The 16 Best Salads in the World
A great salad is never an afterthought — in most of the world it’s the dish everyone reaches for first. Lebanon chops parsley like it matters (it does), Thailand pounds papaya with chilies, Bulgaria stacks tomatoes under snowdrifts of cheese. These are the 16 best salads in the world, each with an authentic recipe.
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Tabbouleh
LebanonA parsley salad with bulgur — not the other way round — bright with lemon and mint, the Levant's green heart.
Meet Tabbouleh, one of Lebanon's most refreshing and vibrant dishes! This bright herb salad brings together a generous handful of parsley, juicy tomatoes, nutty bulgur and plenty of zesty lemon. Light, healthy and bursting with …
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Som Tam
ThailandGreen papaya pounded with chilies, lime, fish sauce and peanuts — crunchy, fiery, unforgettable.
Meet Som Tam, Thailand's irresistible green papaya salad and a star of street-side cooking right across the country. Shredded unripe papaya is pounded together with lime, chilli, fish sauce and crunchy peanuts to create a dish …
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Horiatiki
GreeceTomatoes, cucumber, olives and a slab of feta under oregano — the village salad the world copied.
Say kalimera to Greek Salad, the sun-soaked classic that captures the spirit of a Greek summer on a single plate. Built from ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sharp red onion, briny Kalamata olives and a generous slab of feta, all …
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Shopska Salad
BulgariaRipe vegetables under a snowfall of grated sirene — Bulgaria's national salad in national colours.
Discover Shopska Salad, Bulgaria's bright and endlessly refreshing national dish. Ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumber and sweet peppers are tossed together and buried under a snowdrift of grated white sirene cheese — a plateful that …
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Gado-Gado
IndonesiaBlanched vegetables, tofu and egg united by warm peanut sauce — a salad substantial enough to be dinner.
Discover Gado-Gado, one of Indonesia's most cherished dishes! This vibrant salad brings together crisp, freshly blanched vegetables, golden cubes of tofu and a glossy, deeply savoury peanut sauce. It is as nourishing as it is …
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Fattoush
LebanonCrisp fried pita shards over sumac-bright vegetables — the Levant's genius for leftovers.
Brighten up any table with Fattoush, the vibrant Lebanese salad that turns a handful of fresh vegetables and crisp toasted flatbread into something quite special. Tossed in a tangy, sumac-spiked dressing, it captures the colour, …
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Olivier Salad
RussiaPotatoes, peas, pickles and mayonnaise — the festive salad of the entire post-Soviet world.
Meet Olivier Salad, the creamy, colourful centrepiece of every Russian celebration table. This much-loved classic brings together tender diced potatoes, carrots, peas and crunchy pickles, all bound in a rich, velvety dressing. …
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Caprese
ItalyTomato, mozzarella, basil, oil — four ingredients, one flag, zero room for error.
Discover Caprese Salad, one of Italy's most beloved starters! Few dishes capture the spirit of an Italian summer quite like this one: sun-ripened tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil, finished with a generous drizzle of …
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Salade Niçoise
FranceTuna, olives, anchovies and egg from the Riviera — a salad worth arguing about (Nice does).
Say bonjour to Salade Niçoise, the sun-drenched classic that captures the spirit of the French Riviera on a single plate. Born in the seaside city of Nice, this vibrant salad layers crisp green beans, ripe tomatoes, flaked tuna, …
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Kachumbari
KenyaTomato, onion and chili sharpened with lime — East Africa's essential fresh counterpoint to nyama choma.
Discover Kachumbari, the bright, crunchy tomato-and-onion relish that turns up at practically every Kenyan table. Little more than ripe tomatoes, sharp onion, fresh coriander and a squeeze of lime, it delivers a burst of freshness …
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Israeli Salad
IsraelCucumber and tomato diced impossibly fine — eaten at breakfast, lunch and dinner without fatigue.
Discover Israeli Salad, a bright celebration of fresh vegetables and simple, sunny flavours. Finely diced tomatoes, crisp cucumber and colourful peppers are tossed with olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a handful of parsley to …
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Zaalouk
MoroccoSmoky mashed eggplant and tomato with cumin and garlic — Morocco's silky cooked salad.
Discover Zaalouk, one of Morocco's most beloved everyday dishes! This fragrant blend of silky aubergine and ripe tomato is slow-cooked with garlic and warm spices until it melts into a rich, smoky relish. Served as a side or …
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Solterito
PeruBroad beans, corn, cheese and rocoto from Arequipa — the Andes' answer to the summer salad.
Say hello to Solterito Arequipeño, a bright and refreshing salad from the highland city of Arequipa in Peru. This colourful bowl brings together fluffy quinoa, crisp fresh vegetables and tender cheese, all lifted by a squeeze of …
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Cobb Salad
USAThe Hollywood original: rows of chicken, bacon, egg, avocado and blue cheese — a composed classic.
Say hello to the Cobb Salad, one of America's most colourful and satisfying classics! Crisp lettuce forms the base for tender chicken breast, crumbled bacon and creamy avocado, all brought together with a sharp vinaigrette. It is …
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Mizeria
PolandCucumbers in soured cream and dill — Poland's gentle, cooling side whose name means 'misery' (it isn't).
Cool, creamy and wonderfully refreshing, Mizeria with soured cream is Poland's answer to a summer cucumber salad. Crisp cucumbers are folded through a velvety dressing of soured cream and fresh dill, with just a whisper of sugar …
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Gỏi Bò
VietnamVietnamese beef salad with herbs, lime and crushed peanuts — light, loud and perfectly balanced.
Cool, fresh and bursting with flavour, Goi Bo is Vietnam's much-loved beef salad and the perfect thing to make when the weather warms up. Tender strips of beef meet crisp vegetables and a tangle of fragrant herbs, all brought …
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