This easy Grilled Vegetable Salad (khorovats salad) is a summer staple on any Armenian picnic or cookout menu. It's the perfect side dish for grilled meats, and an ideal addition to a vegetarian meze platter. It's also easy to make with roasted vegetables if the weather is not grilling-friendly.
(This recipe was originally published in 2013, but was updated with new photos and content in 2020).
There are so many ideas that come to mind when I think about going on a picnic. I see wicker picnic baskets filled with parchment-wrapped sandwiches, plastic tubs of potato salad, perhaps even a bottle of Champagne for a truly special occasion.
Armenian picnics don't exactly feature run-of-the-mill picnic fare. "Khorovats," or Armenian barbecue, is perpetually on the menu. It's usually pieces of pork loin or beef, which have been marinated in sliced onions and seasonings. They're arranged on long metal skewers and the portable grill heats up in anticipation.
Meanwhile my mom gets started on the grilled vegetable salad. It's a fixture on our picnic menus. This salad has not only graced our picnic table dozens of times, but it's also a popular dish when we are making "khorovats" at home.
How to make Armenian grilled vegetable salad (khorovats salad)
Honestly, regardless of the main attraction on your menu, this salad is an outstanding side dish which will be loved by all. It captures the smoky flavor of a variety of grilled vegetables including eggplant and bell peppers. You can definitely use different colors for your bell peppers, but we usually do a combination of red and green or just red.
Begin by either grilling or roasting whole eggplants and bell peppers. We usually make this salad in the summer, and grill it, but we also make it in the off-season when roasting the vegetables is a lot easier. Both methods work well.
Chop and add them to a mixing bowl. Then add chopped tomatoes, sliced onion, chopped parsley, and then dress the salad with lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings. Serve the salad cold or at room temperature.
Please scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe (in a printable recipe card) including ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
Expert tips
In the long history of this salad, we used to grill the tomatoes as well. We've now found that adding them raw allows them to maintain their integrity much better.
The easiest way to peel your grilled veggies is to transfer them into a plastic bag after they are cooked. Let them steam in there for a few minutes to loosen the skin. Then one by one remove them from the bag and peel, stem, and seed. Chop the veggies and transfer to a mixing bowl.
Other picnic and cookout-friendly recipes you may like
- Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- Erdäpfelsalat (Austrian Potato Salad)
- Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad with Peas and Sun-dried Tomatoes
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Chèvre Which Way But Loose Burger
- SmokeShack Burger
- Fasolakia (Greek Stewed Green Beans)
I hope you enjoy this stand-out grilled vegetable salad. It's truly one of my favorite things to eat regardless of what it shares a plate with (and it's healthy!). I have wonderful memories of family picnics ever since I was a little girl, and this salad was always part of it.
Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also follow me on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Armenian Grilled Vegetable Salad
Ingredients
- 2 medium eggplants
- 2 red bell peppers
- 2 green bell peppers (can also substitute more red bell peppers, or another color if you prefer)
- 2 tomatoes chopped into ½-inch pieces
- ½ large onion peeled, cut into thirds lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
- ¾ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt or to taste
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch cayenne pepper or other hot pepper if desired
Instructions
- Grill the eggplants and bell peppers, turning occasionally and piercing the eggplants as needed to let steam escape, until all of the skin is blackened. The vegetables should be cooked through and tender.
- Place the hot grilled vegetables in a large plastic bag and twist it closed. Let them sit for a few minutes in the plastic bag to steam. This will help the skin peel off much more easily. Peel the eggplants and peppers (it helps to have a small bowl of cold water nearby to rinse off your fingers as necessary).
- Remove the stems from the eggplants and the stems and seeds from the peppers and chop everything into a ¼-to-½-inch dice. Transfer all the chopped grilled vegetables to a large bowl.
- To the bowl, add the remaining ingredients and stir well. Adjust seasoning as needed and then serve at room temperature or cold.
Notes
Nutrition
*All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.*
Natalie B. says
Love this salad! I made it with only one large eggplant and one tomato. It's fantastic and I serve it with hummus, feta, and bread for a delicious summertime meal. Thank you!
Grammie K says
We get this at our local Armenian restaurant, I hope this recipe is as good as what the Grandmother makes. Iโm growing all the veggies this summer. Canโt wait to indulge.
Victoria says
I bet your home grown veggies will be perfect for this salad! The best part is you can easily adjust the seasonings and acid to suit your palate (or try to replicate the version at your local Armenian restaurant in case it's a little different from my version). Enjoy!
Mary Kabakian says
This is such a great recipe for a grilled vegetable salad. We, Armenians, make this very often and enjoy it every single time. Yummm!