exploringtheturkishkitchen.com - Shepherd's Salad

Details: Written by Christa EKER

An iconic salad of simple summer ingredients that deserves a place alongside many popular Turkish recipes. Tomatoes, cucumbers sit alongside fresh pepper and onions with fresh herbs and a zingy pomegranate dressing.

Three small Turkish Cucumbers, a vine of tomatoes and a small white onion are placed on a marble slab. To the side is a Turk'sh pepper# lemon slices and bunches of fresh herbs. The ingredients are ready to make Turkish shepherds salad. — Selecting ingredients for shepherd's salad

This wonderfully simple salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, onion and pepper dressed with a pomegranate and lemon dressing takes the name Çorban salatası - Shepherd's salad. I have no idea where the name comes from. One presumes shepherds of the past favoured it, or maybe it's a lean-to-economic being. Wither way, I'm a huge fan come summer time and consider it an excellent accompaniment to many Turkish recipes & dishes, especially for grilled meat's, kebabs and wraps.

I've presented the recipe (can something so simple be called a recipe?) as we make ours but feel free to add any other likes you may have.

Choosing Ingredients For Shepherd's Salad

There are no set rules on what makes a Turkish Shepherd's salad. The only absolute must is that you use fresh and ripe produce in-season - the best you can find. Granted, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are a given; onion too is a popular inclusion but not always used.

Some people also add olive, Turkish feta like white cheese 'Beyaz peynir' and sumac and pul biber play and tray and adapt the recipe to your perfect Turkish salad.

The zesty dressing is what brings all the flavours together. A little lemon, quality olive oil and a flavour-packed pomegranate molasses or Nar ekşisi in Turkish are necessary. I always advocate the need for 100% natural pomegranate molasses, though. Please stay away from Nar Ekşisi Sos (Sauce); it's often full of colourings, flavourings and glucose.

To compare the difference check out this blog post: Pondering Pomegranates: Nar Ekşisi 'Sos

A close up of an oval glass plate with chopped tomatoes, onions, cucumber and pepper salad. Çorban Salatası in Turkish. A red plastic spoon has a few remenats showing the salad is being eaten. A lemon half sits above the glass having just been squeezed over the salad. — Turkish Shepherd's Salad Perfect For BBQ's

How To Make Çorban Salatası

This classic salad is so easy to pull together. The ingredients simply need chopping up and combining before the dressing is quickly mixed and added. Peeling the tomatoes and cucumber is an optional step. I like to peel my cucumbers into stipes into stripes half, and sometimes I peel toms; sometimes I don't much to my husband's chagrin.

The flavours of the dressing combine with the seasonal veggies very well if made a little ahead - not so long that your salad goes soggy, a half hour or so, but this does darken them. It's worth it for flavour In My Hungry Opinion but add just before serving if you want your salad to look more vibrant.

An oval glass plate holds Çorban salatası a salad of tomatoes, onions, cucumber and peppers. A red plastic spoon is burried inside an a portion has been taken. The bowl sits on a blue and white checked teatowel layered with marble and canvas. It gives a farmhouse vibe. — Selecting ingredients for shepherd's salad

Super easy, packed of flavour (providing you make in the right season) and low cost too. Turkish shepherd's salad is an excellent accompaniment to many Turkish dishes, alongside Turkish bbq's, homemade meatballs and shish and great in wraps too. Pimp it up or leave it as it is—afiyet olsun.

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Prep

15m

Wait

5m

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Category:	Salads & Light Bites
Seasons
Cuisine Type	Turkish

Ingredients

Turkish Shepherd's Salad

4 Large Vine Tomatoes
3 Small Turkish 'Badem' Cucumbers
1 Medium White Onion
1 Sweet Long Green Pepper
1 Hot Long Green Pepper
1 Handful Fresh Parsley
1 Handful Fresh Mint

Shepherd's Salad Dressing

Pomegranate Molasses 'Nar Ekşisi'
Olive Oil
Lemon Juice
Salt
Pepper

Simple Turkish Salad Çorban Salatası Directions

Chop the onions into thin crescents, the peppers into small rounds and peel and quarter the tomatoes and cucumbers.
Combine the veggies into a large bowl.
Finely chop the fresh herbs and distribute them through the vegetables.
In a small mixing bowl, blend the Pomegranate molasses, lemon juice and olive oil (2:1:2 Tablespoons should be sufficient but feel free to play) with a generous pinch of salt and pepper and drizzle over the salad.
Leaving to rest with combine the flavours well but will darken the vegetables.

Recipe notes

Quantities and ratios of the veg is a personal choice; the only must is that you use in season and the best and freshest produce you can get your hands on.
Peeling the tomatoes and cucumber is also optional. I half peel my cucumbers into stipes.
Good quality pure pomegranate molasses or Nar ekşisi in Turkish is a must. Unless you have a very sweet tooth, stay away from Nar Ekşisi Sos (Sauce), often full of colourings and glucose. For more on selecting and buying good quality, Turkish pomegranate molasses, check out this blog post: Pondering Pomegranates: Nar Ekşisi 'Sos'
The flavours of the dressing blend well if you make and combine the sauce ahead of serving but will discolour the veggies making them darker. It's worth it for flavour but add just before serving if you want your salad to look vibrant.
Turkish shepherds salad is an excellent accompaniment to many Turkish recipes, including BBQ's, kebabs and wraps, as well as part of a meze platter.
Feel free to add other additions such as sumac flakes, chopped olives and even white cheese.