Walnut and Pomegranate Mountain Salad

Gavurdağ Salatası

 

This salad was one of the first to make me fall in love with Turkish cuisine. The sweet freshness of the mint, the sharp tartness of the pomegranate, the crunch of the walnuts all combine to make quite a magical taste experience. It has a funny name in Turkish that translates as ‘Mountain of the Infidel’, named after a peak near the Tarsus region in South Turkey. But no-one seems to mind, this salad is a favourite all over Turkey.

 

5 med     firm tomatoes, deseeded and diced

2              cucumbers, deseeded and diced

5              yellow bullhorn peppers, deseeded and diced

1              red bullhorn pepper, deseeded and diced

½             bunch parsley, leaves picked and finely chopped

½             bunch mint, leaves picked and finely chopped

1 tsp        dried mint

180g        walnuts, finely crumbled

                 seeds from ½ pomegranate (optional, if in season)

½ tsp       salt

4 tbsp      pomegranate molasses (nar ekşisi)

4 tbsp      olive oil

 

Add all vegetables, herbs, walnuts, pomegranate and salt into a bowl and toss well.

 

Just before serving, toss sprinkle with the pomegranate molasses and olive oil.