This refreshing Assyrian salad (Zalata) combines crisp romaine, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion with a simple lemon-mint dressing. It's perfect as a side dish or a light lunch! Serve it with beef kofta Kebabs or this easy doner kebab recipe!
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If you're craving a fresh and vibrant side dish, this Assyrian salad, known as Zalata, is a must-try!
Packed with crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and a bright lemon-mint dressing, it's simple yet bursting with flavor. Across the Middle East - from Egypt to Lebanon - every family has its own twist on this easy, healthy salad. Today, I'll show you how to make my favorite version at home!
🥒 What is Zalata (Assyrian Salad)?
Zalata is the Assyrian version of the simple chopped salad served across the Middle East, often called "Arabic salad." It's one of the most beloved salads in the region, rivaling the popularity of Lebanese tabbouleh.
Arabic salad often has slight variations - some versions include fresh parsley, mint, or basil, while others add chopped bell peppers for extra flavor.
My family's version uses crisp romaine lettuce. If you prefer the classic lettuce-free style, try my Middle Eastern salad, made with tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and parsley in a lemony sumac dressing.
The simple dressing is prepared with a mixture of olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice and seasoned with salt and black pepper. Sumac is also a popular addition!
Planning an iftar menu? Browse my full collection of Ramadan recipes for more ideas.
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🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Lettuce: I recommend using romaine lettuce for the best crunch.
- Cucumber: Persian or English cucumbers are great options; however, if you can find Armenian cucumbers, I highly recommend using them for extra crunch without bitterness.
- Onion: Red or yellow onion
- Tomato: Two firm, medium tomatoes
- Fresh lemon juice: I prefer using fresh lemons to make the dressing, but bottled lemon juice can be substituted.
- Extra virgin olive oil: If you don't have olive oil, avocado oil can be used.
- Herbs: This recipe calls for 1 teaspoon dried mint, but you can use 1 tablespoon of fresh mint for the dressing if you prefer. Other fresh herbs and spices like parsley, garlic, green onions, and red pepper flakes can be added as well.
- Optional toppings: You can sprinkle a bit of feta cheese over your salad if you like. You can also use crumbled pita chips as croutons or make some of these quinoa crisps for added crunch! Kalamata olives are another great addition!
*See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients
🥗 How to Make Zalata
Step 1: Chop lettuce, cucumber, tomato, fresh mint, and onion and place in a large salad bowl.
Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, dried mint, salt, and black pepper.
Step 3: Pour dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine. Serve immediately, or chill briefly for even better flavor.
🫒 Variations Across the Middle East
There are many variations of this simple salad across the Middle East. Egyptian salad (salata baladi) is prepared with similar ingredients but can also include carrots, jalapeños, and spices like cumin, Aleppo pepper, or cayenne.
Lebanese fattoush salad is yet another variation. It's prepared with lots of the same veggies (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions) and is topped with pomegranate seeds and baked pita chips. The dressing contains pomegranate molasses, sumac, lemon juice or vinegar, and olive oil.
This simple chopped salad is extremely adaptable - perfect for what's in season.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
If you're wondering what to serve with Zalata, I've got some great suggestions! For starters, you can include it on a mezze board along with other Middle Eastern & Mediterranean appetizers like Lebanese hummus, this falafel wrap recipe, dolmadakia, and Lahm bi Ajeen.
Another classic way to enjoy Zalata is as part of a traditional Assyrian or Middle Eastern meal. For example, use it as a topping over vermicelli rice, macarona, makloubi, Lebanese Mujadara recipe, or Instant Pot jasmine rice.
This Assyrian salad is perfect for pairing with sumac chicken, shish kabobs, maftoul, or as part of a shawarma plate.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Zalata is prepared with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, and drizzled with a simple dressing made with lemon juice and olive oil. It's seasoned with salt and black pepper.
Although Greek salad contains the same veggies, it also includes feta cheese and kalamata olives. Oregano is commonly added to the dressing, while Zalata usually includes fresh mint.
You can make Zalata a few hours before serving it to allow the flavors to meld. If you need to prepare it in advance, keep the chopped veggies and dressing separate until you are ready to serve it to avoid the vegetables from becoming soggy.
Zalata usually has a simple lemon juice and olive oil dressing that's seasoned with salt and black pepper. Sometimes sumac powder and dried mint are whisked into the dressing for added flavor.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- Add the dressing and salt right before serving. Salt draws the water out of the cucumbers and tomatoes, which can make the salad soggy if it sits too long.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- If making Zalata ahead of time, keep the dressing separate until you're ready to serve.
Other Salad Recipes
If you love this Zalata, check out these other great salad recipes!
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📖 Recipe
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Chop lettuce, cucumber, tomato, fresh mint, and onion, and place in a large salad bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, dried mint, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine. Serve immediately, or chill briefly for even better flavor.
Nutrition
Notes
- Chill the salad for 15 minutes before serving to let the flavors come together.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- If making ahead of time, keep the dressing separate until you're ready to serve.
Kellee Y says
I make this all the time. But never used oil. And getting that zalata juice on red rice is the bomb!!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Kellee, sounds like you get it! 🥰
Karen says
Tomatoes are a new world plant. What would be more culturally appropriate to replace them with?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Karen, Thank you for your comment! Tomatoes were brought to the Middle East in the 1700s and have since become a widely used ingredient in the cuisine. You can substitute more historically rooted alternatives such as pomegranate seeds or radishes, however, that would totally change the flavor of this common Middle Eastern salad and it may no longer pair well with some of the dishes it's commonly served with.
KelleeY says
I'm Assyrian. Learned to cook from my grandmother and aunts. We use tomatoes ALL the time.
Ashley says
My husband loves this salad, will be making all summer!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Ashley, so glad to hear it, enjoy!
jane says
My family loved this recipe!
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Jane,Thank you so much for your review!
Faith Joy Gani-ay says
This recipe is perfect for any occasion, and its so easy to make.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you for your review!
Cathy says
I love salad and this one just became my favorite!
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Cathy, enjoy!
Christopher says
This is one of the best recipes I've ever tried. The ingredients came together beautifully, and the end result was delicious and satisfying. Highly recommended!
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Christopher, I appreciate the review!
Kelly Methey says
This is a great salad! Thanks! Sometimes simple is best!
HildaSterner says
Thanks, Kelly, no truer words have ever been spoken! 😉