Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar
This Cottage Cheese Salad is a recipe that was sent to me by a reader, and this was one of those must-make-again salads from the first bite. If you don’t have the middle eastern spice mix called Za’atar, use any dried spices that you like on tomatoes.
PIN the Cottage Cheese Salad to try it later!
Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar is a recipe I loved from the very first bite and I could tell it was something that I’d be making over and over. In fact, when Jake and I tested the recipe for this salad, we couldn’t stop exclaiming over how fantastic it was. But just as fun as the salad itself is the story of how I got the recipe for this delicious salad with cottage cheese, cucumbers, olives, and tomatoes!
I learned about the salad when I got an e-mail from a reader named Effie who told me she enjoys the blog, and she offered to send me some spices from Israel. I love Middle Eastern flavors, so I was excited when a few weeks later I got a package with lots and lots of different spices, plus recipes!
And since I was at least a little familiar with Za’atar, this cottage cheese salad with Za’atar Spice Mix (affiliate link) was one of the first things I tried. I was pretty sure Za’atar would taste great on American cottage cheese, and it did! And even if this version of cottage cheese salad uses cottage cheese that’s slightly different from the one Effie says is a favorite of her kids, we couldn’t stop eating it. Many, many thanks to Effie for sharing this great recipe!
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- cucumbers, preferably small Persian cucumbers or mini-cucumbers
- fresh tomatoes
- green onion
- sliced olives
- cottage cheese
- Olive Oil (affiliate link), preferably extra virgin olive oil
- Za’atar Spice Mix (affiliate link)
What is Za’atar?
Za’atar (pronounced zaa-tuh) is a middle eastern herb plant called bible hyssop or Syrian oregano in English, but the name most often means a blend of spices that always includes thyme, powdered Sumac, sesame seeds, and salt. Authentic Za’atar often has Hyssop instead of thyme. Za’atar Spice Mix (affiliate link) is widely available, even in the U.S. The Za’atar you see in the photo above is the brand that was recommended at my favorite Black Cherry Market in Salt Lake, where they sell a wide variety of middle eastern foods.
Can you make this Cottage Cheese Salad without Za-atar?
If you don’t have the middle eastern spice mix called Za-atar, I would love this salad with the middle eastern spice called Sumac (affiliate link), which is my personal favorite ingredients in Za-atar. And if you don’t have either of those just season the salad with any seasonings you like on fresh tomatoes.
What is Cottage Cheese like in Israel?
When I searched for information about cottage cheese in Israel, I discovered it’s one of the most popular dairy products sold there. Israeli cottage cottage seems to be thicker and creamier than the American version, and it’s a staple in Israeli homes.
What Cottage Cheese did I use?
For both sour cream and cottage cheese in America, I’m pretty loyal to Daisy brand, which I think is creamy and delicious, and Daisy Cottage Cheese is something that’s often in my fridge. I also like the large curd, full fat cottage cheese made by Kroger. (For the record, neither company has given me any cottage cheese and I’m sure they don’t even know that I’m alive.)
How low in carbs is this Cottage Cheese Salad?
This tasty salad has 9 net carbs per serving and 8 grams of protein!
How to make Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- The Za’atar Effie sent me was very green compared to what I had seen here, and the flavor was amazing. Za’atar contains Sumac (affiliate link), which I’ve loved in so many recipes.
- For four servings of salad, I cut up 4 small Persian cucumbers, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup sliced green onion, and 1/2 cup sliced olives.
- Mix the veggies in a salad bowl that’s big enough to toss the ingredients together.
- I used Daisy cottage cheese.
- We topped the vegetables with 1 cup cottage cheese, a generous drizzle of olive oil, and about a tablespoon of Za’atar.
- Stir the Cottage Cheese Salad ingredients together, and enjoy, with more Za’atar to sprinkle on at the table for people like me who can’t get enough of this flavorful spice mix!
