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When you eat out at a local Turkish restaurant, or if you are lucky enough to be invited to eat at a Turkish home, more often than not the table will include Turkish Salad Recipes of some description.
And a surprise awaits you!
Whether it’s a Turkish breakfast, a simple bowl of Turkish soup, a lunch of pide or lahmacun – or some meat delicacy at kebab restaurants, a healthy salad will always be part of your table.
In the world of Turkish cuisine, Turkish salads are ubiquitous; lighting up the table with a display of vibrant colours.
So much so that when we watch international cooking TV shows and there’s a feast of food that looks more than good enough to eat on the table, I scan the scene before us.
Where’s the salad? It is not complete if the salad is not present.
So it’s fitting that we have a list of famous – and some not so famous – favorites Turkish Salad Recipes.
These are our personal favorites that are regulars on our at-home menu.
From a simple side dish to a heartier main course, we’re sure there are salads that anyone can get along with, including those of you looking for vegetarian and vegan options.
Seasonal ingredients for Turkish salad
Yes, some salad ingredients are great for summer salad recipes.
But don’t be fooled into thinking these dishes are only for the warmer summer months.
Turkish salads are enjoyed all year round, whatever the local climate.
And, after living here for so long, a good Turkish salad on the table is a staple for us too.
We love to eat seasonally, so some of our salads tend to change depending on the time of year.
And we could make a famous traditional Turkish salad or let ourselves be influenced by what we have seen more recently in local restaurants in Fethiye and get a little creative.
Chefs are always experimenting with different ingredients and there are some really fantastic dishes on the market at the moment.
Well, let’s face it, it’s not hard to be creative and have a salad on the table most of the time when local markets have stalls full of crunchy fresh herbs, fresh fruits and vegetables.
We know we are lucky to have all these key ingredients so easily accessible.
But the Turkish salads below are still relatively easy to make at home, wherever you are.
Turkish Salad Recipes: Famous and Favorites
As with all our lists, this one will not be set in stone.
There is always something new to discover and create.
So we have no doubt that we will learn more new Turkish salad recipes in the future.
What’s inside, what’s outside?
When it comes to Turkish salad recipes, it’s hard to know where to draw the line.
But we did exactly that. Above all…
There are oodles of delicious meze dishes that are dips. And small side dishes that are sometimes described as salads.
If there’s something you can’t see in our list below, you may find it in our complete collection of Turkish recipes.
As much as we love it, the famous favorite carrot and garlic yogurt dip (carrot calibrator) is not in the list, for example.
For us it’s more of a dip than a salad.
So, that’s our line of thinking with our list.
And now all that remains is to say: let’s take the chopping knives and create a world of colors rich in flavors with some tasty Turkish salads…
Let’s prepare some salads
All we have to do is start with the famous Turkish shepherd’s salad, also called choban salad (çoban salatası).
Not just one of the Our favorites but a favorite for many!
Shepherd’s Salad Recipe (Turkish – Shepherd’s Salad)
This super tasty and healthy salad is also known as choban salad, from its Turkish name, çoban salatası.
Check out this recipe
A perfect pairing with lamb dishes.
We love the colors in our next salad; Gavurdağı salatası.
The red onion, fresh tomatoes and vibrant green of the chopped fresh parsley contrast beautifully.
Be generous with the pomegranate molasses (nar ekşisi) in this one!
Gavurdağı Salad: Tomato and Walnut Salad
Gavurdağı Salatası is a healthy tomato and nut salad that goes perfectly with grilled meat dishes. If you love strong flavors, Gavurdağı Salad is for you.
Check out this recipe
If you love a hot and spicy addition to your meals, this ezme salad is a great side dish.
Once again, this has to be right up there among the most loved Turkish salad recipes.
It’s not the quickest dish to prepare – it’s a finely chopped salad, so make a portion to keep in an airtight container in the fridge so you can enjoy it for a few days.
Antep Ezme Recipe – Hot and Spicy Turkish Tomato Salad
This Turkish ezme recipe uses light, healthy ingredients and the end result is a delicious spicy tomato salad.
Check out this recipe
Definitely a favorite for us and köfte’s best friends: piyaz has white beans and hard-boiled eggs as its main ingredients.
Our recipe is a regional version from Antalya. An optional extra is topping with black olives.
Antalya Style Piyaz Recipe
This white bean salad recipe is a perfect accompaniment to köfte but is also a tasty addition to your meze table.
Check out this recipe
The next group of Turkish salads are perfect for the hot summer months as both a side dish and a heartier main meal.
Our main salad ingredients: potatoes, chickpeas, lentils, pasta and bulgur fill us up.
If desired, you can use red pepper flakes or chili peppers to add some heat to these. We like it!
Turkish Potato Salad Recipe
A classic potato salad recipe perfect for your Turkish meze table.
Check out this recipe
Turkish Green Lentil Salad Recipe
A light, healthy and refreshing salad, tasty all year round, but perfect in summer.
Check out this recipe
Kısır – Turkish Bulgur Wheat Salad Recipe
A light bulgur salad perfect for summer and full of tangy flavour
Check out this recipe
Chickpea salad – Chickpea salad
This healthy and simple chickpea salad is refreshing. But, at the same time, filling. It’s perfect for the hot summer months. Chickpea salad can be eaten alone or as a snack.
Check out this recipe
Broad Bean Salad with Barley Recipe
This healthy broad bean salad is bursting with the colors and flavors of spring. To be enjoyed as a main meal, as an accompaniment or as a meze.
Check out this recipe
Turkish Barley Salad Recipe – Barley Noodle Salad
This summer barley salad is tasty, healthy and refreshing on a hot day. Serve as a meze, side dish or main meal.
Check out this recipe
And then there’s the Turkish salad for when the heat has really drained all your energy and appetite: it’s time for a seasonal fruit salad.
White cheese (feta) and blue cheese used in the two recipes in this article.
Galia melon salad with cheese and cashews
This Galia Melon Salad is light and refreshing for the hot summer months. It’s also packed with nutritional content, and the addition of nuts and cheese makes it a more substantial meal.
Check out this recipe
We will dive into a green forest with these next Turkish salads.
Fresh lemon juice and garlic add an extra pop of flavor, while the essential pomegranate molasses in the salad dressing takes things to a whole new level.
Turkish purslane and tomato salad
This purslane and tomato salad is a perfect side dish for summer meals. Add some cheese and nuts to make it a meal.
Check out this recipe
Turkish Broccoli Salad Recipe
This Turkish Broccoli Salad recipe is simple and healthy, but most importantly, it tastes amazing! Serve as a side dish or as part of your meze table.
Check out this recipe
Spinach Stem Salad
This is a basic meze dish that is both healthy and a celebration of the spinach stalks you might normally throw away.
Check out this recipe
Healthy Seasonal Mung Bean Salad Recipe
Check out this recipe
And last but not least, we know we said we’d stay away from anything that’s more of a dip than a salad…
But we love aubergine recipes and the clue is in the Turkish name; Patlıcan Salatası. This is very tasty eggplant/eggplant salad.
Roasted Eggplant Salad Recipe
This healthy roasted eggplant salad recipe is a regular presence in the Turkish meze fridge at restaurants. A great addition to your home table in the summer months.
Check out this recipe
As we said, we will add more to this list of Turkish salads as we prepare new ones.
But, for now, whether you’re hosting a dinner party for friends or whipping up a quick weeknight meal, add one of these delicious salads to the mix.
Enjoy your meal!
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