Green, greener, greenest: The 10 best salads of 2025

Dakos This salad from Greece’s Crete features dry barley rusk as its base, generously topped with crumbled myzithra cheese, ripe tomatoes, olives, capers, fresh oregano and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil.

Greek Salad (Horiatiki Salata) The second position has been secured by Horiatiki Salata also known as Greek Salad. This “village salad” combines fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, green bell peppers and olives, with a large slice of feta cheese and drizzled with olive oil and oregano.

Houria An easy-to-make Tunisian salad featuring lightly mashed boiled carrots, flavoured with garlic, harissa, vinegar, olive oil and caraway seeds. It’s often garnished with hard-boiled eggs or olives.

Caprese Salad Originating from the island of Capri, this classic Italian salad embodies summer with its simple yet perfect combination of ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella (ideally buffalo mozzarella) and fresh basil leaves, drizzled with olive oil.

Fattoush The fifth position has been secured by fattoush, a vibrant Lebanese bread salad featuring mixed greens like lettuce, radishes, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, combined with toasted or fried pita bread pieces. 

Shopska Salata This is a refreshing cold salad popular in summer, consisting of chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and roasted or raw peppers, all generously topped with grated sirene cheese and sunflower oil.

Pecel Taking the seventh position is pecel, an Indonesian salad. It is characterised by its unique peanut sauce. It typically includes various steamed vegetables like leafy greens, bean sprouts and long beans, served with the rich, spicy and sweet peanut dressing.

Pai Huang Gua Also known as “smacked cucumber,” this Chinese favourite involves smashing cucumbers to absorb flavours better. It’s dressed with garlic, sesame oil, black vinegar and soy sauce, offering a delightful crunch. It has secured eighth position.

Piyaz Salad Piyaz Salad is a traditional Turkish dish made with white beans, onions, parsley, vinegar, olive oil and sometimes hard-boiled eggs. It’s tangy, hearty and protein-rich and often served as a meze or side.

Mechouia Salad This is a unique North African salad made from grilled, finely chopped onions, peppers, tomatoes and garlic. It’s seasoned with olive oil, salt, black pepper and caraway, often garnished with hard-boiled eggs or tuna.

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