People | Food | Culture

Greek Salad

ByAva
Published OnSep 19, 2024
Updated OnApr 2, 2026

Today, we are making Greek Salad. In Greece, this dish is known as Horiatiki (meaning “village”) and features cucumbers, onions, black olives, feta cheese, and tomatoes. This traditional salad originated in rural Greece, where farmers would prepare it with fresh ingredients from their gardens. The primary vegetables used in Greek Salad are onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

Salad is a staple in Greece, particularly during the hot summer months. Greek salad showcases the delightful variety of fruits and vegetables available in the country, offering a light and refreshing taste. When paired with lamb chops, which are commonly enjoyed in Greece, the salad acts as a cooling complement. The four key ingredients of a Greek salad are feta cheese, olives, vinegar, and olive oil. Feta cheese, made from the milk of sheep, is an essential component of this dish.

Ingredients

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

Choose Cherry tomatoes; they are sweeter and crunchier. Most people use Large tomatoes, which they cut into chunks. Cucumbers offer a fresh, crisp taste. Red Onions are chopped into tiny cubes or thinly sliced. Red onions have a bit of a bite & heat. Many Greeks use Kalamata olives; when they are not available at the supermarket, use Black olives in their place. Traditionally, this recipe features a large chunk of Feta cheese that is placed on top of the salad; we prefer to crumble it. 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 add 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. Grilled lamb chops also taste good with it. Pair with other side dishes such as Hummus or Baba Ghanoush and 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 the vegetables dry of any excess water. Add the salad dressing on the day of the meal. The vegetables should last three days.