Heart-Healthy Shopska Salad

Bright, colorful, and bursting with fresh Mediterranean flavors, the Heart-Healthy Shopska Salad is a nutritious twist on the traditional Balkan classic. Packed with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and vibrant green bell peppers, this salad gets a protein boost from crumbled low-fat feta cheese, while freshly chopped parsley adds a fragrant, herbaceous touch. A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a splash of zesty lemon juice create a simple yet flavorful dressing that ties everything together. Ready in just 15 minutes and requiring no cooking, this quick and wholesome dish is perfect as a refreshing side or a light, guilt-free main course. Enjoy a boost of vitamins, antioxidants, and heart-healthy fats with every bite of this irresistibly fresh salad!

Nutriscore Rating: 80/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:15 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 medium tomatoes
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 medium green bell pepper
• 1 small red onion
• 100 grams low-fat feta cheese
• 10 grams fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon salt

Directions

Step 1

Begin by washing all the vegetables under cool, running water.

Step 2

Chop the tomatoes into bite-sized cubes and place them in a large salad bowl.

Step 3

Peel the cucumber, if desired, and cut it into small slices. Add the cucumbers to the bowl with the tomatoes.

Step 4

Core the green bell pepper, remove seeds and membranes, and slice it into thin strips. Add to the salad bowl.

Step 5

Peel the red onion and slice it thinly. Add the slices to the salad bowl.

Step 6

Crumble the low-fat feta cheese over the vegetables.

Step 7

Finely chop the fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the salad.

Step 8

In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt.

Step 9

Pour the dressing over the vegetable and cheese mixture in the bowl.

Step 10

Gently toss the salad until all the ingredients are well combined and evenly coated with the dressing.

Step 11

Serve immediately as a side dish or a light main course.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1323.7 grams (1323.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	667

Total Fat 39.50g	51%
Saturated Fat 9.80g	49%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.60g
Cholesterol 54mg	18%
Sodium 1919mg	83%
Total Carbohydrate 59.50g	22%
Dietary Fiber 13.30g	48%
Total Sugars 32.60g
Protein 31.30g	63%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 677mg	52%
Iron 5mg	26%
Potassium 2354mg	50%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 49.5%

Protein: 17.4%

Carbs: 33.1%