Salads from the Mediterranean and the Aegean with a touch of Californian flavors. Most of these salad are very rich in nutrients and flavors and can easily be served as main courses.

November 11, 2023

Red Salad – Kırmızı Salata

Here’s a refreshing salad which happens to be a well-tested community recipe. Recently we enjoyed it at a dinner party at our friend Zinnur’s house and […]
September 15, 2023

Purslane Salad with Blackberries

Purslane (semizotu), a fast growing weed, has many nutritional benefits. It is rich in vitamins A & C as well as antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. […]
August 31, 2022

Zucchini Ribbons with Rice in Olive Oil

Zucchini Ribbons with Rice in Olive Oil
November 14, 2014

Simple and Delicious Green Lentil Salad with Herbs – Maydanozlu Yeşil Mercimek Salatası

 Green Lentil Salad with Herbs My friend Zinnur, ever so busy, somehow always finds time to get the friends together at her house. This salad was […]
November 8, 2014

Roasted Bell Peppers in Lemon Garlic Sauce – Tarator Soslu Közlenmiş Biber

Tarator is a garlic-olive oil based sauce that is commonly used in summer salads in Western Turkey. Cooked long string beans (börülce), zucchini, peppers of all […]
May 26, 2014

Red Beet Green Apple Salad

Red Beet Green Apple Salad I don’t believe there are any Turkish recipes that use raw beets. Typically in Turkish Cuisine, beets are cooked before they […]
May 22, 2014

Cauliflower Tabule Salad

Cauliflower Tabule (Tabbouleh) Salad – Karnıbahar Kısırı   Tabule (Tabbouleh) is a traditional Lebanese salad made with fine bulgur, finely chopped herbs, seasoned with olive oil and […]
March 7, 2014

Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing Ingredients: 6 cups baby kale 1 medium green apple, sliced 1 medium orange, peeled 1 small avocado, diced 2  Tbsp hemp […]
February 4, 2014

Barley Salad with Pomegranates

  Barley Salad with Pomegranate Seeds I make a quinoa salad similar to this. I was having my friends for lunch and I planned to cook […]
December 30, 2013

Roasted Eggplant Salad with Almonds and Mint – Nazuktan

Roasted Eggplant Salad with Almonds and Mint – Nazuktan Roasted Eggplant Salad with Almonds and Mint – Nazuktan Nazuktan is a Central Anatolian recipe. I have […]
March 29, 2013

Spinach Salad with Orzo & Cheese – Sehriyeli Ispanak Salatası

Spinach Salad with Orzo and Cheese Ingredients: 1 bag (6 oz) fresh baby spinach 1/4 cup orzo (barley shaped pasta) 1 table spoon pine nuts, roasted […]
November 15, 2012

Arugula Salad with Walnuts and Feta Cheese – Cevizli Roka Salatası

Arugula Salad with Walnuts and Feta Cheese – Cevizli Roka Salatası Arugula is surely one of the Mediterranean salad favorites. In Turkey it is commonly served […]
November 2, 2012

3 Layer Potato Salad – 3 Katlı Patates Salatası

3 Layer Potato Salad – 3 Katlı Patates Salatasi This in fact, is an appetizer/salad that consists of 3 different appetizers in three different colors layered […]
October 22, 2012

Celery Root Salad – Kereviz Salatası

Celery Root Salad – Kereviz Salatası Here’s very health salad that you can also serve as a dip or as a topping for crackers or pita […]
October 16, 2012

Layered Cauliflower-Broccoli Salad – Katlı Karnıbahar-Brokoli Salatası

Cauliflower-Broccoli Salad – Karnıbahar-Brokoli Salatası Ingredients: 1 medium cauliflower 1 lb broccoli juice of 1 lemon 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 teaspoon mustard salt and pepper […]
August 18, 2012

Arugula Salad with Tuna and Roasted Eggplants – Ton Balıklı Roka Salatası

Tuna Salad with Arugula and Roasted Eggplants Ingredients: 1 5 oz can of Solid Tuna in water 1+3 table spoons extra virgin olive oil Juice of […]
July 18, 2012

Shepherd’s Salad – Çoban Salatası

Shepherd’s Salad –  Çoban Salatası Especially popular during summer, Shepherd’s Salad (Çoban Salatası) is light, refreshing and easy to make. It is a combination of finely […]
July 16, 2012

