Authentic Greek Salad (Horiatiki)

This authentic Greek salad is fresh, simple, and full of flavour with fresh produce, olives, feta, and olive oil – no lettuce, just tradition.

Fresh, simple, and packed with classic Mediterranean flavours, this authentic Greek salad is as traditional as it gets. Known in Greece as Horiatiki salata, it originated as a humble village salad made with the freshest local ingredients.

Made without lettuce, it focuses on ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, and real Greek feta, all brought together with a generous drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of oregano.

It’s the perfect side dish for grilled meats, or a light meal on its own with a slice of crusty bread to soak up the delicious juices.

Tips for the Best Greek Salad

1. Use quality ingredients
   This salad is all about simple, fresh flavours, so use the best quality produce you can find. Ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and briny olives make all the difference.
2. Salt the tomatoes first
   Salting the tomatoes helps draw out their juices, creating a natural dressing base (a tomato “broth”) that enhances the flavour of the whole salad.
3. Don’t skip the olive oil
   A generous drizzle of good-quality extra virgin olive oil is essential—it’s not just for dressing, it brings everything together.
4. Choose real Greek feta
   Look for feta made from sheep’s milk (or a sheep and goat blend). It should be firm and crumbly, not soft or overly creamy.
5. No lettuce needed
   Traditional Greek salad doesn’t include lettuce. Skipping it keeps the texture crisp and lets the other ingredients shine.
6. Add oregano last
   Sprinkle Greek oregano over the top just before serving for an authentic, herbaceous finish.
7. Serve at room temperature
   Chilling mutes the flavours. Room temperature brings out the best in the fresh ingredients.
8. Don’t forget the bread
   Crusty bread is a must for soaking up the delicious juices at the bottom of the bowl.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Cherry tomatoes – Sweet and juicy, cherry tomatoes work beautifully when salted to release their juices. While chopped ripe vine tomatoes are more traditional, I prefer using cherry tomatoes outside of peak tomato season, as they tend to offer more consistently good flavour.
• Salt – Enhances the tomatoes and overall flavour. You only need a small amount to flavour and bring out the juices of the tomatoes.
• English cucumber – Crisp and mild, with fewer seeds. You can use Persian cucumbers or peeled regular cucumbers with the seeds removed instead.
• Red onion – Adds a sharp bite and beautiful colour contrast. You can soak the onion in cold water for 10 minutes to tone down the sharpness, if desired.
• Green bell pepper – A traditional addition in Horiatiki salad for crunch and bitterness.
• Kalamata olives – Briny and rich, these are essential for that classic Greek flavour. Avoid canned sliced olives.
• Greek feta cheese – The star ingredient – salty, creamy, and firm. Choose one made from sheep’s milk if possible. Do not crumble the feta.
• Extra virgin olive oil – Adds richness and ties all the ingredients together. Use the best-quality oil you can. Do not substitute with other oils, as this is a key flavour.
• Fresh oregano – Brings a fragrant, herbaceous note. If you can get Greek oregano, that is best, but regular oregano will work well. You can substitute with dried oregano in a pinch.
• Red wine vinegar – A small splash can help brighten the flavours, though it’s often unnecessary if your tomato broth is already rich and tangy.

What to Serve with Greek Salad?

Tender and juicy, Greek yogurt marinated chicken infuses garlic, lemon and oregano together for a flavour loaded Greek chicken dinner.

These classic Grilled Lemon Thyme Chicken Breasts are tender, juicy, and flavourful – the best bbq chicken every time.

Authentic Greek Salad (Horiatiki)

Yields: 4 servings | Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 English cucumber, thickly sliced and quartered
• ⅓ cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 16–20 Kalamata olives, whole
• 7 oz (200 g) Greek feta cheese, cut into cubes
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh oregano, preferably Greek oregano (to taste)
• Optional: splash of red wine vinegar

Directions:

1. Salt the tomatoes:
Place the cherry tomatoes in a serving bowl and sprinkle with salt. Gently stir, then let sit for 10-15 minutes. This allows the tomatoes to release their juices and create a flavourful base.

2. Assemble the salad:
Add the cucumber, red onion, green bell pepper, olives, and feta cubes to the bowl with the tomatoes and their juices.

3. Dress and season:
Drizzle generously with olive oil. Stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning – add a bit more salt or a splash of red wine vinegar if desired.

4. Serve:
Garnish with fresh oregano. Serve immediately at room temperature with crusty bread to soak up the juices. (Traditional Greek salad is never chilled and contains no lettuce.)

Continue to Content

Yield: 4 Servings

Authentic Greek Salad (Horiatiki)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This authentic Greek salad is fresh, simple, and full of flavour with fresh produce, olives, feta, and olive oil – no lettuce, just tradition.

Print

Ingredients

• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 English cucumber, thickly sliced and quartered
• ⅓ cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 16-20 Kalamata olives, whole
• 7 oz (200g) Greek feta cheese, cut into cubes
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh oregano, preferably Greek oregano (to taste)
• Optional: splash of red wine vinegar

Instructions

1. Place the cherry tomatoes in a serving bowl and sprinkle with salt. Gently stir, then let sit for 10-15 minutes.
2. Add the cucumber, red onion, green bell pepper, olives, and feta cubes to the bowl with the tomatoes and their juices.
3. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Stir gently to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning – add a bit more salt or a splash of red wine vinegar if desired.
4. Garnish with fresh oregano. Serve immediately at room temperature with crusty bread to soak up the juices.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1¼ cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 320Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 686mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 9g

This information is provided as a courtesy and for entertainment purposes only. This information comes from online calculators. Although frugalmomeh.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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