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Monday, April 22, 2024

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. 


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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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Would you like to comment?

  1. I enjoy cottage cheese with fruit, but I especially enjoy it with more savory ingredients, so this sounds delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoy this salad and especially love that it is also full of vegetables! Thanks for stopping by, have a great week ahead.

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  2. Hubby would like this! Thanks so much for linking up at the 25 and Done Link Party 4! 25 entries in 25 hours!! Shared onto Fb, Pn, and Tw!

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  3. I am so excited to try this! We just started a new meal plan and this will fit perfectly! thanks for the inspo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very welcome! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

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  4. Humm. I'm used to using feta for this kind of salad. I may have to try this version just to compare.

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    Replies
    1. What a great idea, thanks! I will add some along with the Za'atar the next time we have this.

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  5. I love the flavor of Za'atar and this salad looks quite tasty. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays this week.

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  6. Thank you for this great recipe and particularly for the recipe for Za Atar.

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  7. Melynda, oh my this sure sounds good. I've never heard of this before, now I'm interested and curious.
    SSPS#69&70

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    Replies
    1. Hi Paula, it is a lovely salad and perfect when tomatoes are at their peak! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

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  8. Trying to eat more cottage cheese, apparently its good for my blood type. So this is a brill idea, cheers for sharing it with us at the #SSPS Julie Syl xoxo

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  9. We lived overseas for a couple of years, and as a result I LOVE za'atar! I am going to try this recipe, for sure! Looks wonderful! Visiting from Talking About it Tuesdays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jennifer, what a good way to get introduced to the delicious flavors of other countries. I think you will enjoy this salad...

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  10. Replies
    1. Joanne, it makes a lovely meal, with or without a crusty piece of bread on the side. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.

      Delete
  11. This looks delicious Melynda and I have all the ingredients! Thanks for the recipe and I agree a crusty piece of bread on the side makes it a perfect meal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, it is quite lovely! Have a great week ahead, take care.

      Delete
  12. Melynda, this salad sounds wonderful. We just purchased a baguette at the grocery store, and I think this would go great with it. Thank you for sharing at The Crazy Little Lovebirds link party #35.

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    Replies
    1. Stephanie, it is different and delicious, thanks for hosting and taking a moment to stop by, I appreciate it.

      Delete
  13. Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party - have a fabulous week!

    ReplyDelete

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