over salad. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Plate the salad immediately. Serve with warm, toasted pita bread for scooping or dipping.

Tips to Make Every Bite of This Salad Sing

• Prep Perfectly: Chop all vegetables uniform in size to create a balanced texture and ensure each bite combines multiple flavors harmoniously.
• Herb Selection Matters: Choose freshly picked herbs like parsley, mint, and basil for maximum flavor intensity and bright, aromatic notes.
• Dress with Precision: Gradually whisk olive oil into lemon juice and garlic to create a smooth, well-integrated dressing that clings beautifully to vegetables.
• Timing Salt Strategically: Sprinkle salt just before serving to maintain vegetable crispness and prevent feta from becoming watery.
• Elevate with Crispy Pita: Toast bread until golden brown for a delightful crunchy element that complements the salad's fresh ingredients and absorbs the tangy dressing.

How to Store Middle Eastern Vegetable Salad Without Sog

• Refrigerator Method: Store in a tightly sealed glass container to maintain freshness and prevent absorption of other food odors. Glass containers create a better seal and keep vegetables crisp longer than plastic alternatives.
• Mason Jar Technique: Layer salad ingredients strategically with dressing at the bottom, greens on top to prevent wilting. This method keeps components separate and extends salad's edible life by 2-3 days, preventing sogginess.
• Herb Preservation Strategy: Wrap fresh herbs like parsley or mint in slightly damp paper towels before adding to storage container. This technique maintains herb crispness and prevents premature browning, ensuring vibrant flavors remain intact for maximum enjoyment.

Flavorful Add-Ins to Mix Into Middle Eastern Salad

• Mediterranean Protein Boost: Add grilled chicken or lamb strips for a hearty protein-packed version that transforms the salad into a complete meal.
• Quinoa Mediterranean: Replace chickpeas with cooked quinoa to increase protein content and create a more filling grain-based salad with a nutty undertone.
• Roasted Vegetable Remix: Grill or roast zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant before mixing them into the salad for a smoky, caramelized flavor profile that deepens the vegetable complexity.
• Spicy Mediterranean Edition: Incorporate harissa paste or red pepper flakes into the dressing to give the salad a warm, zesty kick that awakens the palate with subtle heat.

One Bright Bite to End the Middle Eastern Vegetable Bowl

Mediterranean magic awaits with Ina Garten’s Middle Eastern vegetable salad – a symphony of fresh ingredients dancing on plates.

Crisp vegetables mingle with aromatic herbs, creating a sensory experience that transports palates to sun-drenched landscapes.

Cool cucumber and juicy tomatoes provide perfect contrast against creamy chickpeas and tangy feta.

Zesty lemon dressing weaves through each ingredient, elevating simple components into a culinary masterpiece.

Garden-fresh herbs whisper Mediterranean secrets with every forkful.

Strategic drizzles of olive oil seal flavor profiles that make taste buds sing – ready to wow dinner guests and elevate weeknight meals.

Passionate cooks: snap a photo, share this recipe’s deliciousness across social networks, spark conversation, and inspire fellow kitchen adventurers to embrace Mediterranean cooking magic!

Ina Garten Middle Eastern Vegetable Salad Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Ina Garten’s Middle Eastern vegetable salad delivers a Mediterranean symphony of fresh ingredients dancing on your plate. Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant herbs mingle with zesty lemon dressing, promising a refreshing culinary journey you’ll savor with each delightful bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Vegetables and Herbs:

• 10 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
• 1 hothouse cucumber, halved lengthwise, seeded, and ½-inch-diced
• 1 pound (454 grams) ripe tomatoes, seeded, cored, and ½-inch-diced
• ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) chopped fresh parsley
• ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) chopped fresh mint leaves
• ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) julienned fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) minced garlic (3 cloves)

Proteins and Dairy:

• 1 can or jar (12 to 16 ounces or 340 to 454 grams) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 8 ounces (227 grams) good feta cheese, ½-inch-diced

Liquids and Seasonings:

• ½ cup (120 milliliters) freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 lemons)
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) good olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Toasted pita bread, for serving

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prep the produce by finely chopping scallions, dicing ripe tomatoes, and slicing crisp cucumber into uniform bite-sized pieces.
2. Add chickpeas, freshly chopped parsley, fragrant mint leaves, and aromatic basil to the chopped vegetables in a spacious mixing bowl.
3. Craft the vibrant dressing by whisking freshly squeezed lemon juice (approximately or 45 milliliters) with minced garlic cloves.
4. Season the dressing mixture with of kosher salt and of freshly ground black pepper.
5. Slowly drizzle extra virgin olive oil (or 60 milliliters) into the dressing while continuously whisking to create a smooth, emulsified vinaigrette.
6. Gently fold the dressing into the vegetable mixture, ensuring each ingredient is lightly coated and distributed evenly.
7. Crumble high-quality feta cheese (or 115 grams) over the salad, allowing delicate cheese fragments to nestle among the vegetables.
8. Perform a final gentle toss to incorporate the feta without breaking the cheese into overly small pieces.
9. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper according to personal taste preferences.
10. Serve immediately alongside warm, toasted pita bread for an authentic and refreshing Mediterranean-style experience.

Notes

• Slice veggies with precision to create a harmonious texture where each ingredient complements the others in size and crunch.
• Select peak-season produce for maximum flavor, ensuring tomatoes are ripe and herbs are vibrant and fragrant.
• Whisk dressing ingredients gradually to develop a silky emulsion that beautifully binds the Mediterranean salad components.
• Sprinkle salt moments before serving to maintain vegetable crispness and prevent unwanted moisture from seeping into the dish.
• Crisp pita bread to golden perfection, transforming it into the perfect vehicle for scooping up the zesty salad mixture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Carbohydrates: 15g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 8g
• Cholesterol: 25mg