Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
Classic Greek salad with ripe tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives and a slab of feta, dressed simply with olive oil and oregano.
100% of it needs you at the counter
- Hands-on
- 15 min
- Serves
- 4
- Calories
- 345
- Protein
- 9 g
- Per serving
- $2.59
Why this recipe works
A traditional Greek village salad has no lettuce at all, just chunky vegetables, olives and feta. It's at its best with ripe tomatoes, and it's sturdy enough for a packed lunch with some bread to mop up the juices.
- Salting the tomatoes and cucumber a few minutes before serving draws out their juices, which mix with the oil into a natural dressing.
- A whole slab of feta on top, broken at the table, stays creamy instead of crumbling into dust.
- Good olive oil and dried oregano are all the dressing needs; there's no lettuce to weigh down.
Ingredients
For the dressing
You will need
- Large shallow serving bowl or platter
- Sharp knife
Method
Tap a step number to mark it done.
Soak the onion
Soak the onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften its bite, then drain.
Season the vegetables
Put the tomatoes, cucumber, pepper and onion in the bowl, sprinkle with the salt and toss. Let stand 5 minutes.
Dress
Drizzle with the vinegar and 4 tablespoons of the oil and toss gently. Scatter the olives over the top.
Top with feta
Lay the slab of feta on top, drizzle with the last tablespoon of oil, sprinkle with the oregano and pepper, and serve with bread for the juices.
Cook's notes
- Use the ripest tomatoes you can find. Out of season, halved cherry tomatoes have more flavor than large ones.
- Feta sold in brine is creamier and less salty than pre-crumbled feta.
- For lunch on the go, pack the dressing separately and add a can of drained chickpeas for protein.
Nutrition per serving
345 calories
$2.59 estimated cost per serving
Where the calories come from
| Protein | 10% of calories | 9 g |
|---|---|---|
| Carbs | 15% of calories | 13 g |
| Fat | 75% of calories | 30 g |
| Fiber | 3 g | |
| Sodium | 840 mg |
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for the listed ingredients and amounts; not lab-tested. Cost estimated from average US retail prices.
Questions people ask
Does Greek salad have lettuce?
A traditional Greek salad, horiatiki, has no lettuce. The lettuce version is common in American restaurants and works too: add 1 chopped romaine heart.
What dressing goes on a Greek salad?
Traditionally just extra-virgin olive oil, a little red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt and pepper, mixed with the tomato juices in the bowl.
Can you make Greek salad ahead?
Cut the vegetables up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate, but add the salt and dressing just before serving so they stay crisp.
