Traditional Greek Salad
A traditional Greek salad, or horiatiki ("village salad"), has no lettuce: just ripe tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, red onion and Kalamata olives, dressed with olive oil, red wine vinegar and dried oregano, with a slab of feta on top. Ready in 15 minutes.
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Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 160 g Tomatoes
- 100 g Cucumber
- 40 g Green bell pepper
- 5 large Kalamata olives
- 70 g Feta cheese
Seasonings and other
- 35 g Red onion
- ½ tsp Dried oregano
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- ½ tbsp Red wine vinegar
- a pinch Salt
Instructions
- Slice the Onion
Cut the red onion into thin half-moons. For a milder taste, soak the slices for about 10 minutes in a small bowl of ice-cold water with a splash of the red wine vinegar, then drain them well.
- Prepare the Vegetables
Cut the tomatoes into wedges or chunky pieces. Peel the cucumber in stripes, halve it lengthwise and slice it. Cut the green pepper into thin rings. Put everything into a wide salad bowl with the olives and the onion.
- Dress the Salad
Sprinkle half of the oregano and a pinch of salt over the vegetables. Pour over the olive oil and the rest of the red wine vinegar, then toss everything together gently.
- Top with Feta
Lay the feta on top in large pieces, scatter over the remaining oregano and serve straight away.
Tips for the best traditional greek salad
- Use the ripest tomatoes you can find: they make the dressing as they release their juice.
- Soak the sliced onion in iced water with a splash of vinegar for 10 minutes if you find raw onion too sharp.
- Keep the feta in large pieces on top instead of crumbling it, the way it's served in Greece.
- Many fetas are made with animal rennet. Look for one labelled vegetarian if that matters to you.
Variations
- Vegan: use a plant-based feta or marinated tofu cubes.
- More filling: add chickpeas or serve with warm pita.
- Extra crunch: add a few capers or thinly sliced radishes.
Storing
Best eaten fresh. Without the feta and dressing, the chopped vegetables keep for a day in the fridge.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Greek salad and horiatiki?
Horiatiki is the Greek name for the traditional version: no lettuce, feta in one piece on top. Many restaurants outside Greece add lettuce.
Does Greek salad have lettuce?
Not traditionally. A horiatiki is made only from tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, onion, olives and feta.
What dressing goes on Greek salad?
Just extra virgin olive oil, a little red wine vinegar, dried oregano and a pinch of salt.
Is Greek salad gluten-free?
Yes, as written it is gluten-free. Serve it with gluten-free bread if you want something on the side.
