Tomato and Parsley Barley Salad with Marinated Feta

Wanting a mild and clean salad to go together with a Middle Eastern meal offering baked home made falafel served up in wraps, the concept for this clean-to-prepare clean salad is based totally on tabbouleh. As I had a few freshly ground za'atar reachable, I determined to energy up that concept to consist of spices, cherry tomatoes, combined bell peppers, gently roasted cashews, and za'atar marinated pieces of sheep's milk feta cheese.

The distinguishing feature of tabbouleh is the prominence of fresh parsley and the presence of bulgur wheat in varying proportions, further to different chopped vegetables including tomatoes. The fresh salad is dressed with a easy mixture of clean lemon juice, olive oil and basic seasonings, and additionally typically capabilities clean mint.

The salad I present right here is pretty exclusive from a traditional tabbouleh, as as opposed to bulgur or even couscous, which has a comparable texture, I wanted a chewier grain and so boiled up a small quantity of pearl barley instead. I not noted fresh mint and covered some chopped peppers, and for a more considerable touch, topped every element with some marinated feta cheese chunks. Marinating the feta cheese in za'atar ? A exceedingly fragrant, zesty and salty Middle Eastern spice mixture of toasted sesame seeds, dried thyme, dried marjoram and sumac ? Virtually adds an additional complementary punch to the fresh and bursting flavors that make the salad itself. In truth, the marinated portions of feta cheese are so accurate, you'll must stop yourself from consuming them earlier than serving the salad.

Other sparkling salads to enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:

Chickpea Olive Salad with Za'atar and Cherry Tomatoes

Chickpea, Olive and Feta Cheese Salad

Quinoa Spinach Salad with Feta, Pomegranate and Toasted Almonds

Cauliflower & Olive Salad

Watermelon & Feta Salad With Olives

On the top of the reading stack: Tahini and Turmeric: 101 Middle Eastern Classics--Made Irresistibly Vegan

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