Sesame Free Turkish Shepherd's Salad

Total time15 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time0 min

4.5

(18)

This bright, crunchy salad is a staple of Turkish home cooking, and once you taste it, you'll understand why it shows up on tables at nearly every meal. Juicy ripe tomatoes, cool cucumber, crisp green bell pepper, and sharp red onion come together in a bowl that somehow feels both refreshing and deeply satisfying. A generous handful of flat-leaf parsley and a drizzle of good olive oil tie everything together, while fresh lemon juice keeps it lively and light. The real secret weapon here is sumac — that tangy, ruby-red spice that adds a fruity depth you just can't get from vinegar alone. For anyone navigating sesame allergies or sensitivities, this recipe is a genuine breath of fresh air, since Middle Eastern and Mediterranean spreads can often sneak in tahini or sesame-laced dressings without much warning. Every single ingredient here is straightforward and easy to verify, so you can serve it with total confidence. Toss it together right before eating to keep that satisfying crunch, and don't skip the optional mint — it takes the whole thing to another level.

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Ingredients

4 servings

4 medium ripe tomatoes, seeded and cut into ¼-inch dice
2 persian cucumbers (or 1 english cucumber), cut into ¼-inch dice
1 green bell pepper, seeded and cut into ¼-inch dice
½ small red onion, finely diced
½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
½ tsp sumac
½ tsp salt, or to taste
¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste
2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped (optional)

Instructions

1
Combine the diced tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, and parsley in a large mixing bowl.
2
Drizzle the olive oil and lemon juice over the vegetables, then sprinkle with the sumac, salt, and black pepper.

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