Shared by Nechama and Anat Rivlin
Shared by Nechama and Anat Rivlin
Greek-Inspired Salad With Crispy Grape Leaves
Yield: 4 servingsTime: 15 minutes
Greek-Inspired Salad With Crispy Grape Leaves
Yield: 4 servingsTime: 15 minutesFamily Journey
Bilozerka, Ukraine and Maryina Gorka, BelarusTel AvivMoshav Herut, Israel
JerusalemTel Aviv
When Anat Rivlin was 12-years-old, her mother took her and her sister to the Greek islands for a girls trip. Every day, they would walk over to the local taverna. And when they returned home to Jerusalem, her mother Nechama made a salad like the one they had enjoyed at the taverna. Though, Anat concedes, that her mother may have tweaked it over the years, adding lettuce.
The grape leaves, which Nechama grew in Jerusalem, add a tannic note. You can find them in brine at Middle Eastern stores. Be sure to rinse them to remove the salty brine.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons, divided
- 5-6 preserved grape leaves, rinsed and thoroughly dried with paper towels
- Kosher salt
- ½ head romaine lettuce, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 3-4 tomatoes, cut into chunks
- 4 Persian cucumbers, cut into chunks
- 2 tablespoons large capers, rinsed and sliced in half
- ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives, roughly chopped
- 5 tablespoons red or white wine vinegar
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ pound feta cheese
Preparation
Step 1
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the grape leaves and fry them for about 5 minutes, until they are crispy. Remove the leaves from the pan, place them on a paper towel-lined plate, and season lightly with salt. Set aside.
Step 2
In a wide bowl, add the lettuce, onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, capers, and olives. Season with ¼ cup of olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste, and toss to coat the vegetables. Top the salad with the crispy grape leaves, crumble the feta over the top, and serve immediately.
This recipe first appeared on the website of Asif: Culinary Institute of Israel. Find more Asif recipes here.
