Loaded with fresh vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce, and tossed with a bit of lime juice, this light, refreshing side-dish is the perfect accompaniment to almost any meal.
If you ask my family what our favorite restaurant is, they will all tell you that it’s our local Afghan place, Maza Kabob, and this Traditional Afghan Salad is served with every meal.
I’ve tried to replicate a lot of recipes from the Maza Kabob, and this salad is definitely my most successful attempt. It tastes exactly like the salad they serve !
Don’t worry if you’ve never tried their salad though, you’re still going to love this dish. It’s so easy to make, healthy, versatile and delicious. It’s a recipe everyone should have in their collection.
It’s an especially perfect salad for summer, when tomatoes and cucumbers are in season.
And it can be served alongside almost anything, from traditional Middle-Eastern cuisine, to something as American as hamburgers or hot dogs.
I’ve included the same vegetables in this salad that our local restaurant uses, but many Afghan salads feature additional vegetables, like radishes and chili peppers.
So don’t feel like you have to stick to the recipe exactly as written. The key to making this salad special is to finely chop all of the veggies, including the lettuce.
You might not think it matters, but using finely chopped veggies completely changes the texture of this salad, which completely changes the taste.
And yes, the only salad dressing here is freshly squeezed lime juice. I was surprised too, but it’s totally authentic and tastes just like the salad Maza Kabob serves.
My family loves this Traditional Afghan Salad. Now, if only I could replicate some of our other favorite dishes from Maza Kabob. Or maybe not–I really don’t want a reason NOT to visit our favorite restaurant!
Be sure to save this Traditional Afghan Salad recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Traditional Afghan Salad
- Romaine lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Red onions
- Cilantro
- Mint
- Green onions
- Limes
- Salt
Traditional Afghan Salad
Ingredients
- 1 head Romaine lettuce finely chopped
- 3-4 Roma tomatoes finely diced
- 1 large cucumber finely diced
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped mint
- 4 green onions sliced
- Juice of two limes
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all of vegetables and fresh herbs.
- Squeeze lime juice over salad and toss to coat well. Season with salt, to taste.
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Nutrition
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Who Dished It Up First: Adapted from Parwana
