Greek Salad Recipe

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This simple Greek salad recipe, which is traditionally called horiatiki salad, is a favorite of mine! It was my go-to after my shift when I worked at an authentic Greek restaurant in college. The Greek-native owner showed me how to make Greek salad the authentic way (spoiler: there’s no lettuce!). The ingredients are simple — like a dressed up version of cucumber tomato salad — and the whole thing takes just 15 minutes.

Serve this recipe for Greek salad as an easy side dish — just add a chicken drumstick recipe or a halibut recipe to turn it into a meal. See ideas below! The Greek salad dressing (from my Easy Keto Cookbook!) even doubles as an easy marinade for poultry, so you can make a big batch for multiple uses.

Greek Salad Ingredients

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for authentic Greek salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

In Greek, horiatiki translates to “village” or “peasant”, which is why this traditional Greek salad is also sometimes called a village salad. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Tomatoes – I used halved grape tomatoes, but cherry tomatoes work just as well. Larger tomatoes are also fine to use — just cut into large chunks.
• Cucumbers – Cut them into half moons or quarter moons, depending on their size. Any cucumber variety will work in this Greek cucumber salad.
• Red Onions – Slice thinly. Red onions work best with the other flavors here, but you can use white onions if you like. If you’re not a fan of onions, you can substitute another crunchy vegetable, such as green bell pepper.
• Kalamata Olives – These are most common in Greek salad recipes, but black olives are fine if that’s what you have. Either way, make sure they are pitted and slice them in half.
• Greek Dressing – Store-bought dressing works, but for the best flavor, make a homemade Greek dressing recipe using extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. It takes just a few minutes! Lemon vinaigrette would also work well here.
• Feta Cheese – Adds a creamy texture and tangy flavor to the salad. For a dairy-free version, simply omit the cheese.

VARIATION: Add lettuce or fresh herbs!

The Greeks don’t add lettuce or other greens to traditional Greek salad, which is always a surprise to many Americans, compared to our salads here in the states. But there’s nothing wrong with adding romaine lettuce or other greens if you want to. You’ll probably need a few extra tablespoons of dressing to compensate.

You can also add fresh herbs, such as fresh dill or parsley.

As for me? I grew up here in the U.S. too, but in my Eastern European family, we regularly had lettuce-free salads, like radish salad and creamy cucumber salad.

How To Make Greek Salad

This section shows how to make the best Greek salad recipe, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

1. Whisk the dressing. It takes only a few minutes, and you probably have the ingredients on hand. Learn how to make Greek dressing here.
2. Prep the veggies. Chop the vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and red onions), and place them in a large bowl. Add the feta cheese, too.

3. Combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

TIP: You can add the feta with the veggies or at the end.

I combined the feta with the vegetables in the steps and pictures above, but it stays together better if you add it after tossing the veggies with the dressing first.

Storage Instructions

You can chop the vegetables ahead of time and store the Greek salad ingredients in separate containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, separate from the dressing. The dressing will keep for up to 1 month in the fridge.

If you have leftovers of a fully dressed salad, they might last a day or so in the fridge.

What To Serve With Greek Salad Recipes

This Greek salad recipe is the perfect side salad for almost any healthy dinner! Here are some great pairings to go with it:

• Chicken – Make this quick horiatiki salad while you make crispy baked chicken legs in the oven or creamy Crock Pot chicken in the slow cooker. For a complete Greek meal, try Mediterranean chicken or in the warmer months, grilled chicken kabobs.
• Salmon – Serve it with baked salmon for a fast, easy, and light meal. If you want to take it up a notch, try creamy Tuscan salmon and parmesan crusted salmon.
• Steak – Make a classic sirloin steak with a flavorful steak marinade. Add some Greek lemon potatoes for a whole meal.
• Greek Mains – Pair it with pork souvlaki, Greek stuffed tomatoes, quick shrimp saganaki, or juicy lamb chops for a complete taste of Greece. It’s also the perfect side for gyros!

More Salads Without Lettuce

No lettuce needed! Go beyond the greens with these lettuce-free salad recipes:

Radish Salad

Israeli Salad

Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Recipe Card

5 from 13 votes

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Greek Salad Recipe (Traditional, 15 Minutes!)

Make a traditional Greek salad recipe with simple ingredients: tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, onions, and feta cheese. Ready in 15 minutes!

Prep: 15 minutes

Total: 15 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 8 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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• 3 1/2 cups Grape tomatoes (halved) ▢
• 3 1/2 cups Cucumbers (cut into half moons) ▢
• 1/2 cup Kalamata olives (pitted and halved) ▢
• 1/2 cup Red onions (sliced thinly into quarter moons) ▢
• 1/2 cup Greek salad dressing ▢
• 1/2 cup Feta cheese (crumbled) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Make the Greek salad dressing here.

2. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, red onions, and feta cheese.

3. Pour the dressing over the Greek salad and toss to coat.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 141

Fat 12.6g

Protein 2.5g

Total Carbs 5.7g

Net Carbs 4g

Fiber 1.7g

Sugar 3.5g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Greek

Keywords: Greek salad ingredients, Greek salad recipe, Greek salad recipes, recipe for Greek salad, traditional Greek salad

Calories: 141 kcal

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