Classic Greek Salad Recipe (Horiatiki)

Traditional Greek Salad is made with juicy tomatoescrisp cucumberscreamy feta cheeseand savory Kalamata olives. It's topped with plenty of healthy extra virgin olive oil and dried oregano. It's a very simpleno-mix salad to makebursting with Mediterranean goodness!

Greek Salad in Greece is called Horiatiki Salatawhich translates to Village Salad. The name implies that it's a rustichumbleand simple garden-fresh salad.

<>

Table Of Contents

• Ingredients
• Additional Ingredients
• How To Make
• The Best Greek Salad
• TIPS
• Make It Vegan - Lactose-Free
• Serve With
• Recipe

An authentic Greek salad can be served as an appetizerside dishor even as a main meal salad on its own. The feta cheese makes it very filling and satisfyingwithout making it feel too heavy. In other wordsit's a greatquickand easy summer meal.

A Greek salad is my go-to dinner during the whole summer. I can live on it. Sometimes with slight adjustments to the basic ingredients for some variation (like the ingredients I mention below).

Ingredients

The ingredients to make an Authentic Greek salad are sun-ripened tomatoescrunchy cucumberssliced onionsliced green pepperbriny Kalamata olivesplenty of extra virgin olive oiland dried Greek mountain oregano.

Additional Ingredients

Other than the basic ingredients used in making a Greek saladthere are a few other popular additions such as:

• Lettuce: not used in the Authentic Greek Salad recipebut it goes well. If you want to add it to the Greek saladshred it and add it to a mixing bowl with the other ingredients. Cut the feta cheese into small cubes or crumble it and toss it into the bowl as well. Add a few drops of red wine vinegar or fresh lemon and mix everything well. The blend of flavors is heavenly!
• Arugula: not a very popular additionbut a truly tasty one! Use baby arugula leaves (or rocketit's the same thing) and just toss them in the salad.
• Capers: This is a popular addition in Greece. A few baby capers tossed in the salad add a nice savory boost to the flavors of Horiatiki. You can even use brined caper leaves.
• Kritamos: a more extravagant additionwith a saltysavory flavor. Kritamos is sea fennel that's preserved in brine. It gives a unique flavor to this delicious summer salad.
• Paximadi: Greek rusks are a favorite addition to Greek salad. Either wheat or traditional Cretan barley rusksbroken down into smaller pieces and mixed into the salad. These soak up all the juices from the tomatoes and olive oilturning this salad into a truly filling Mediterranean meal!
• Avocado: not a Greek additionbut it's one of my favorite ones. I usually add some chopped creamy avocado sprinkled with fresh lemon juice whenever I want to skip the feta cheese. Trust meit tastes superb!
• Red wine vinegar: sometimesa few drops of red wine vinegar are added to Greek salad for extra aciditybut that depends on personal preference.

How To Make

The process of making a Classic Greek Salad is very simple. You first cut the tomatoes into chunky pieces and add them to a soup plate or deep plate. Nextadd the cut cucumberssliced green pepperand red onion.

Lastlytop the vegetables with a big piece of feta cheesedrizzle with extra virgin olive oiland sprinkle with dried oregano. You don't need to mix anything; it's traditionally served this way!

The Best Greek Salad

To make the best Greek saladyou need seasonalsun-ripe tomatoes. These are the whole essence of the salad. You can get away with cucumbers if they're not in season. But not with tomatoes. If tomatoes are blandthen the Greek Salad will also be!

So seasonality is key here. Always make a Greek salad during the warmer months of the yearwhen tomatoes are in seasonripesweetand full of flavor!

If you want to make a Greek salad during winteruse cherry tomatoes instead. They are sweet and flavorful all year round. Howeverthey won't make the salad as juicy.

TIPS

• Season the Greek salad with coarseunrefined sea salt. Just this simple thing will add so much flavor!
• Let the salad sit for 30 minutes before serving. The tomato juices and olive oil create a lightflavorful dressing that's perfect for scooping up with a slice of rustic bread.
• Use Greek mountain oregano to experience the authentic flavor. Its aroma isn't comparable to simple dried oregano.

Make It Vegan - Lactose-Free

To make a Vegan Greek saladsubstitute the feta cheese with Vegan Feta Cheese. If you can't find it in a grocery storeyou can try making Vegan Feta Cheese yourself at home; it's tastier and healthiertoo!

Serve With

The No. 1 food that goes well with a Classic Greek Salad is a piece of rusticcrusty bread to mop up the flavorful juices that collect at the bottom of the plate. Sourdough bread is the best option here.

You can also grill some bread slicesdrizzle them with olive oiland sprinkle them with oregano and coarse sea saltjust as it's served in Greek Tavernas.

Some Tzatziki or Pita Bread on the side is also great. And of coursethis salad is the perfect pairing to any grilled meat or fish like SouvlakiGrilled Sea Breamor Grilled Sardines to bring the taste of

Recipe