Turkish Spoon Salad (Gavurdağı Salatası) Recipe

 

Gavurdagi Salad

How to Make Turkish Gavurdagi Salad (Gavurdağı Salatası)!

The Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean cuisines are very rich in vegetables, fresh herbs, beans and fish. Olive oil is most widely used. There are many different kind of salads in these cuisines and they are consumed alot. Actually, salads are known through out the world and every region (or nation) has their own salads; such as "Ceasar Salad", "Greek Salad", "Tai Cucumber Salad" and "German Cucumber Salad with vinegar" etc. Healthy salad start with a variety of colorful veggies, fruits, beans, and mixed greens. 

We, Turks, consume salads in the lunch or dinners alot. Also salads are an important part of the meze (side dish) spread at "Kebab Houses" (BBQ Restaurants) in Turkey. When you go to a kebab restaurant in any city of the Turkey, the waiter brings a salad (such as Gavurdağı Salad, Sepherd salad, Mediterranean Salad etc.) and lavash bread to the table without asking you. 

Gavurdağı Salatası is yet another light salad of Turkish cuisine. It is also called as "Spoon Salad". This salad is the "must-have salad" of all kebab restaurants’ menus. When you go to a kebab restaurant especially in Adana city, Mersin city, Gaziantep city, and Hatay city, the waiter brings Gavurdağı Salad and lavash bread to the table without asking you. You can consider it as ‚on the house salad. It is the most common Turkish salad variety of the south and southeast region of Turkey.

In this post, we are going to share our "Turkish Gavurdagi Salad" with you. We are sure that when you try it, you like it alot.

What is Turkish Gavurdagi Salad (Gavurdağı Salatası)!

Gavurdağı salad (or spoon salad) is a very popular salad and you can find it very easily through out the Turkey (especially in the south and southeast region of Turkey). The main ingredients of this salad are juicy tomatoes, spring onions, normal onion, green pepper, parsley, pomegranate syrup (pomegranate molasses), and crushed walnut halves. When we translate this salad’s name into English, it may sound really funny to you. It translates as "Gavur Mountain Salad". Gavurdağı Salad received its name from the mountain located between Adana city and the Ceyhan River (also this mountain is part of the Tarsus mountains in Southeast part of the Turkey).

This salad also known "Spoon Salad"

This delicious salad is from the Gaziantep region, where many wonderfully delicious and spicy Turkish dishes come from. Once the foreigners first see this delicious salad, it may look like a dip more than a salad. The simplicity of the core ingredients lets you think that it is a dip; however, it is a very refreshing and tasty salad. Once you combine the Turkish juicy tomatoes and pomegranate syrup (pomegranate molasses) with any salad, you get a very refreshing blend. We are sure that, you love the marriage of sweet and juicy tomatoes with the crunchy walnuts in this salad; the sweet and sour pomegranate molasses dressing really complements this salad too.

We like to eat this salad with Adana Kebab (Adana meat ball - kofte kebab). Gavurdağı Salad and Adana Kebab suit well to each other by taste. If you are visiting the southern part of Turkey and stop by a kebab restaurant, this famous Turkish salad will be on your table for sure. However, if you are visiting other cities such as Istanbul, İzmir,  Antalya or Ankara you need to ask the waiter if they have it or not. Usually, most kebab restaurants put this delicious salad on their menu.

How to Make Turkish Gavurdagi Salad (Gavurdağı Salatası)!

Gavurdağı salad is also a very easy salad with the construction. You will understand that when you try it. Also we are sure that when you try our recipe for Gavurdagi salad, you like it.

Preparing this salad's process is so easy and simple. There is no cooking process. You just put all chopped ingredients into a deep bowl. Then put the cracked walnut and pour pomegranate syrup (pomegranate molasses), olive oil with the spices onto the salad. Then mix them well with the help of a spoon. That's it. 

Ingredients: A large tomatoes and normal size cucumber

Ingredients: 2-3 springs green onions and
a normal size onion

Ingredients: a green pepper and a few sprigs parsley

Ingredients: a cup of walnuts,

Ingredients: For dressing; 2 tblspn extra virgin olive oil,

Ingredients: For dressing; 4 tblspn pomegranate syrup/molasses

Ingredients: For dressing: 1 teaspoon of sumac,
red pepper flakes and salt,

Ingredients: For dressing; 1 tblspn lemon juice,

Firstly Peel the tomatoes

Then cut it into mini cubes, 

Then put mini cubes tomatoes in a large bowl,

Then chop the onion very finely,

Then put it into bowl 

Then peel the cucumber and cut it into mini cubes

Then put it into bowl

Then remove the green pepper's seeds and chop it very finely,

Then put it into bowl,

Then chop the parsley very finely,

Then put it into bowl,

Then chop the spring green onions very finely,

Then put it into bowl,

Then chop the walnuts very finely and put it over the mixture
and mix all ingredients well,
(dont forget to 4-5 roughly chopped walnuts to garnishing)

For dressing: add a teaspoon salt in another bowl,

Then add extra virgin olive oil,

Then add a teaspoon of sumac into mixture,

Then add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes into mixture,

Then add pomegranate syrup/molasses into mixture,

Mix them very well,

Then pour the dressing over the salad and toss,

Lastly place roughly chopped walnuts and
 a leave of parsley  over the salad and serve

We love this salad as an accompaniment of pasta dishes
 like our favourite spaghetti

Recipe for Turkish Gavurdagi Salad (Gavurdağı Salatası)!

You can enjoy this delicious and easy salad for lunch with your favorite cheese and bread by the side. We also love this salad as an accompaniment of pasta dishes like our favorite spaghetti pasta, highly recommended!

Here it is our Turkish Gavurdagi Salad's recipe;

Very good family favourite;

Serving: 3 Servings,  Preparation Time: 20-25 minutes, Cooking Time: No Cooking, Cuisine: Turkish & Mediterranean Cuisines, Type: 100 % Vegetarian,

Ingredients:

• 1 Large tomatoes or 2 Small tomatoes, peeled and cut into mini cubes,
• 1 Normal size cucumber, peeled and cut into mini cubes,
• 1 Green pepper, finely chopped,
• 1 Normal size onion, finely chopped,
• 2 Spring green onions, finely chopped
• A few sprigs of parsley leaves, finely chopped,
• 10-15 Walnut Halves finely chopped,
• 4-5 Walnut Halves (to garnish) roughly chopped,

For Dressing:

• 4 Tablespoons pomegranate syrup (pomegranate molasses),
• 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice,
• 2 Tablespoon virgin olive oil,
• 1 or 2 Teaspoons red pepper flakes,
• 1 Teaspoon sumac,
• 1 Teaspoon salt,

Preparation:

1. First of all, put your all ingredients on the work table. Then cut the tomatoes and cucumbers into mini cubes. Then peel the onion and chop it very finely. Then, chop the parsley and green onion very finely too. 
2. Then take your green pepper and remove its seeds and chop it finely. Then finely chop a cup of walnuts and don't forget to 4-5 walnut halves to garnish (roughly chopped). 
3. Then In a bowl, mix all the chopped ingredients together. 
4. Then combine the sumac, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, pomegranate syrup (pomegranate molasses), extra virgin olive oil, salt, and stir mixture well in another bowl. Then, pour the dressing over the salad and toss. 
5. Lastly, place a couple of roughly chopoed walnuts and parsley leave on top and serve.

Enjoy!

Please let us know how this "Turkish Gavurdagi Salad (Gavurdağı Salatası) Recipe" turns out for you in the comments. We are always so eager to hear from you.

Turkish Spoon Salad (Gavurdağı Salatası) 

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