Make it a Low-Carb Meal:
If you want to serve this Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar as part of a meal, pair it with one of these extra-low-carb main dishes:
- Greek Lamb Souvlaki
- Rosemary-Mustard Grilled Chicken
- Kabob Koobideh (Persian Ground Beef Kabobs)
- Grilled Sausage and Summer Squash
- Grilled Fish with Lemon and Capers
More Recipes with Cottage Cheese
Cottage Cheese Salad with Za'atar
This Easy Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar is an amazing salad you'll want to make over and over. Use any spices you enjoy on tomatoes if you dont' have the middle eastern spice called Za'atar!
Ingredients
- 4 small Persian cucumbers
- 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes (see notes)
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
- 1/2 cup sliced olives (see notes)
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 2 T olive oil (a generous drizzle)
- 1 T Za’atar (more or less to taste)
Instructions
- Cut the Persian cucumbers into fourths lengthwise and then cut into slices. (If you have to use regular cucumbers, they may need to be fully or partially peeled.)
- Dice the tomatoes, slice the green onions, and slice the olives.
- Combine the vegetables in a salad bowl, large enough to toss the ingredients together.
- Put the cottage cheese on top of the tossed vegetables.
- Drizzle with a generous amount of olive oil, sprinkle with Za’atar to taste, and toss again.
- Serve right away, with more Za’atar to be added at the table.
Notes
I used grape tomatoes cut in half. I used regular black olives, but Kalamata olives would be good.
This recipe is from a generous reader named Effie who lives in Israel. Effie says this salad is a favorite of her kids.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 169Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 9mgSodium 372mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 2gSugar 5gProtein 8g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low Glycemic Diet / South Beach DietSuggestions:
Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar is loaded with healthy ingredients, and would be great for low-carb eating plans. You could also eat this for any phase of the original South Beach Diet, but South Beach would recommend reduced-fat cottage cheese!
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Salad Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This Cottage Cheese Salad recipe was first posted in 2012 when a reader named Effie sent me the recipe along with some spices from Israel! I’ve made it quite a few times since then, and it was last updated with more information in 2025.
58 Comments on “Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar”
We love this. I have made this 3 times using my own home-grown tomatoes, cukes, onions, and peppers. It also gave me another way to use Za’atar. We love your recipes. Thank you.
So glad you are enjoying the recipes! And lucky you to have those great home grown vegetables!
What a great idea for a salad! I might be tempted to stir in a dollop of lite sour cream as well.
I wouldn’t mind that at all!
OMG making this tomorrow ❤
Hi- just to let you know that to balance this out and to make everything pop, it' pretty important to add some acid, as the olives dont quite do it. So I used about three quarters of a freshly squeezed lemon. Also, instead of black olives, may I suggest pitted calamata olives. (i personally think that black olives from a can are an affont to yummy olives everywhere…). You could also substitute the cottage cheese for feta for a yummy change!
Mollie, fun to know. This was pretty spectacular with the American cottage cheese, but I'd love to try the real thing.
Hi Kalyn,
I think that that 'israel cottage cheese' is almost more like a soft, but more tangy version of our cream cheese, kinda like a greek yogurt sort of tang. It's highly popular and found at EVERY meal, either sweetened with fruit at breakfast (or even savory with za'tar and oil ) and then throughout the day! (I've been there to visit twice) I'm going to see what I can dig up at the israeli grocery here and let you know my results. This will be perfect for going back on phase one!
Stace, I love this salad; hope you enjoy!
I am late in commenting, since I just found this recipe on Pinterest. This looks and sounds so yummy, that I just ordered some Za'atar so that I could make this! I have been looking for some meatless meals and I'm so glad that I found this post. Thanks so much for sharing!
You can use any seasoning blend that's suitable for sprinkling on prepared food.
The ingredients in Za'atar are Sumach, Thyme, and Sesame seeds if you have any of those.
Does anyone know what to use in place of Za'atar?
