This delicious Middle Eastern salad is both flavorful and healthy, proving that eating well doesn’t mean sacrificing taste!
The star in this salad recipe is Green Wild thyme “Zaatar.” In this post, we will explore what green wild thyme is and why it’s the perfect addition to your salad, the health benefits of eating this salad, the ingredients for making the salad, and how to make it step-by-step.
Get ready to fall in love with this Middle Eastern Zaatar salad recipe!
What is green wild thyme?
Zaatar, which is the Arabic name for Thyme, refers to both the dried herb mix za’atar, the one used for making zaatar manakeesh, and the fresh wild thyme, which is the hero of this recipe.
The fresh zaatar I am using in this recipe is botanically known as “Thymbra spicata” which has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for over 1,000 years. It is native to the Mediterranean region and has been used in cooking for centuries. It is a mint family member known for its strong, earthy flavor and aroma.
Wild zaatar has a strong and intense flavor; you might also get a hint of bitterness, and it can easily overpower other ingredients.
Zaatar salad health benefits:
This salad is packed with health benefits, especially the Green wild thyme. Although it may be small in size, its health benefits should not be overlooked. Green wild thyme is an underrated herb packed with potent antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can boost overall health and well-being.
Zaatar is commonly taken orally for respiratory ailments such as coughing, asthma, and bronchitis. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Ingredients for making Zaatar Salad:
Here is the list of ingredients you need to make your salad:
- Wild thyme or what we call fresh green zaatar.
- Cucumbers
- Cherry/candy tomatoes
- Red onion
- Pomegranate
- Grilled green olives
- Green almonds:
It is optional to use them, and that depends on availability, as green almonds have a short window of availability. It is almost the end of their season here in the UAE, and I thought of using them in this salad as they add a different flavor and texture to it, plus the added health benefits.
How to make Zaatar Salad:
This salad is easy to make with a few simple steps:
- Start by prepping your ingredients. Begin by washing and drying your green zaatar leaves, then adding them to a large bowl. Slice your candy tomatoes into halves, and cut the red onion into thin slices.
- Using a crinkle cutter knife slice the cucumbers into circles, then dice them into thin sticks, just to add different shapes and make the salad interesting and fun! totally optional you can dice the cucumbers however you prefer or like.
- Slice the green almonds into thin slices. Cut the grilled green olives into halves.
- De-seed a pomegranate and add all your veggies to the big bowl with the fresh zaatar leaves.
- Now that you have all the base ingredients for your salad ready, it is time to mix the dressing ingredients. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, sumac powder, and salt to a jar and shake well to combine.
- Drizzle the dressing and toss everything together to combine.
Serving and storing the salad:
There are a few tips to keep your zaatar salad fresh and delicious for as long as possible. First, it’s best to dress the salad just before serving to prevent the green leaves from wilting. If you must prepare it beforehand, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together just before serving.
This salad is quite versatile when it comes to serving. It works well as a light and refreshing lunch or a side dish for any meal. To add a bit of protein, you could add some crispy tofu or serve it alongside a protein-rich main, like our Mujadara recipe.
If you have leftovers, it’s best to store them in an airtight container in the fridge. The salad will be kept for a day at most; after that, the green zaatar will wilt and won’t taste that fresh.
Recommended Vegan salad recipes to try next:
- Homemade vegan chicken salad recipe.
- Healthy Quinoa tabbouleh.
- The famous Arabic salad.
- It’s my all-time favorite Vegan potato salad.
- Healthy plant-based Lentil salad.
If you make this recipe, I’d love a comment and a rating. Please make sure to tag me in re-creation on Instagram @veganbilaraby. I love to see your take on my vegan recipes 💚
Zaatar Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad ingredients:
- 2 cups wild thyme (fresh zaatar) loosly packed
- 1 large cucumber cut into sticks
- 1 cup candy tomatoes halved
- ½ small red onion sliced
- ¾ cup pomegranate seeds
- ½ cup green almonds sliced
- ⅓ cup grilled green olives halved
Salad Dressing ingredients:
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp sumac powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses optional.
Instructions
- In a small jar, mix the dressing ingredients and shake to combine all. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the zaatar leaves, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, green almonds, pomegranate seeds, and grilled green olives. Toss together to combine.
- Drizzle the dressing and toss the salad. Enjoy
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