Greek Salad
That’s one delicious salad there! Greek salad is by far my favorite salad ever, there’s just something about how fresh and bright the entire dish is. We’ve got salty, crumbly feta that marries well with our vinaigrette, juicy plump tomatoes, and tender savory olives, what more could you ask for? Whether you’re looking to pair this alongside a delicious entree or curl up with a big bowl of it all on its own, this recipe will become your new favorite!
What Is Greek Salad?
If you’ve somehow never heard of Greek salad, all it is is a super simple recipe common in Greek cuisine! It’s traditionally made up of tomato, cucumber, onion, olives, feta cheese, and Greek oregano. Usually this dish is just dressed with olive oil but I’ve made a delicious dressing for us to toss this with today.
Ingredient Notes
Salad
Veggies – English cucumber, cocktail tomatoes, red onion, and green bell pepper are the base of our salad. All chopped up. Olives – Kalamata olives, you can also use French black olives or Gaeta olives. Cheese – There really is only one cheese for this recipe and that is feta. Use both cubed feta and crumbled feta, believe me it makes all the difference in the world when it comes to Greek Salad.
Dressing
Garlic – Use as much or little as you like. Vinegar – Red wine vinegar is what we’re using today, apple cider vinegar can also be used in its place. Olive oil – We want a nice neutral tasting oil here. Feel free to bring out the nice olive oil if you’ve got some lying around for this Greek Salad. Lemon juice – Fresh squeezed lemon juice is a must! We want some bright acidity in our salad. Seasoning – Black pepper and dried oregano are all we need. Sugar – Yes sugar, it’ll help cut through the acidity we’ve got going on here and balance out our dressing.
How To Make Greek Salad
Some Tips
Make Ahead
This salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days. Unfortunately you can’t freeze Greek Salad as the integrity of the veggies will be completely gone when it thaws, resulting in a big bowl of mush. I recommend making this recipe at least a few days before you want to eat it!
Craving More Greek Dishes? Try These Recipes:
Greek Lamb Burgers Chicken Gyros Chicken Souvlaki Skillet Braised Greek Chicken Thighs Greek Meatballs One Pot Greek Chicken Orzo Moussaka Recipe Greek Pasta Salad
title: “Greek Salad” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-13” author: “Tabatha Trilling”
This Greek salad recipe is easy to toss together for a party, or meal prep for your week ahead. It tastes amazing and can be customized to use any veggies you have on hand. Paired with salty feta cheese, this salad makes a delicious side dish, or you can top it with protein and serve it as a main course.
Greek Salad Ingredients
Classic Greek salad is made without romaine lettuce or other leafy greens. Instead, it’s made with crunchy vegetables like cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, tomatoes, and kalamata olives. Large tomatoes are typically used, but I find cherry tomatoes easier to work with. This salad is great for meal prep because the ingredients won’t wilt. I like to dice these veggies into small pieces (which is not necessarily authentic) to ensure there’s a little bit of everything in each forkful. To take the flavor over the top, add a few fresh herbs. I’m partial to adding fresh dill, but parsley, mint, or basil will also work. These are also not found in traditional Greek salad, but wow, do they add flavor! Make it a complete meal by adding in your favorite protein, like sliced chicken, chickpeas, or perfectly cooked quinoa.
How to Make the Best Greek Salad
To prepare the dressing, add the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper to a glass jar with a lid. Shake well to mix, or stir it well with a spoon or whisk. Set the dressing aside while you prepare the vegetables. Slice the cucumber lengthwise and use a spoon to remove the seeds. This will help avoid excess moisture, but you can skip this step if you prefer. Slice the cucumber and add it to a large bowl, followed by the red onion, sliced grape tomatoes, green bell pepper, fresh dill, and sliced olives. Shake the dressing well, then pour it over the mixed vegetables and toss well to combine. Sprinkle the feta cheese generously over the salad, then serve right away. For a dairy-free salad, you can swap the cheese for creamy avocado or a sprinkle of hemp hearts for extra protein. (Or, stir 2 tablespoons of tahini into the dressing for a creamier result.) Looking for more delicious salad ideas? Try Pizza Salad, Mediterranean Chickpea Salad, Italian Salad, or Cabbage Salad with Sesame-Lime Dressing. If you try this Greek salad recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it.
