Lemon and Walnut Salad 

posted on: Jul 8, 2025

By: Habeeb Salloum/Arab America Contributing Writer

Walnuts, regarded as the oldest tree-food, appear to have originated in Persia from where they spread eastward and westward.  In Mesopotamia, inscriptions from 2,000 B.C. have been found on clay tablets indicating the existence of walnut groves within the famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon and an inscription carved on a stela, containing the Code of Hammurabi. 

Walnuts have continued throughout history as a substantial food staple in the Arab world, especially in the Arab East. Walnuts are used for dessert stuffings and even when pine nuts are not available, the meat stuffing for kubba.  

Walnuts are rich in protein, fibre, and carbohydrates and are considered to be a super food because they contain a full complement of vitamins.

I have created this salad, its ingredients lending to the flavours of the Arab Middle East.  The fresh tart lemon taste along with the olives add zest to the creamy and nutty flavour of the walnuts.

Serves 6

3 medium lemons

1 medium onion, very finely chopped

1 large bunch parsley, thoroughly washed, stemmed and finely chopped

1/2 cup crushed walnuts

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon dried mint

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/2 teaspoon pepper

12 pitted black olives, sliced in half

Peel yellow rind of the lemons, leaving the white skin underneath intact then finely chop lemons, discarding pits and place in a salad bowl.  Add remaining ingredients, except olives then toss. 

Decorate with olives and serve.

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