This Traditional Greek Salad Recipe (Horiatiki) is as authentic as it can get. Sourced directly from a Greek Chef, I am sharing everything that you should know about this Greek Village Salad.
Want more refreshing salads recipes, then you have to try these too – Ramen Noodle Salad, Kidney Bean Salad, Watermelon Feta Salad, Som Tam Salad, Cucumber Avocado Salad, and Broccoli Apple Salad.
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What is Traditional Greek Salad
Crafted from fresh veggies such as cherry tomatoes, cucumber, Kalamata olives, feta cheese et al, this Greek Salad is a super refreshing salad that you need this Summer for your healthy and light meals.
Nowadays I rely more and more on light and refreshing salads for my meals. Not only are these salads really quick and easy to make, but the burst of fresh and crisp flavors that comes from the raw veggies and salad dressing is also a welcome change from the regular cooked food that we usually eat.
To make my salads more interesting, I keep on looking out for new recipes and this Greek Village Salad is one of the many salad recipes that I love to whip up. My family just loves this salad with some creamy Hummus and freshly baked Pita Breads on the side.
Since this Greek Village Salad requires only a few ingredients, it is very important to use the freshest and best of ingredients so that each of them adds up to the taste of the dish. Above all, the easy peasy tangy dressing takes the salad to a top-notch level.
This Traditional Greek Village Salad is,
- Refreshing
- Healthy
- Easy + Quick
- Prepared with few ingredients
- A Summer favourite
Ingredients
Ingredients to make a traditional Greek Salad (Horiatiki) are very simple. This salad is served right from the start of the spring to early fall making use of the fresh bounty available. Use the best quality ingredients to make this salad for the best taste.
Vegetables – This refreshing salad is prepared with a combination of fresh Tomatoes, Cucumber, and Onions.
Use fresh ripe juicy tomatoes. If you are using regular tomatoes, cut them into large wedges. I had cherry tomatoes at hand and I just cut them into halves.
I like to use Persian or English cucumber to make this salad. They are juicy and crunchy and mostly seedless. Cut them into half-moons without peeling.
Onions are cut into thin slices. I used red onions are they are a little sharp and goes perfectly well with sweet tomatoes and cucumber.
In the traditional recipe, no lettuce is added or other greens are added but you can definitely choose to add them.
Olives – Greek Kalamata Olives are used in the salad too, which adds an authentic middle eastern touch. You can even add green olives, but as black olives are a bit sweeter than the green ones, they taste better in this salad.
Feta Cheese – Creamy Feta Cheese is a must in a traditional greek syle salad recipe. The soft texture of feta cheese goes really well with the crunchy vegetables. Feta Cheese made using sheep’s milk is preferred and it’s mostly cut in large chunks instead of crumbling it. I personally like bits of feta cheese coming in every bite and hence crumbled it.
For the Dressing – The dressing of this salad is simple just like the salad itself. You just need extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, black pepper, salt, and oregano.
Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar for a refreshing and authentic taste.
If you cannot find red wine vinegar, you can even use lemon juice for that tangy taste.
How to make Greek Salad?
Chop tomatoes, cucumber and onion. Mix tomatoes, cucumber, olives and feta cheese in a bowl.
In another bowl, mix extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, black pepper, oregano and salt.
Pour the dressing over the veggies once ready to serve.
Give the salad a gentle mix. Serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
I always enjoy this salad fresh. But, as there are no greens in this salad, you can definitely make it ahead of time. It is always a good idea to make it and store it in the fridge if you are planning to make it for a large crowd.
If you are preparing ahead, just skip adding feta cheese. Add the crumbled feta right before serving.
This is such a versatile salad, that you can go ahead and experiment with it. You can even add some cubed avocado, potato, colored bell peppers, coriander, capers, parsley, and mint leaves, kale, lettuce, etc.
Pasta like orzo, tortellini works great in this salad.
Add grains like quinoa, wild rice, or couscous.
Sometimes, I even like to add cooked Chickpeas, to make it filling and wholesome. You can even add other proteins like chicken, shrimp, and salmon.
Serving Suggestions
Crunchy and juicy to the core, Greek salad could be eaten as a breakfast or when you are craving for a light yet filling dinner.
I love to serve it on the side with some crispy Falafels, creamy Hummus and freshly baked Pita Breads for a healthy dinner.
You can serve this salad on the side with Grilled Chicken, Fish, Lamb, or with your Mediterranean meals too.
Always keep bottles of Extra Virgin Olive and Vinegar on the table while serving this salad. Someone might need an extra splash of these.
So, bookmark this easy recipe in your gadget and quickly make a large bowl of this delicious salad whenever you crave for something fresh and healthy!
Storage Suggestions
If you have leftovers, store this refreshing salad in an airtight container for about 2 days in the fridge.
Take it out and let it come to room temperature, before enjoying it again with your meals.
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Recipe Card
Traditional Greek Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 10-12 Cherry tomatoes (Cut into halves)
- 1 cup Cucumber (Cut into half moons)
- ½ cup Kalamata Olives (Pitted and halved)
- ½ cup Red Onion (Sliced)
- 100 g Feta cheese (Crumbled or Cut into Chunks)
For the Dressing
- 3 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Lime Juice
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Dried Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Mix tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and feta cheese in a bowl.
- In another bowl, mix olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice black pepper, oregano, and salt.
- Pour the dressing over the veggies and give a gentle mix.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Pasta like orzo, tortellini works great in this salad.
Add grains like quinoa, wild rice, or couscous.
Sometimes, I even like to add cooked Chickpeas, to make it filling and wholesome. You can even add other proteins like chicken, shrimp, and salmon. This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled and can be made for a crowd.
Reshma
Such a wonderful recipe .Thank you so much for adding the other details too about the salad ~ like adding proteins , pasta et al for giving a healthy filling . My son son enjoys this salad to the fullest 😍
Neha Mathur
Happy to hear 🙂