This simple Israeli Salad adds feta cheese and hard-boiled eggs to the traditional diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh herbs. It is as delicious as it is authentic!

Israeli salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, dill, hard boiled egg, and feta cheese

Israeli Salad was born on Israel’s kibbutzim (communal farms) where fresh salad ingredients were abundant. At it’s most basic, it is diced cucumbers and tomatoes in an olive oil and lemon juice dressing.

Wikipedia describes as “the most well-known national dish of Israel.” Way to go on the fame and recognition, Israeli Salad! You totally deserve it. You are sooooo good.

Standard accompanying ingredients usually include onion, lemon juice, olive oil, and black pepper. Alone, that would be a delicious enough union of flavors, especially if you’re using sweet, garden-fresh tomatoes.

But last week, my cousin Nina, who once lived on a kibbutz, came to visit. We made this salad together while she was here, and she recommended adding either hard-boiled egg or feta cheese.

Nina specified either eggs or feta, but I insisted on adding both, because mmmm, eggs. And mmmm, feta.

Nina also adds whatever fresh herbs she has on hand. Parsley, cilantro, basil, parsley and mint are all popular choices (We used dill.)

The classic Israeli salad begs for experimentation and creativity. There are versions with radishes, bell peppers, chilies, carrots, cabbage, chives, ginger, chickpeas, olives, preserved lemon peel, cayenne—you name it.

Cucumbers are essential, but you can use either the large English cucumbers or the smaller Persian cucumbers.

Nina’s husband likes to add mayonnaise, which may sound odd for a Middle Eastern salad. But the resulting texture resembles Israeli salads made with the traditional white cheese similar to Quark.

Basically, just chuck in whatever you want. You can’t go wrong. Oh, and try it stuffed into some Homemade Pita Bread along with some Instant Pot Falafel!

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Overhead shot of two bowls of chicken broth with kreplach and carrot slices. They are garnished with dill. There is a blue and white napkin on the side with two soup spoons on top.

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Yield: 2 - 4

Israeli Salad with Egg and Feta Cheese

Israeli Salad, distinguished by finely diced tomatoes and cucumbers, is described (by Wikipedia) as "the most well-known national dish of Israel." Variations on the theme are limitless. Our version includes hard boiled eggs and feta cheese.

Ingredients

2 large cucumbers, peeled (optional), seeded, and finely diced
¾ pound tomatoes, finely diced
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
4 ounces crumbled feta cheese (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
optional chopped fresh herb, to taste (e.g., parsley, basil, cilantro, mint, dill)

Instructions

In a medium serving bowl, mix cucumbers, tomatoes, eggs, feta, lemon juice, olive oil, and pepper. Toss lightly to combine.
Mix in fresh herb, if using.
Taste and adjust flavors as needed.

Jewish Recipes

Jewish recipes are the heart of every Jewish holiday celebration. There’s a special dish (or five!) for every occasion, from the high holidays to Shabbat dinners! Here are my favorite Jewish recipes for the holidays or any day.

The Best Rosh Hashanah Honey Cake

The best, moistest, most delicious honey cake you'll ever eat!

Brisket with Apricots, Prunes, and North African Spices

Brisket is braised in a mixture of red wine, beef broth, dried fruit, and North African spices for a Mediterranean take on the traditional Jewish holiday dish. This recipe was adapted from a recipe by Jayne Cohen in Bon Appetit.

Potato Latkes

You can make a gluten-free version by substituting gluten-free brown rice flour for the flour. You can also jazz up the recipe by adding thinly sliced scallions or substituting sweet potatoes, parsnips, or apples for some (or all) of the potatoes. This recipe serves about 4 people and is easily doubled or tripled.

Instant Pot Applesauce

This Instant Pot applesauce is super quick and easy to make. It's delicious on top of crispy potato latkes--or just eat it plain!

Instant Pot Falafel

Crispy, golden brown patties are tender and moist on the inside. They're seasoned just right with cumin, coriander, cayenne, and fresh parsley.

Instant Pot Hummus

This Instant Pot hummus from scratch starts with dried chickpeas and takes less than an hour to make—and that's start to finish time. There's no need to soak the beans. The result is lush, rich, creamy, and full of flavor.

Israeli Couscous Salad with Pomegranate Seed, Pistachios, and Hummus Vinaigrette

This is a great way to use up leftover cooked couscous. The dressing can be whisked together in a bowl, but is especially easy to make in a food processor—chop the parsley leaves in the processor first, then add the other ingredients and process until smooth.

Lamb Kofta Kebabs

Ground lamb is mixed with lots of fresh herbs, aromatics, and spices and then grilled on skewers. I like to serve these with pita bread, hummus, tzatziki, harissa or chermoula, and a salad of romaine, cucumbers, and tomatoes with lemon dressing. Brown basmati rice is a great accompaniment as well.

Homemade Pita Bread

Pita bread is surprisingly easy to make and watching the rounds puff up in the oven is so, so satisfying. Use them for sandwiches or cut them into triangles and use them to scoop savory Middle Eastern dips like my Instant Pot Hummus, baba ganoush, or tzatziki.

Whipped Feta Spread with Garlic and Fresh Dill

Whipped Feta Spread is a great addition to a mezze appetizer platter. It's a tangy, salty, creamy dip with a punch of garlic and fresh dill. Scoop it up with pita chips or raw veggies.

Easy Homemade Jelly Donuts or Sufganiyot

Sufganiyot are traditional Israeli jelly donuts often eaten during Hanukkah, along with other fried foods. Because, of course, fried foods celebrate the miracle of the oil! This recipe makes a simple, lightly sweetened fried dough that can be filled with jelly or the fillling of your choice and dusted with powdered sugar.

Chopped Liver

Rich, savory chopped liver is a favorite appetizer for all the Jewish holidays.

Grandma Fran's Vegetarian Chopped Liver

Made of mostly walnuts, butter, and onions, this chopped liver is just as good as the original, but meat free!

Harissa Chicken

This deliciously spicy sheet pan chicken takes just a few minutes to prep. The recipe was inspired by one in Dinner: Changing the Game, by Melissa Clark.