I just started SBD last week and discovered your website today. I love the recipes you post. I imagine you probably already sent the package of goodies to Effie here in Israel, but just as a comment to your readers: Cumin is a common spice in Middle Eastern cooking, we have an abundance of dried cranberries here (sweetened and sugarfree). What we don't have is fresh cranberries, SF maple syrup (we have pure maple syrup here in every supermarket). Mexican spices and Cajun spices are sometimes available here but not always so that would be nice. When I visit the States (I'm originally from Long Island, New York but have been living in Israel for many years)I bring back Cream of Tartar, SF maple syrup and the big bag of Splenda from Costco.
Effie's salad is also made here with a soft lowfat cream cheese simply called "white cheese" here and it's equally delicious.
Hi Meg,
So glad you're finding the recipes to be helpful. I loved this salad too! Luckily most of the ingredients here are things you don't have to worry about portion size, but I do like the idea of making a single serving.
I've had this recipe bookmarked since you posted it back in February. I had to wait until we went to Memphis to get some za'atar at Penzey's.
Because I have portion control issues, I made a single serving of this salad for lunch today. Oh My Goodness! Had I made the recipe as written, it would have become a single serving. I'll be eating this for lunch every day this week. I think I might even like it for breakfast.
I too am trying to follow the SB way of eating, and find your recipes invaluable to have on hand. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I'd probably just leave them out. I think the salad would still be great.
'Slap your MaMa' is a blend of Cajun spices that my son LOVES. The name is a laugh in itself.
Maple syrup is pretty unique… I live in New England so it's pretty common around here. There are about 4 grades of syrup as I recall: Grade A Light, Grade A Medium, Grade A Dark Amber, and Grade B. Whenever possible, get the Grade B; it has a much more intense flavor than any of the Grade A's, which just seem watery in comparison.
Pecans are another thing that's pretty unique; and frying some pecans in a little drizzle of maple syrup until the syrup turns into the candy stage gives you wonderful candied pecans for salads….
Wow! This looks so yummy, but it is hard to find the ingredients here in our country. But I'm gonna find an alternative for those veggies that are not available in our market. Thank for this. Perfect for vegans, eh.
Cheers,
Cathy@Foods that are not Good for Your Heart
Jeanette, I heard from someone who said the blends with more Sumac are more brown, which makes sense. Like curry powder, everyone has their own blend I guess.
Dara, I loved this and could eat it every day, especially in the summer when tomatoes are so good.
Sandye, so glad you enjoyed it!
We had this tonight and it rocked! I'm not normally a big cottage fan, but I could eat this every week. Thanks – it is awesome!
Okay, I have to order some Za'atar now. That cottage cheese salad sounds like something I could happily eat everyday.
How interesting that the za'atar that your friend gave you is green – mine is brownish. I've never tried cottage cheese to dress a salad – I have to say I'm not a huge cottage cheese fan, but I can see using it in a dressing now, adding some creaminess without all the fat.
I think raw zucchini would be great as a sub for the cucumber in this.
I was just wondering if I could sub the cucumber with a zucchini? i'm allergic to cucumbers… this looks really yummy! I will have to order some za'atar!
Enid, you could certainly use those. Effie did not specify in the recipe she sent me but good to know that Kalamata olives are common in Israel.
I am familiar with za'atar, as I am familiar with Israeli food. I wonder if the olives used are meant to be the kalamata variety, as those are the olives that I would always encounter in Israel.
Georgia and Lynn, glad you are enjoying the blog!
Patrish, I think dried cranberries are a great idea!
Can't wait to try this! What about dried cranberries as reciprocal gift? I'm not sure but I think they are unique to North America.
I have to tell you how thankful I am to have found your site.
We started SB diet 7 weeks ago and I cook from your recipes daily.
You have made this process easy and delicious. I love the fact that so many of your recipes are easy.
Thank you so very much. You are a Godsend!!
What a beautiful and flavorful looking salad! Thanks for sharing. You have a very nice blog and I'm glad to have found you!
Kelley I don't think I would have thought of it either, but I loved it!
This looks great, Kalyn! I, too, love the flavor of Za'atar and have never seen a version so green. I never would have thought to add cottage cheese to a salad like this but it looks like it works!
