Alexandrian Mediterranean Salad

This instructable is about making a Mediterranean salad 🥗 the way it's made in Alexandria, Egypt.

Salad has been a main dish in our dinners in Alexandria, especially in the months of Ramadan. It's made with the available seasonal vegetables. Now a days, most vegetables are available all the year round with a difference in quality and price. Winter the best season for vegetables and especially green leafy vegetables in Egypt.

The dressing is a combination of olive oil and vinegar or lemon 🍋 juice. I decorated my salad with basil which was not common in my childhood in Alexandria. It gives the salad a sweet taste and an appealing aroma. There are many varieties of basil. I used the Egyptian basil.

INGREDIENTS

• Basil (sweet Egyptian)
• Carrots
• Cucumber
• Iceberg lettuce
• Lemon
• Olive oil
• Olives (black)
• Onions
• Parsley
• Pepper (black)
• Peppers (bell yellow & red)
• Radishes
• Rocca
• Salt
• Tomatoes

Vinegar helps cut down on bacteria as well as removes a good amount of surface dirt and pesticides residue on fresh produce.

To make a vinegar soak:

• Clean your sink (alternatively a large bowl), then fill it with cold water.
• Add 1 cup of white vinegar and submerge your vegetables in the water.
• Let soak for 15 minutes.
• Drain the water and give the vegetables a quick rinse.
• Lay the vegetables out on a kitchen towel until dry, hand dry each piece individually, or use a salad spinner dryer.

Peal the carrots, cucumber, onions, and radishes.

In Cairo, they would prefer to get the vegetables in small pieces for a Baladi Salad (Local Salad). It might be the strong influence of the Greek cuisine in Alexandria that makes a difference in how vegetables are cut into larger pieces.

Sc the carrots with a

In a small glass,

• Add 1tbs of virgin olive oil in a small glass
• Squeeze 2 lemons
• Add salt and pepper as per you preferences.

Mix all the ingredients and dress your salad.

Decorate your salad with Basil. If you add cut Egyptian basil to your salad, it will give your salad a pleasing sweet taste/aroma.