From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Many of you know that the Silver Fox and I had intended to vacation in Egypt, Jordan and Israel, until upheaval in the region caused us to cancel our plans. We'll be picking an alternate destination this weekend. The plan, in theory anyway, is quite simple. We each prepare a list of three countries we'd like to visit. We take the deliberations very seriously and are set to defend choices in a manner akin to that of a doctoral candidate defending a thesis. Sometimes our choices are in sync with each other. Sometimes not. Last year we were at an impasse and actually drew lots to determine where we'd be heading for our holiday. This year I've readied some great arguments to support my preferences for the adventure. My choices include Turkey, Peru or New Zealand. I don't yet know what countries the Silver Fox will throw into the mix. At any rate, I've prepared visuals and been conducting a subliminal campaign - in the form of food - to swing the balance in my favor, and should stealth tactics be necessary I plan to pull out all stops. Tonight's dinner included elements, like this salad, that might be found on a Turkish table. The salad is lovely and quite refreshing and it goes well with lamb. While it involves some chopping, it is very easy to do and my only caution is to use really ripe tomatoes when you make it. I think you'll enjoy its freshness, but try not to make more than will be eaten with your meal. Refrigeration does nothing to help the tomatoes and leftovers should be passed over. Here's the recipe for this simple and refreshing salad.
Turkish Shepherd's Salad...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite
Ingredients:
Salad
2 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced
3 large tomatoes, juiced, seeded and diced
2 medium green bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and diced
1 bunch green onions, white and tender green, chipped
1/2 bunch parsley, finely chopped
8 sprigs fresh mint, finely chopped
Dressing
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon sea salt
Fresh black pepper to taste
Directions:
1) To make salad: Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. Toss to combine.
2) To make dressing: Place olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
3) To finish: Pour dressing over salad. Yield 4 to 6 servings.
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57 comments :
I've eaten this salad many times, its just awesome and refreshing. Curious to see your pick for NZ
nice....just like a greek salad but cut up much finer :-) You should totally go to turkey! my grandparents are originally from turkey -greeks living in turkey and part of the 1920s exchange. i never knew them since they died after soon after i was born but everyone says im the exact same person as my grandfather. i went to turkey by myself for 10 days a few years ago. i didnt tell my parents because they would freak out - just called them right before my plane left lax. explored kapadokkia most of the time looking for grandfather's village. amazing place!
Very colourful and refreshing salad..
Mein lieblings Salat. Grüsse...
colorful salad.. so refreshing ..
new to ur blog n happy to follow for more wonderful recipes..
do visit me when u get time dear..
http://comeletseat.blogspot.com
That salad has such great colours Mary!!So good for the Summer that is coming...here in Portugal of course ;)
Kisses,
Rita
That looks so colorful and refreshing!!
I sure would love to live at your place. I love to travel but my guy prefers to stay home so we both compromise and come up with an almost perect life. You salad reminds me of my Greek Village Salad..great ingredients.
Rita
I love planning ahead for holidays :)
Oh, now I wish I could be a fly on the wall at this meeting! Mary, I suspect you can be a formidable and convincing advocate for your choice! I'm guessing the Silver Fox must be quite determined and skilled at holding his own also since you met an impasse last year. Can't wait to hear the outcome.
In the meantime, I know I would be enjoying these subliminal exercises in persuasion. This salad sounds right up my alley! blessings ~ tanna
Will food be involved until you and the S.F. come to a decision? If so, I hope it takes awhile. I'm already planning to put this salad on the table.
Best,
Bonnie
What a great plan of attack! I hope you get to go to the counties you would like to visit. That salad should help seal the deal!
What a fresh and a great salad... I could eat this with keftas, and raita, sounds like summer to me!
That's exactly how my husband and I planned our vacation last year. We ended up going to Italy and Croatia. Looking forward to hearing about where you'll be vacationing.
I would vote for Turkey just for the food!!!! My friends were in Israel over March break and she even entered them both in a Marathon there.
The Cinderoo and I also draw lots for vacationing in foreign lands. This year I chose Mississippi, New Jersey and Illinois.
That salad looks really good! Hopefully the flavors will work in your favor :) and you'll get to visit Turkey, Good luck and good day!
Beautifully colourful and exotic. Can just imagine the flavours in there. Meant to say that it's very clever that you post what you did a year and 2 years' ago like that. What a busy lady!
What a gorgeous salad! A perfect compliment to almost any dish!
I am envious of your travels.. how excited! I think you should pick New Zealand!!
Completely GORGEOUS. Love all of those colors!
This dish looks so bright and healthy! And, I like the way it adds flavor to bland cucumbers! Btw, I'd definitely go for New Zealand!
That's a refreshing beautiful salad! Now you have me wondering about your final holiday destination! Keep us posted! (I would love to visit Turkey some day!)
This is a nice simple salad with lots of flavor. Can't wait for some nice ripe tomatoes in our area, so I can make this.
The middle East would have been a wonderful destination, but your current choices sound exciting also. I'm anxious to see what you and the Siver Fox decide !
Have a wonderful weekend Mary.
