I have already covered a couple of the drinks served in ramadan and featured a number of the desserts traditionally served at Iftar like Knafe,  Im Ali and awwameh . Today I am sharing one of my favorite salads. You see, salads are one of the key players on the iftar menu. After a long day of fasting you need a dose of refreshment and salads not only provide that but they are also a great way to eat your vegetables get the fibers that you need. It also helps ease your stomach into eating after the long fast.

I love eggplants and enjoy using them in different recipes like this salad, this sandwich and oh this amazing pie. This monk salad however comes at the top of the list. The monk salad is Lebanese and gets its name because the story goes that the recipe was invented by a monk living in the Lebanese mountains. I love the salad because grilling the eggplants adds  a wonderful smoky note, the pomegranate molasses adds a sweet and sour note while the mint makes this salad beyond refreshing.

Monk salad سلطه الراهب

1 big grilled eggplant or two small ones,

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 clove garlic minced

2-3 tablespoons lemon juice

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses

1 medium tomato deseeded and chopped

1/2 green pepper chopped (about 2 tablespoons)

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1 tablespoon chopped mint

Poke the eggplant in several places with a fork

On the stove top, or on the grill, roast the eggplant on the open flame and turn it every couple of minutes untill it is  all soft and charred.

Place the eggplant in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap and allow to steam for 5-7 minutes

Peel the eggplant (you can keep a little of the charred peel for more smoky flavor)

Chop the eggplant finely,

Add the rest of the ingredients and toss to combine

Decorate with mint, a drizzle of olive oil and pomegranate molasses and enjoy 🙂

Before I let you go I would like to thank two wonderfully talented bloggers  Chocolate Chip Uru from go bake yourself  and Suzanne from strands of my life for passing on awards to me. You ladies are an inspiration and I am humbled that you thought of me. Please do take a minute to visit both blogs. You will thank me 🙂

I would like to pass these awards to these bloggers who are truly very inspirational

Manu of Manu’s menu

Cecilia of the kitchen’s garden

Lynda of life on the farmlet

John of  from the Bartolini  kitchens

Kristy, Mike, Miss A and Mr N from Eat play love

Tanya from Chica Andaluza

Claire of promenade planting

Eva of kitcheninspirations

Sally of bewitching kitchen

Abeer of cakewhiz

Raymund of Ang Sarap

Korena Korena in the kitchen

Cher of the not so exciting adventures of a dabbler

Shelley of C mom cook

Sarvany of baker in disguise

Charles of five euro food

Betsy of bits and bread crumbs

Renu of Spice of my life

Geni of sweet and Crumby