26 September 2026

Turkish Tomato Onion Salad With Sumac and Pomegranate Molasses

Name: Turkish Tomato Onion Salad With Sumac and Pomegranate Molasses
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 piece ripe tomatoes (finely chopped); 2 piece red onions (finely sliced or finely chopped); 15 g fresh parsley (finely chopped); 0.5 tsp fine salt; 1 tbsp sumac; 1 tbsp lemon juice (from half a lemon); 2.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses (pomegranate syrup)

RecipeShare Test Kitchen

4.7(3 ratings)

Turkish Tomato Onion Salad With Sumac and Pomegranate Molasses

Turkish tomato onion salad with parsley, sumac, lemon, olive oil, and pomegranate molasses. A fast chopped side salad that rests briefly so the onions soften and the juices turn into a tangy dressing.

Salads

Quick And Easy

Vegetarian

Prep time

15 min

Cook time

Total time

25 min

Servings

Recipe Snapshot

DifficultyEasy

MealLunch / Dinner

Family FriendlyYes

Chef's Tips

Slice the onions finely enough that they soften slightly during the short rest without losing all their bite.
If your tomatoes are very watery, scoop out some seeds before chopping so the salad stays bright rather than diluted.
Letting the salad rest for 5 to 10 minutes matters here because the salt, lemon, and sumac start drawing out the juices into a proper dressing.
Taste again just before serving. Some pomegranate molasses are sweeter than others, so the lemon may need a small adjustment.

Tools Used

Chopping Board Chef's Knife Large BowlCitrus Juicer

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Ingredients

Servings

4 servings1×

Scale

Ingredient amounts update instantly.

Chop The Salad

2 piece ripe tomatoes - finely chopped
2 piece red onions - finely sliced or finely chopped
15 g fresh parsley - finely chopped

Season And Dress

0.5 tsp fine salt
1 tbsp sumac
1 tbsp lemon juice - from half a lemon
2.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses - pomegranate syrup

Instructions

Chop the Salad

1
Finely chop the tomatoes and parsley, and finely slice or chop the red onions.
2
Place everything in a large bowl.

Season and Dress

1
Add the salt and sumac to the bowl and toss briefly.
2
Pour in the lemon juice, olive oil, and pomegranate molasses.
3
Mix well until the vegetables are evenly coated and the juices start to gather.
4
Let the salad rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
5
Toss once more and serve.

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Everything you want to know about this recipe.

Turkish Tomato Onion Salad With Sumac and Pomegranate Molasses

This Turkish tomato onion salad is a fast chopped side built from a few sharp, fresh ingredients: ripe tomatoes, red onions, parsley, sumac, lemon, olive oil, and pomegranate molasses. It is simple enough for a weekday meal, but it has enough punch to sit next to grilled meat, kebabs, flatbreads, or mezze.

What makes it feel more complete than a basic tomato salad is the balance between sour, sweet, and savory. Sumac brings a dry citrus tang, lemon keeps it fresh, and pomegranate molasses adds depth and a gentle sweetness.

Why This Recipe Works

The salad is chopped fine enough that everything mixes evenly and the onions can soften slightly during the short rest. That 5 to 10 minute pause is not extra fuss; it gives the salt and acid time to draw out the tomato juices and create the dressing in the bowl.

Because the ingredient list is short, the quality of the tomatoes matters more than anything else. Use ripe ones with good flavor so the salad tastes bright rather than watery.

Ingredients Overview

Red onions are the right fit here because they stay sharp but have a little more sweetness than white onions. Parsley keeps the salad herbaceous without making it heavy, and olive oil rounds out the acidity.

Pomegranate molasses can vary from tart to quite sweet depending on the brand, so it is worth tasting the salad before serving and adjusting the lemon if needed.

How to Make Turkish Tomato Onion Salad

Chop the tomatoes, onions, and parsley finely and place them in a bowl. Add the salt and sumac first, then the lemon juice, olive oil, and pomegranate molasses.

Mix everything well, let it rest briefly, and toss again before serving. That rest is what turns the vegetables and seasonings into a proper juicy salad rather than just chopped vegetables in a bowl.

Tips, Variations, and Serving Ideas

Serve this with kebabs, grilled chicken, lamb, fish, or warm flatbread. It also works well as part of a mezze spread with hummus, yogurt sauces, and olives.

If you want a slightly bigger salad, cucumber or a little chopped green pepper can be added without changing the flavor direction too much. Keep the parsley generous though, because it helps the whole salad feel fresh.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 portion

Calories 1106%

% Reference Intake*

Total Fat 7g10%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Trans Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 300mg

Total Carbohydrates 12g5%

Dietary Fiber 2g

Sugars 8g9%

Protein 1.5g3%

* Reference intakes are based on an average adult's 8,400 kJ / 2,000 kcal diet. Your needs may be higher or lower.

FAQs

Can I add cucumber to this salad?

Yes. A small chopped cucumber fits naturally, though this version keeps the focus on tomato, onion, parsley, and the sharp sumac dressing.

What can I use instead of pomegranate molasses?

Use a smaller amount of balsamic glaze or add an extra squeeze of lemon plus a small pinch of sugar, though the flavor will not be quite the same.

How far ahead can I make it?

It is best within the first hour. You can chop everything slightly ahead, but dress it shortly before serving so the tomatoes stay fresh.

Community Reviews

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4.7

3 ratings

67%

33%

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Share your experience and help others.

Ruth
· 9 Aug 2026
Good sharp side salad. Next time I may add cucumber, but I liked how fast this version was.
Omar
· 9 Aug 2026
I served this with grilled chicken and flatbread. The pomegranate molasses made it taste much more complete than a basic tomato salad.
Leyla
· 9 Aug 2026
Simple but very good. The short rest really changed it and softened the onion just enough.

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Turkish Tomato Onion Salad With Sumac and Pomegranate Molasses

Why This Recipe Works

Because the ingredient list is short, the quality of the tomatoes matters more than anything else. Use ripe ones with good flavor so the salad tastes bright rather than watery.

Ingredients Overview

Pomegranate molasses can vary from tart to quite sweet depending on the brand, so it is worth tasting the salad before serving and adjusting the lemon if needed.

How to Make Turkish Tomato Onion Salad

Chop the tomatoes, onions, and parsley finely and place them in a bowl. Add the salt and sumac first, then the lemon juice, olive oil, and pomegranate molasses.

Mix everything well, let it rest briefly, and toss again before serving. That rest is what turns the vegetables and seasonings into a proper juicy salad rather than just chopped vegetables in a bowl.

Tips, Variations, and Serving Ideas

Serve this with kebabs, grilled chicken, lamb, fish, or warm flatbread. It also works well as part of a mezze spread with hummus, yogurt sauces, and olives.