Çoban Salatası (Turkish Shepherd's Salad)
In short: A chopped salad of ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onion and parsley, dressed with olive oil, lemon and a pinch of sumac. It takes about 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 145 kcal
Çoban salatası, shepherd's salad, sits on almost every Turkish table, whether the meal is a kebab dinner or a simple breakfast. There is no lettuce and nothing complicated: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onion and parsley chopped small, with olive oil and lemon. The vegetables decide everything, so make it in summer when tomatoes are ripe, and dress it at the last moment so it stays crisp.
Instructions
- Rinse the chopped onion in cold water for 2 minutes, then drain and squeeze it dry. This softens its bite.
- Combine the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onion and parsley in a large bowl.
- Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and sumac in a small bowl, pour it over the vegetables and toss gently.
- Taste for salt and serve right away, while the vegetables are crisp, with bread to mop up the juices.
Tips
- Dice everything to about the same small size, around 1 cm (1/2 inch), so the salad is easy to eat with a spoon.
- Dress it at the last minute. Salt draws water from tomatoes and cucumbers, and a watery salad loses its crunch within 15 minutes.
Questions and answers
What goes into a Turkish shepherd's salad?
Tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onion and parsley, dressed with olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Some cooks add sumac, mint or a drizzle of pomegranate molasses.
Can I make çoban salatası ahead?
Chop the vegetables up to 4 hours ahead and keep them covered in the fridge, then dress the salad just before serving.
What do you serve çoban salatası with?
Almost everything: grilled meat, kebabs, lahmacun, beans and rice. It is also a standard part of a Turkish breakfast spread.
How long does it take to make Çoban Salatası (Turkish Shepherd's Salad)?
About 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Çoban Salatası (Turkish Shepherd's Salad)?
About 145 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 11 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 145 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 11 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
