Effie’s Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar
This Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar is a recipe that was sent to me by a reader, and this was one of those must-make-again recipes from the first bite. If you don’t have the middle eastern spice mix called Za’atar, use any blend of dried spices that you like on tomatoes.
PIN the Cottage Cheese Salad to try it later!
Every now and then I try a recipe and from the very first bite I know it’s something that I’m going to be making over and over again, and when Jake and I tried this Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar, we couldn’t stop exclaiming over how fantastic it was. But just as fun as the salad itself is the story of how I happened to be making this salad!
Recently 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!
Effie’s package had so many new things I’m having fun experimenting with, but 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. And 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 is slightly different from the one Effie says is a favorite of her kids, we simply could not stop eating it. Many, many thanks to Effie, and now I am working on a package to send back to her!
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
- cucumbers, preferably small Persian cucumbers or mini-cucumbers
- fresh tomatoes (see notes)
- green onion
- sliced olives (see notes)
- cottage cheese
- olive oil (a generous drizzle)
- Za’atar Spice Mix (affiliate link)
What is Za’atar?
Za’atar is a middle eastern herb, 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.
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, I am pretty loyal to Daisy brand, which I think is creamy and delicious, and Daisy Cottage Cheese is something that’s almost always in my fridge. (For the record, this company has never given me any cottage cheese and I’m sure they don’t even know that I’m alive.)
How to make Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar:
(Scroll down for complete recipe with nutritional information.)
- 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 my favorite 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 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!
More Tasty Recipes with Za’atar:
Whole Wheat Quick Bread with Olives and Feta ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
Fattoush ~ The Perfect Pantry
Grilled Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Za’atar ~ Kalyn’s Kitchen
Avocado Toast with Feta and Za’atar ~ Mother Would Know
Effie's 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.
Ingredients
- 4 small Persian cucumbers, cut in fourths lengthwise and then into slices (Persian cucumbers are sometimes called mini-cucumbers in U.S. stores)
- 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:
This Cottage Cheese Salad is loaded with healthy low-glycemic ingredients, and it would be approved for any phase of the original South Beach Diet as well as for low-carb eating plans. South Beach would recommend reduced-fat cottage cheese and other plans will prefer full-fat dairy, so take your choice!
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 to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2012. It was last updated with more information in 2021.
54 Comments on “Effie’s Cottage Cheese Salad with Za’atar”
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!