Khashoka Salad: Lettuce, Rocket, and Jerash Labneh at Richardson's Table

An introduction to the namesake Khashoka Salad ($13), exploring its ingredients, the importance of Jerash-style labneh, and how it anchors a shared Levantine cold mezze spread.

By Muhammad Albakri · July 23, 20263 min read

What is Khashoka Salad?

The Khashoka Salad ($13) is our namesake fresh plate, combining crisp romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, peppery rocket (arugula), bell pepper, and fresh mint. We toss these hand-cut vegetables in a simple dressing of extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice, then complete the dish with a generous portion of creamy labneh jarasheh (Jerash-style strained yogurt). Because this dish carries our name, it represents our baseline standard for raw, crisp ingredients that anchor a traditional meal.

Our name, خاشوكة (khashoka), is a Turkish-rooted word that serves as the everyday term for a wide communal spoon in Jordan. As Jordan's national airline, Royal Jordanian, highlighted in its Amman dining guide, the name points to a rustic, hands-on eating philosophy where guests gather together over shared plates. While you do not need a spoon to eat this salad, the plate itself is built with that same communal spirit in mind, serving as a clean, bright centerpiece for the rest of your table.

What makes Jerash labneh different?

Jordanian labneh is thick, tangy, and finished with olive oil, differing significantly from the looser, more fluid yogurt strains found in generic supermarkets. The variety we use is labneh jarasheh, sourced from the historic northern region of Jerash. It is strained extensively until it achieves a dense, spreadable consistency almost like a soft cheese, giving it a concentrated tang that cuts beautifully through the herbal notes of rocket and mint.

This texture is crucial for the salad's structural balance. Rather than dissolving into the lemon and olive oil dressing, the Jerash labneh holds its shape on the plate. This allows you to sweep a forkful of crisp cucumber and bell pepper through the creamy yogurt, or scoop it up directly with a piece of fresh bread. The contrast between the cold, crisp garden vegetables and the rich, velvety labneh is what makes this plate a complete sensory experience rather than just a side dish.

How does Khashoka Salad fit the cold-plate table?

A traditional Jordanian meal is rarely eaten in isolated courses. Instead, we arrange a spread of cold plates that remain on the table to balance the warm, heavier pans. The Khashoka Salad acts as a clean, acidic counterweight to richer mezze options. When placed alongside a basket of warm bread, it helps refresh the palate between bites of savory, warm dishes.

To build a traditional cold spread, we recommend pairing the salad with these classic plates from our menu:

Adding the herb-rich crunch of the salad next to these savory dips and warm falafel creates a complete, rounded spread. The fresh mint and lemon dressing from the salad plays particularly well with the earthy, warm spice of the falafel, and helps cut the richness of the oil-cured makdous.

How to order and serve it at Khashoka

Our Khashoka Salad is priced at $13 and is prepared fresh to order for dine-in guests at our Richardson location. Local writer Amina Khan observed in D Magazine that portions at Khashoka are made for sharing, and this salad is no exception. It is sized to comfortably feed two people as a shared starter or to sit as a constant green anchor for a larger family gathering.

To maintain the exact flavor profiles you would find in Amman, we do not rely on local commercial substitutes. Roughly 90% of our pantry ingredients, including our specialty olive oil, wild herbs, and the Jerash labneh itself, are imported directly from Jordan. We invite you to bring the family to our dining room, tear off a piece of warm bread, and begin your meal the way it has always been done.