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Taverna Salad

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This vibrant Taverna Salad is a Mediterranean-style dish packed with crisp vegetables, tangy dressing, and rich, golden halloumi or feta. Inspired by Greek horiatiki and Lebanese fattoush, it’s a hearty, flavor-packed salad perfect for summer lunches, dinner parties, or a quick weeknight meal.

  • Author: Julia
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4 as a main, or 6 as a side
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Pan-seared, Tossed
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

1 bell pepper, diced

12 cucumbers, diced

1 shallot, thinly sliced

1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

½ cup Kalamata olives

12 tbsp capers

¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, grated

3 tbsp olive oil (plus more for frying pita, if using fresh)

Salt and pepper to taste

6 oz halloumi cheese (or feta, crumbled)

2 pita breads, torn into pieces (or 1 cups store-bought pita chips)

Instructions

Dice the bell pepper and cucumbers, halve the tomatoes, thinly slice the shallot, and chop the parsley and mint.

In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, red wine vinegar, grated garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.

In a large bowl, combine the diced vegetables, olives, and capers. Pour the dressing over and toss to combine. Let marinate while preparing the rest.

For crispy pita, fry the torn pita pieces in olive oil until golden, or use store-bought pita chips.

Slice the halloumi and sear in a nonstick pan over medium heat until browned and crisp on both sides.

Just before serving, toss the salad with the crispy pita and top with warm halloumi or crumbled feta.

Notes

To make this gluten-free, use gluten-free pita chips or omit the pita entirely.

For extra protein, add chickpeas or grilled chicken.

Feta, paneer, or grilled tofu can be used instead of halloumi.

Store leftovers (without pita) in the fridge up to 2 days.

Reheat halloumi gently in a pan for best texture.

Nutrition