Classic Greek Salad

December 29, 2022

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How To Cook Classic Greek Salad

The classic Greek salad is a recipe from Greek cuisine, and it is a recipe that is eaten all over the world. With raw vegetables, acidic feta cheese and salty olives, yummy yummy! This salad will surely be appreciated by the whole family. But what makes a truly classic Greek salad? In this blog post, we'll discuss the history and traditional ingredients of the classic Greek salad and offer some tips and variations on the recipe.

What Makes a Greek Salad Classic?

The salad is also called the Horiatiki salad, known to us more recently as the Classic Greek Salad, it is a simple salad with few ingredients, but it is very aromatic, which has its origin in the rural villages of Greece. It is traditionally made with ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions and bell peppers, all drizzled with olive oil and red wine vinegar. The salad is then topped with the delicious crumbled feta cheese, olives and dried oregano, if desired.

The use of fresh ingredients is a huge advantage, it is one of the key features of a classic Greek salad. Tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers are all summer vegetables, but most of them can also be found in stores during the winter. Although the use of fresh products, especially if we have our own garden, ensures that the salad is aromatic and tasty.

Another thing about the classic Greek salad is that it is very simple. With few ingredients and a simple preparation it makes it an easy and quick option for a light lunch or dinner. The combination of raw vegetables, feta cheese and salty olives creates a perfect balance of flavors that requires almost no seasoning or extras.

The History of the Classic Greek Salad

The classic Greek salad, as the name suggests, is from ancient Greece and has a very long and rich history. Salads were a common dish served at meals, and raw vegetables and herbs were a staple in the ancient Greek diet. In Greece, the Horiatiki salad, as it is also called, has its origins in rural villages, where fresh produce was at every home.

Traditionally, the classic Greek salad was served as a side dish with meat, usually grilled lamb or goat, or simply as a light snack. Now more recently, it is served as a main course, often with a slice of bread and grilled chicken or more recently... with seafood.

Many of us often order a classic Greek salad in restaurants and every time we are surprised how different this dish turns out even from professionals.

Those who have tasted it directly on the land of Ancient Hellas know the real taste, which is offered by juicy tomatoes and olives ripened under the rays of the hot sun, as well as the most delicate buttery feta made from the freshest natural milk.

Everything seems to be incredibly simple (the Greeks call such a salad "horiatiki", meaning "village"), but the gastronomic impressions are simply fantastic! Therefore, if you want to cook this dish yourself, try to find the ripest vegetables, feta or good cheese, as well as extra virgin olive oil, which plays an important role in this show of flavors and aromas.

And don't forget to prepare Fit spinach crepes with quark and smoked salmon

Ingredients For Classic Greek Salad

- 2 medium cucumbers,
- 1 red bell pepper,
- 1 sweet yellow pepper,
- 250 g cherry tomatoes,
- 1/2 red onion,
- 225 g of cheese,
- 100 g Kalamata olives,
- 2 cloves of garlic,
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano,
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard,
- 60 ml red wine vinegar,
- 1 tablespoon of sea salt,
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coarse black pepper,
- 125 ml olive oil

Recipe for Classic Greek Salad

1. Wash the cucumbers for the Greek salad and dry. Cut in half lengthwise, remove the seeds and cut into 5-6mm thick slices. Cut the pepper into 1.5cm squares.

2. Wash the cherry tomatoes and dry them. Cut in half. Clean the onion and cut it into thin rings. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix.

3. Prepare salad dressing. Finely chop the garlic. Whisk the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. While continuing to beat, gradually pour in the olive oil. Pour the dressing over the salad, mix.

4. Cut the cheese into cubes with a side of 1.5 cm. Remove the pits from the olives. Arrange the cheese and olives on the salad, mix. Leave at room temperature for 30 minutes, then serve...

5. If the fresh cucumbers you are going to put in the Greek salad are medium in size and the seeds in them are small and tender, do not remove the middle, but cut the fruit along with it.

6. A classic Greek salad is usually dressed with olive oil and a little wine vinegar. We took a few liberties with the sauce recipe, seasoning it with mustard and garlic. It came out very spicy!