Cucumber Salad with Yogurt

Cucumber Salad with Yogurt Here’s a refreshing salad for hot summer days that is easy to make. I use small cucumbers that are sold as Persian […]
June 4, 2012

Carrot Salad with Garlic Yogurt – Yoğurtlu Havuç Ezmesi

Carrot Salad with Garlic Yogurt “Raki” is an anise based drink that is unofficially considered to be the national drink of Turkey. Raki is not just […]
May 22, 2012

Quinoa Salad with Artichokes and Sun Dried Tomatoes

Quinoa Salad with Artichokes and Sun Dried Tomatoes This is a simple summer salad that I make with Quinoa and other grains. You can use cooked […]
May 9, 2012

Purslane Salad with Garlic Yogurt

Purslane Salad with Garlic Yogurt Ingredients: 1 bunch purslane (about 1 cup) 1 cup yogurt 2 cloves of garlic, crushed Salt to taste Directions: Nip tender […]
April 22, 2012

Circassian Chicken Salad – Cerkez Tavugu

Circassian Chicken Salad – Cerkez Tavugu This is one of classical mezes (appetizers) of the Ottoman Cuisine. It originates from the Caucasus Mountains where the Circassians […]
April 9, 2012

Fruit Salad with Nuts

Fruit Salad with Nuts Ingredients: 1 cup blueberries 1 mango, cubed 1 orange, cubed 3 small mandarin oranges 1 cup strawberries, cut in quarters 1 cup […]
April 1, 2012

White Bean Salad – Piyaz

Piyaz – Classic Piyaz – Antalya Style Piyaz is usually a bean salad, mostly of white beans, with lots of onions and parsley, olive oil & […]
March 14, 2012

Mung Bean Salad – Maş Fasulyesi Piyazi

Mung Bean Salad – Maş Fasulyesi Piyazi Piyaz in general is a bean salad with chopped onions and herbs in an olive oil – vinegar dressing. […]
March 9, 2012

Red Cabbage Salad

Red Cabbage Salad In the summer of 2009, we went on a 3 day bus trip with our friends from high school to Amasra, a small […]
February 28, 2012

Pink Sultan – Beet Dip with Garlic Yogurt

Pink Sultan – Pembe Sultan Here’s a meze bursting with color and flavor. Its almost florescent pink color comes from the beets. When one day, my […]
February 20, 2012

Zucchini Dip with Garlic Yogurt

Zucchini Dip with Garlic Yogurt This is a “meze”, an appetizer, usually served as one of the side dishes that accompany a typical “raki dinner table” […]
February 10, 2012

Black Eyed Peas Salad – Borulce Piyazi

Black Eyed Peas Salad – Borulce Piyazi Piyaz is a kind of salad or meze that is made from some kind of dry beans, onions, parsley, […]
December 17, 2011

Holiday Quinoa Salad

Holiday Quinoa Salad Quinoa Salad with Red & Green Peppers Ingredients: ·         1 cup organic quinoa ·         ½ cup olive oil ·         1 medium onion ·         […]
December 11, 2011

Black Bean Salad

Black Bean Salad  I have to admit that there’s nothing Turkish about this recipe. Practically no one has heard of black beans, cilantro or quinoa in […]
December 9, 2011

Roasted Eggplant Salad

Roasted Eggplant Salad    When people see me buying eggplants at the supermarket, sometimes they ask “how do you cook them?, do you steam or stir […]
July 11, 2011

Potato Salad

Potato Salad This is a very healthy version of potato salad. It is mayonnaise-free!  Ingredients: 3-4 medium size potatoes 1 medium red onion ½ cup olive […]
July 11, 2011

Gypsy Salad

Gypsy Salad (Cingen Pilavi) Although the original name, Cingen Pilavi means Gypsy Pilav when translated word by word, this is a salad. It is only known […]
July 1, 2011

Green Lentil Salad with Rice

This is a recipe from my sister Nuvit’s friend Ahu who lives in Istanbul.   Ingredients: 1 cup dry green lentils ½ cup rice ¼ cup […]
July 1, 2011

Cabbage Salad

Cabbage Salad I had this salad at my friend Vega’s house first. Her husband Haluk is the king of salads. I came home and tried to […]