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I love my greens, but in my Russian Jewish family, I didn’t grow up eating them much. Instead, we had a lot of finely chopped salads, like creamy cucumber salad, cucumber tomato salad (or tomato cucumber avocado salad once we moved to the U.S.), and a variation of this easy Israeli salad recipe.
Israeli salad recipes typically have cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, peppers, and fresh herbs (usually parsley). They are popular in Israel, but also have a history being served in Persian meals. Fresh, chopped veggies mingle with a simple, refreshing Israeli salad dressing (it’s just a simple lemon vinagrette!) for a bright and crunchy salad.
Bonus: If you have kids in the house that refuse to eat lettuce and other greens, this is a great way to get them eating healthy salads!
Why You’ll Love This Israeli Salad Recipe
- Fresh, citrusy, and vibrant
- Crisp and crunchy texture
- 7 simple ingredients (plus salt and pepper)
- Ready in 10 minutes
- Naturally vegan, low carb, and gluten-free
- Easy, healthy side dish that goes with everything!

Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best Israeli salad ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Salad:
- Tomatoes – I used Roma tomatoes, but you could also use sliced cherry tomatoes or really any other tomato.
- Cucumbers – Use Persian cucumbers for their mild flavor and delicate skins. However, English cucumbers would work as well. Peel any varieties that have tough skins.
- Bell Peppers – For color and crunch. I used red bell pepper, but any colors you have on hand will work great.
- Onion – Sweet onions, red onions, or yellow onions will all work.
- Fresh Parsley – Adds a flavorful and colorful garnish. You could also different fresh herbs, such as fresh mint, dill, or chives.
VARIATION: Add feta cheese!
About 1/3 to 1/2 cup of crumbled feta makes a great addition.
Dressing:
- Olive Oil – Extra virgin olive oil is the best choice for a lemon vinaigrette because it complements the tart, acidic flavor of the lemon. You can use other oils if you like, though.
- Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice is best, but bottled lemon juice will work for convenience.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – Adjust to taste.

How To Make Israeli Salad
This section shows how to make Israeli cucumber salad, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Dice the veggies: tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions.
- Make the dressing. In a medium-large bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper. Tilt the bowl and whisk until emulsified.
- Assemble the Israeli salad. Add the chopped vegetables to the bowl with the dressing, and toss together. (Alternatively, you can place the veggies in an empty large bowl, whisk the dressing in a smaller bowl, and pour the dressing over the salad.)

Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep the salad in the refrigerator for 1-3 days. (You may need to drain excess liquid that will gather in the bottom of your storage container.)
- Meal prep: Chop all the veggies and make the dressing ahead of time, and store separately in the fridge.
What To Serve With Israeli Salad
Israeli chopped salad pairs with a variety of mains. Its vibrant flavor and crunchy texture will make any meal come alive!
- Chicken – For a quick and easy dinner, pair it with juicy Mediterranean chicken or herby basil pesto chicken.
- Fish – A cool, crisp side salad featuring Israeli flavors makes an excellent accompaniment to seafood dishes, like baked cod or flaky Chilean sea bass.
- Lamb – Grill up some lamb kofta kebabs in the summertime, or if the weather doesn’t cooperate, make air fryer lamb chops.
- Beef – Try simple classics like a juicy burger or sirloin steak (or grill your steak if it’s warm out!).
- Hummus – For a classic meal, serve it alongside a bowl of hummus and pita bread (I make my own almond flour pita bread, though it’s not traditional), or with gyros.
More Fresh Salad Recipes
If you like this simple Israeli salad, you might also like some of these other quick salad recipes with big, fresh flavors:
Recommended Tools
- Wooden Salad Bowl – My favorite for a gorgeous presentation.
- Glass Storage Containers – Leftovers? Easily store them in these glass containers with lids.
Israeli Salad Recipe
Israeli Salad (10 Minutes!)
This Israeli salad recipe takes just 10 minutes! Make it with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, parsley & simple lemon vinaigrette.
Recipe Video
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Combine olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper in a medium-large bowl. Tilt the bowl and whisk until emulsified.
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Add the chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, and parsley. Toss to coat.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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11 Comments
Angela
0I am soooo glad I discovered this Israeli salad, delicious and fresh, I make it very often for lunch but also as a side for dinner!
Gina
0This salad is so fresh, it’s the kind of thing I could eat all summer long. I added some beans for satiety and made it a meal!
Julianne
0This is the perfect summer salad! It’s so cool and refreshing, especially in these hot summer months and the flavors are so bright. Delish!
Shelby
0I loved all the color in this salad, and the fact that it came together in just 10 minutes was a huge win on Friday night.
Janice
0This Israeli salad was really delicious! I made some yesterday, and it was truly a hit at our family gathering! This recipe is a must-try!
Patricia
0I do a version of this with tomato, cukes, olives, olive oil and the liquid from the olive bottle. It’s very good. I’ll try yours now, also. It’s so nice to have options.
JulieJOY
0Simple. Fresh. Can’t beat that basic dressing to create a satisfying salad. I’m reading this at bedtime. This is now on tomorrow’s menu!
Renee
0Bright, simple and delicious!
Kushigalu
0Love how simple and colorful this salad is.
Cookilicious
0I make something similar too! Love this crunchy veggie salad
Liz
0Veggies, lemon, salt, and olive oil are all my favorite things!!