DD- I have never tried making my own Za'atar, but it might be fun tweaking it to your own taste. I do like the blend from The Spice House pretty well, although not as much as what Effie sent me!
Gabby, I think ricotta might be more similar to what is called "cottage cheese" in other parts of the world. I bet it would be fine in this.
Joanne, this recipe has your name on it!
Corinna, wild rice is a great idea!
Mommy, thanks for that info. Maybe it's similar to seasonal varieties of curry powder mixtures in different parts of India.
Thank you! As far as I know, there are 2 spices or spice mixes called Zhaatar. 1 is sumac and is reddish. The Israeli one is a mixture of herbs, and many Israelis mix it with olive oil and eat it on bread or pita.
Yes — confirmed by Wiki: "a generic name for a family of related Middle Eastern herbs from the genera Origanum (Oregano), Calamintha (Basil thyme), Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) and Satureja (Savory). It is also the name for a condiment made from the dried herb(s), mixed with sesame seeds, dried sumac, and often salt, as well as other spices…. Some varieties may add savory, cumin, coriander or fennel seeds… a Lebanese variety sometimes contains sumac berries, and has a distinct dark red color.
Za'atar is great in salads, and I look forward to trying this one (once decent tomatoes are available again.)
Since I grew up in Maryland, I was also going to suggest Old Bay. (I always try to get the low sodium blend.) I believe wild rice is a uniquely North American ingredient. My mom used to take it to her friends in Argentina.
I used to be a serious cottage cheese addict but haven't had it in FOREVER! I love the idea of using it as a dressing for the salad…especially when seasoned with one of my favorite spice blends!
How do you think it would be usin ricotta instead of cottage cheese?
As soon as I read this post–I went on a search for the ingredients of Za'atar and see some blends feature more sumac (like 1/4 cup) and other blends feature less sumac like 1-2 TBS of ground sumac berries,oregano, basil, ground thyme and whole thyme, savory, ground marjoram
and whole dry marjoram, and dried ground lemon peel.
Is it easier to purchase this spice blend or try and make it?
I love it that this recipe from Effie is getting people excited to try Za'atar!
I am so curious to try zaatar! Never heard of it before or tried but sounds like I will enjoy it.
This salad sounds wonderful. I've never tasted za'atar but it's on my to-try list!
Blepharisma, love the sound of Za'atar on roasted vegetables. Now I'm wondering why I have never tried that!
This looks great! The Za'atar you got looks about as green as the one I get – I'm always surprised to see the ones that are darker due to a higher percentage of sumac. I'll definitely try this one – we love Za'atar in everything. It's also great on oven-roasted veggies.
I am not a fan of Lawrys either; don't thin I would send that!
Aggie, so glad I could introduce you to Za'atar.
Wow! First, I've never tried za'atar and now I have to look for it! What a beautiful salad Kalyn! You make eating healthy look so delicious!
Cottage cheese…sounds interesting! I am really trying to eat it more, I know it's good for me 🙂
Ditto the Old Bay and Southwest seasonings. Though I am not a fan, Lawry's seasoned salt is, I think, uniquely American.
Cassandra, we were typing at the same time. I think Old Bay is a great idea, and very American!
Lucy, it is just fantastic!
I think dried chilis would be a good idea too, plus any spice mixes at the store like Old Bay and cajun seasoning.
I want this now!
Thanks everyone for the good ideas for spices! And I fixed the typo too; what would I do without people to check up on me?
Do you have a recommendation for a substitute for the olives and onions? I want to try this but am not a fan of those two ingredients.
Thanks
Oh, yes, these are my flavores, too! I trade I would send some ground chiles from the Southwest — uniquely American flavors.
This looks wonderful. I will try after I get some Za'atar.
Kalyn, I think there is a typo in the last line of the blog. The word "lime" should be "like".
I would send coumin as I love this in so many things though started using it first in Mexican food. Like Becky, I am going to get some Za'atar and try this delightful sounding salad!
Becky, I am betting you will love it!
I've never cooked with Za'atar but u have my interest peaked now!