Slow Travel Sunday Salad Samplers # 13 (7/19) Israeli Salad

This week's selection was made by Slow Talk member and Moderator, Teaberry. I really loved this salad. It was very delicious, easy to make and was cool and perfect for a hot summer day in Southern California. I followed her recipe, even using an English cucumber for the first time. The only thing I forgot at the grocery store was one of the recommended toppings, but that's okay because I know that I'll be making this salad again soon! Thank you Teaberry for sharing your delicious salad recipe with us!


Here's Teaberry's detailed instructions:

I first ate this salad when I visited Israel, where they love eating fresh vegetables cut up small like this for breakfast! Almost every Israeli knows how to make an Israeli salad, and there are probably as many variants as there are Israelis.

This variation is actually from Molly Katzen's book, The Enchanted Broccoli Forest, which was an early standard for me. I'm not vegetarian, but I do love vegetarian food, and she was a real groundbreaker in that cooking genre. Her original recipe includes 1/2 cup of minced red onion, which I omit because I am not a fan of raw onions, but please feel free to include it if it suits your fancy. You can make this several hours ahead of serving time.

Israeli salad

1 large English cucumber, or 2 6" regular ones (the English cucumbers have fewer seeds)
2-3 medium-sized ripe tomatoes
12 radishes
1/2 cup pimiento-stuffed green olives
2 scallions
1 large Kosher pickle
1 medium green pepper
3/4 cup (packed) fresh parsley
1/4 cup olive oil
juice from 1 large lemon
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Cut the cucumber and tomatoes into small cubes and place in large bowl. In your food processor, place the radishes and olives; pulse until roughly chopped. Add to the large bowl.

Place the scallions, pickle, and green pepper in the food processor and mince. Add to the large bowl. Mince the parsley in the food processor; add to large bowl. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper to your salad, and toss everything together gently. Chill.

Optional additions: feta cheese on top, or you can serve with yogurt or sour cream or little cubes of cream cheese on top.