Greek Salad

Greek Salad is also known as Horiatiki which means ”village”. It uses cucumbers, onions, black olives, feta cheese and tomatoes. Greek Salad originated from the rural parts of Greece. Farmers would prepare the salad with the ingredients grown in their gardens. The usual vegetables were onions, cucumbers, tomatoes.

Salad is a staple in Greece, especially in the hot summer months. Greek Salad pays tribute to the delicious variety of fruits and vegetables in Greece. Greek salad has a light and refreshing taste. When paired with Lamb Chops which is commonly eaten in Greece, the salad is a cooling factor.

The four prominent ingredients for this Salad are Feta Cheese, Olives, Vinegar and Olive oil. Feta cheese is an essential element of the salad. Feta is a type of curd cheese created from the milk of sheep.

What do you need to make Greek Salad?

Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Black Olives, Feta Cheese, Green Bell Peppers, Vinegar, Olive oil, Oregano, Garlic, Salt, Pepper and Dijon Mustard.

Choose Baby tomatoes or Cherry tomatoes, it is sweeter and provides more crunch. Most people use Large tomatoes which they cut into chunks. Cucumbers provides a fresh and crisp taste. Red Onions are chopped into tiny cubes or thinly sliced. Red onions have a bit of a bite & heat. Opt for Kalamata olives where possible, however when they are not available at the supermarket, use Black olives in its place. Most Greeks prefer to use large blocks of feta cheese and serve it on top of the salad, we preferred to crumble it up. Green Bell Peppers add crunch and freshness.

Salad Dressing

Apple Cider Vinegar has less tartness than Red Wine Vinegar which has more tartness. Olive oil makes the salad rich and flavorful. Oregano in the salad dressing adds a woody taste. Garlic when Finely chopped will add heat. Salt & Pepper adds flavor. Dijon Mustard Sauce adds a sharp taste.

Learn how to make Greek Salad Dressing.

Wash all ingredients. Cut the cherry tomatoes in half, slice the cucumber as shown. Cut the green bell pepper in a rustic manner. Slice the red onion. Remove the stems of the mint leaves.

What to Serve with Greek Salad?

Consider a juicy beef steak, Greek Style Grilled lamb chops also taste good with it. Pair with other side dishes such as Hummus or Baba Ghanoush and some hot pita bread.

How to Store Greek Salad?

Preferably you would omit the Salad dressing and store the chopped, washed vegetables in the fridge. Make sure to pat dry any excess water off the vegetables. Add the salad dressing on the day of the meal. The vegetables should last three days.