I've eaten a version of this delicious salad in a Turkish restaurant the last time I was visiting my brother in Jersey....it is a fabulous combo of flavors...I never thought to make it at home! so glad you posted a recipe!! Thanks Mary!
This sounds wonderful. I'm looking forward to making salads.
This is one of my favorite salads - had no idea it was Turkish! I love the reasoning behind serving it. A little food can help the decision process. Good luck with your choices! Have a grand weekend.
It's kind of like a Turkish version of fresh salsa isn't it? I can wait to try it with some lamb. I'm also curious as to the Silver Fox's choices and does he wage a subliminal campaign too?
Good luck on the travel plans! We went to Hawaii and Australia over Christmas/New Years and had a blast! I'm sure wherever you go you will have a great time. The salad looks great!
Mhammm Mhamm Mary a good and beautiful salade, thank you for sharing,
kisses and have a good weekend!!
I grabbed some Persian food for lunch yesterday, which is obviously similar to both Turkish and Greek cuisine. I had a heck of a time deciding between chicken or a lovely salad like this.
I'm sorry that you missed out on your first choice of a trip, but it sounds like you have some wonderful alternatives. We visited Turkey last year and loved it! I know you would too. But Peru and New Zealand would also be awesome destinations. Let us know when you decide!
This salad looks incredible. I love how it is chopped so fine.
Hi Mary! Beautiful salad, but I've always wondered, what exactly are lots? Can you put them in a salad?
Hi
Thanks for stopping by my site...
did you read the post before about our stop in Istanbul? I have visited there and Ephesus in Turkey...both interesting, fascinating places....but....
my husband is Peruvian! So I am biased toward your visit there. I can give you loads of information if you want my humble advice/opinions! Also, the food is ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE in Peru!
Looking forward to following your choices and copying some of these recipes!
BG
Oooooh...this looks so good!!! I wish I had all the ingredients so I could make it for lunch right now!! :)
By the way, I just wanted to let you know that I've given you an award...the Versatile Blogger Award.
Here's the post on my website where I've mentioned your name and most interesting blog:
http://kemalandsheila.com/2011/04/versatile-blogger-award-and-red-lentil-bulgar-balls/
If you accept the award, let me know and pass the award onto 15 other newly found bloggers. The rule (which are easy) are listed on my post.
http://kemalandsheila.com/2011/04/versatile-blogger-award-and-red-lentil-bulgar-balls/
I've really enjoyed browsing your website! You have a lot of great recipes that I can't wait to try...including this one! :) Cheers! sheila
My Mother in law has been to Turkey a couple of times and really enjoyed it. I should pass this recipe on to her. Have fun picking a place to go, and have a great weekend!
Yes, salads! I love them...all sorts of salads! This looks so fresh, light and delicious.
This looks and sounds like a very tasty salad! That's a great way to decides on your vacation. All places sound great, especially Peru. Have a good weekend!
funny that restaurants used to dress up a dish with a single sprig of parsley, which diners would then push to the side to get to the real food. there are just too many cool things to do with it. cheers!
Did either of you have the June blogger party at Almost Heaven South on your vacation list - got to be better than the desert.
sorry about your travel plans, a perfect easter salad..colorful!!
sweetlife
Ohhh, I hope you win, Mary! I'm dying to visit Turkey too. :-) This salad is just my sort of thing. Fresh as can be with those wonderful herbs. Can't wait for good tomatoes to be ready to try it out. :-)
mas que salada mais maravilhora gostei muito beijinos e obrigada peles seus comentario bom fim de semana
What a wonderful salad. Very colorful! I have enjoyed my visit here and will be back. Nice blog! I am now following.
Christine
Well, if you decide to come to New Zealand please let me know!!!
ciao
Alessandra
That looks so healthy and refreshing. Makes me long for those soon to be warm summer evenings.
Oh I REALLY REALLY hope you go to Turkey! I adore Turkish food and just know you'll love it! This salad is full of so many great fresh flavors!
The salad looks wonderful. Good luck with the process of deciding where you would like to vacation! I'm so jealous! I was out of the US once when I was like 10 (Canada) lol!
Ooooooh! You've got some great choices! Turkey is absolutely lovely from what I've heard. And I've been to New Zealand and let me tell you, there is no place prettier. You'll have a great time no matter where you go tho, I'm sure. Love this salad, so fresh and tasty. Thanks for sharing!
We're trying to figure out where to vacation next as well, it's hard because there are so many places we'd like to go!
Your salad looks so lovely and refreshing -yum!
This kind of salad is common in Arab countries.I had similar salads here and variations of this.
Turkey,is near to us,and is an excellent location. I have heard Peru still has man eaters!
Looks amazing and nice prep job - impresisve
Mary, your salad looks very refreshing and lovely. Looking forward to preparing something like that myself.
I love this kind of salad - so refreshing. Good luck with the holiday deliberations!
I make a variation of this salad often... love it!
It was so yummy! I am sold! Went and had it at a local place last night and made this tonight and I think this was better. Thanks for the receipt it is great!
We just returned from Israel (Dec. 30-January 8) and we had a wonderful time. Our tour was arranged by our church and we felt safe the whole time. We ate many salads similar to this one for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Beautiful country.
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