Zucchini Salad with Feta, Mint, and Toasted Pine Nuts Recipe
A refreshing and light Zucchini Salad featuring shaved zucchini tossed in a creamy feta and lemon dressing, enhanced with mint, toasted pine nuts, and a hint of honey and coriander for a perfect balance of flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Zucchini
- 1 1/2 lb. zucchini, shaved with a vegetable peeler
- 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided
Dressing
- 1/3 cup feta, finely crumbled
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp. honey
- 1/2 tsp. ground coriander (optional)
- 1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint
Toppings & Seasoning
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted, crushed
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Salt the Zucchini: In a medium bowl, toss the shaved zucchini with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Let it sit for 10 minutes to soften the zucchini and draw out excess moisture.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a large bowl, combine the crumbled feta, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, ground coriander (if using), and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Use the back of a fork to mash the feta until it dissolves into a creamy dressing. Stir in the finely chopped fresh mint.
- Combine Salad: Drain the zucchini to remove released liquid, then add it to the bowl with the dressing. Toss well to coat the zucchini evenly in the creamy feta dressing.
- Add Toppings and Seasoning: Sprinkle the toasted and crushed pine nuts over the salad, then season with freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor.
Notes
- Shaving zucchini thinly helps it absorb the dressing and makes the salad more refreshing and light.
- Allowing the zucchini to sit with salt draws out water, preventing the salad from becoming soggy.
- To toast pine nuts, heat them in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
- Ground coriander adds a warm, citrusy note but is optional according to preference.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.
Keywords: zucchini salad, feta salad, Mediterranean salad, fresh zucchini, easy summer salad, no-cook salad
