Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Salad with Za'atar Tomatoes and Olives

Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Salad with Za'atar Tomatoes and Olives is light, refreshing, and delicious! Perfect as a side salad or even as the main dish for a light supper or meatless meal. 

While this is a delicious salad to make in the summer months when tomatoes are in their prime, it is also a wonderful salad to enjoy during the winter months.  

Why you might ask? With improved winter hoop houses for growing, vine ripe cherry and grape tomatoes are fairly easy to find in the marketplace, all year long. Even our little town has a few baskets each week when I shop for fresh produce items. 

This salad calls for Za'atar, which is a simple to make spice blend. It just might be the perfect example of home cooking there ever was! I am sure most household make their own homestyle blend. As for me, I had never tried this spice mix before making this salad. Fortunately, it is very easy to make, as well as being delicious so I have included the same homemade version we made and enjoyed.

This salad makes a delightful lunch or light supper. 

Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Salad with Za'atar Tomatoes and Olives can also be paired with whole-grain bread and fresh fruit for a filling lunch or a light supper. When I made this the first time my first task was to stir together the Za'atar, which takes about 30 seconds, it is so simple to do. You just may find yourself making not only this salad but the Za'atar spice blend on a regular bases. Nothing called for is exotic, and yet...

Fortunately the Za'atar recipe yields enough to enjoy the salad at least twice. 

And that is a good thing, because Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Salad with Za'atar Tomatoes and Olives will grace your table time and time again when time is tight, tomatoes are available and you want something fresh and light, and yes, delicious! 

You can offer additional Za'atar at the table and each person can customize their portion of this delightful salad. And should you have any leftover Za'atar simply store it in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid to preserve the delicious flavor.  It is also good as an oil and herb dip for bread. Maybe not traditional, but you will love it just the same. 

Some thoughts on this recipe:

You will layer the salad into the serving bowl as you prepare the vegetables. This also makes a lovely presentation. 

This salad will be tossed right before serving, so make sure the serving bowl selected is large enough to allow tossing the ingredients without spilling. 

For the Za'atar if using a spice grinder, take care to not over-grind the herbs. You want the finished blend to have a bit of texture.

Za'atar is perfect to offer in a bowl over olive oil as a dipping oil for crusty bread!

Ingredients needed for this recipe:

• English cucumber
• cherry or grape tomatoes
• green onions
• black olives
• cottage cheese
• Za'atar seasoning, recipe provided.

You will also need the following:

• kitchen knife
• cutting board
• vegetable peeler
• medium-sized serving bowl
• measuring cups
• mortar and pestle or spice grinder 

Now we are ready to begin!

Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Salad
adapted from, Kalyn's Kitchen 

UPDATED: 04.22.2024

1 large English cucumber, peeled if desired
1 c halved grape or cherry tomatoes
1/2 c sliced black olives
1/4 c sliced green onion
1 c cottage cheese
Za'atar seasoning

Combine the ingredients for the Za'atar, and set aside. 

Quarter the cucumber lengthwise, then slice. Place in the bottom of a medium-sized serving bowl. 

Around the rim of the bowl, add the halved tomatoes, sliced olives, and then the sliced green onions.

In the center of the bowl, place the cottage cheese. 

Sprinkle with a generous tablespoon of the Za'atar seasoning. 

Toss the salad right before serving.  And offer additional Za'atar at the table. 

Za'atar
adapted from, the world wide web
makes about 1/4 cup

1 T toasted sesame seeds
1 T marjoram leaves
1 T thyme leaves
1 T oregano leaves
2 T sumac
3/4 t salt

Using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder, coarsely grind sesame seeds and place them in a small jar. 

Separately grind each of the herbs, placing each into the same jar. 

Add the sumac and salt, cap, and shake to combine.

Storage options for Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Salad with Za'atar Tomatoes and Olives. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can expect some additional liquid from the cucumbers to take have accumulated. 

UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Salad with Za'atar Tomatoes and Olives has been included below. 

You may also enjoy: 

Broccoli Salad with a Curry Dressing. 

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Printable "copy and paste" version:

Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Salad
adapted from, Kalyn's Kitchen 

UPDATED: 04.22.2024

1 large English cucumber, peeled if desired
1 c halved grape or cherry tomatoes
1/2 c sliced black olives
1/4 c sliced green onion
1 c cottage cheese
Za'atar seasoning

Combine the ingredients for the Za'atar, set aside. 

Quarter the cucumber lengthwise, then slice. Place in the bottom of a medium-sized serving bowl. 

Around the rim of the bowl, add the halved tomatoes, sliced olives, and then the sliced green onions.

In the center place the cottage cheese. 

Sprinkle with a generous tablespoon of the Za'atar seasoning. 

Toss the salad right before serving.

Za'atar
adapted from, the world wide web
makes about 1/4 cup

1 T toasted sesame seeds
1 T marjoram leaves
1 T thyme leaves
1 T oregano leaves
2 T sumac
3/4 t salt

Using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder, coarsely grind sesame seeds and place them in a small jar. 

Separately grind each of the herbs, placing each into the same jar. 

Add the sumac and salt, cap, and shake to combine.

Storage options for Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Salad with Za'atar Tomatoes and Olives. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can expect some additional liquid from the cucumbers to take have accumulated. 

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