Gavurdağı Salatası

Gavurdağı Salatası is yet another light salad of Turkish cuisine. The main ingredients of this salad are juicy tomatoes, spring onions, green pepper, parsley, pomegranate syrup, and crushed walnut halves. This Turkish salad is the ‘must-have salad’ of all kebab restaurants’ menus.

When we translate this salad’s name into English, it may sound funny to you. It translates as ‘Gavur Mountain Salad’. Gavurdağı Salatası received its name from the mountain located between Adana city and the Ceyhan River.

Once the foreigners first see this salad, it may look like a dip more than a salad. The simplicity of the core ingredients lets you think that it is a dip; however, it is a very refreshing salad. Once you combine the southern juicy tomatoes and pomegranate syrup with any salad, you get a very refreshing blend. In southern cities, pomegranate syrup widely uses in salads because pomegranate production is made in this region of Turkey.

Where to Eat?

When you go to a kebab restaurant in Adana city, Gaziantep city, and/or Hatay city, the waiter brings Gavurdağı Salatası and lavash bread to the table without asking you. You can consider it as ‚on the house salad. It is the most common Turkish salad variety of the south and southeast region of Turkey.

I personally like to eat this salad with Adana Kebab. Gavurdağı Salad and Adana Kebab suit well to each other by taste. If you are visiting the southern part of Turkey and stop by a kebab restaurant, this famous Turkish salad will be on your table for sure. However, if you are visiting other cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, or İzmir, you need to ask the waiter if they have it or not. Usually, most kebab restaurants put this delicious salad on their menu.

If you are in İstanbul and want to give a try to Gavurdağı Salad, I am recommending you to stop by at Hamdi Restaurant. The restaurant has delicious kebabs, salads, and desserts. The restaurant also has an amazing Bosporus view. I believe; you will leave the restaurant with a very happy face.