Salad Recipe From My Childhood

If you are a meat eater... I want to introduce you to a salad that you can eat with your meat that will enhance the taste of your dish... but here is the catch; you must eat it with your dish and not eat the salad before your meal.. I grew up in Turkey and we always eat our salads with the meal and there is a reason for this... When you try it, you will know.

Salads enhance the taste of the meal if eaten with the meal... Take a bite from your meat dish and scoop up some salad and chew it together... you will see what I mean.

Here is a salad recipe I promise you will really enjoy with your main course... Lets first make the dressing though.

- 2 to 4 teaspoons of lemon juice
- 1 to 2 minced fresh barley or mint
- 1/14 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- Freshly ground pepper (optional)
- 1/2 cup finest virgin oil you can find

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and beat well with a fork.

Ready for the salad? This is called the Sheppard's salad. It is a very popular salad in the Middle East. It is a staple that is a part of any meat dish. But remember you have to eat it with the meal... This recipe serves about 8. Here are the ingredients:

- 3 large ripe tomatoes diced
- 2 small cucumbers diced... use the pickle kind
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 to 4 minced green onions, including tops
- 1 to 2 large bell peppers diced
- 1 or 2 green chillies minced
- 1 cup chopped parsley
- 1 table spoon of vinegar
- Salt for taste
- Oil and lemon dressing

One key to this salad is to chop all the vegetables finely, such that they can be eaten with a spoon.

Now toss them all in a bowl and mix well and let it sit for a bit. If you let the salad rest in the refrigerator you will like it even more. That certainly is true for me. But you don't have to. Once it is done it is ready to go.

I personally cannot eat a meat dish without this salad and remember to eat it with your meal... Enjoy.