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Chopped Shepherd's Salad

A fresh Mediterranean salad from Turkey featuring crisp vegetables, tangy feta cheese, and fresh herbs with a simple olive oil and lemon dressing.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 180

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 3 large tomatoes, finely diced
  • 2 medium cucumbers, chopped
  • 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
  • 4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Method
 

Preparation Steps
  1. Wash all vegetables thoroughly under cold water. Dice the tomatoes into uniform pieces, roughly 1/2-inch in size. Remove excess seeds if tomatoes are particularly juicy to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
  2. Cut cucumbers into similar-sized pieces as the tomatoes. Leave the skin on for extra nutrition and texture, but peel if you prefer a milder flavor.
  3. Slice the red onion as thinly as possible using a sharp knife or mandoline. If you find raw onions too strong, soak the slices in ice water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
  4. Dice the bell pepper into small pieces and roughly chop the fresh herbs. The parsley should be chopped fine enough to distribute evenly, while mint leaves can be slightly larger.
  5. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  6. Gently toss all vegetables with the dressing in a large bowl. Add crumbled feta cheese last to prevent it from breaking down too much. Let the salad rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.

Notes

This traditional Turkish salad requires no cooking. For best results, prepare ingredients up to 4 hours ahead and toss with dressing just before serving to maintain crispness. Cut vegetables uniformly small for balanced flavors in every bite. Don't add salt directly to tomatoes until ready to serve as this draws out moisture. Store leftovers in refrigerator for up to 2 days, best consumed within 24 hours. Remove excess seeds from tomatoes if they are particularly juicy to prevent watery salad.