Mediterranean Greek Salad

This Greek salad recipe is brimming with flavor – loaded with delicious fresh vegetables, olives, and feta cheese tossed in a light and refreshing greek salad dressing.

If you are looking for a quick and light side dish that everyone will love, make this healthy Greek Salad recipe. I make it for every potluck during the summer and everyone raves about it. This Mediterranean salad tastes amazing with fresh juicy tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden. It’s so light and refreshing. I grew up with Mediterranean cuisine and we used to eat this salad every single day in the summer – lunch, and dinner!

What is Greek Salad (Horiatiki)?

Greek salad or Horiatiki salad (also spelled Khoriatiki) is a popular salad in Mediterranean cuisine. It’s a well-known classic salad which is common not only in Greece but also in the Mediterranean region. Traditional Greek salad is made with tomatoes, red bell pepper, sliced cucumbers, onion, feta cheese, olives, and sometimes chickpeas, typically seasoned with a simple dressing – salt, oregano, olive oil, and vinegar.

Mediterranean Salad Recipe Ingredients

You need a handful of ingredients to make this easy salad recipe.

• Vegetables: Tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, red or green bell pepper. Optionally, you could also add minced garlic.
• Red onion – Because red onions can be quite sharp in flavor, some people recommend soaking them in vinegar or lemon juice for several minutes before adding them to the salad. I like their taste the way they are but if you prefer you can soak them first.
• Black olives – This salad wouldn’t be Greek without the olives. While most Greek salads call for Kalamata olives, you can also use black olives if that is your preference.
• Feta cheese – You can choose any brand of feta cheese you prefer. I also like to use Bulgarian feta cheese because I find it’s creamier and tastier.
• Greek salad dressing: olive oil, vinegar, salt, black pepper, and a teaspoon of dried oregano

How to make the Best Greek Salad

1. Add the tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, onion, olives and parsley to a large bowl and toss gently to combine.
2. Combine the salt, black pepper, olive oil, vinegar, and oregano in a small jar. Whisk salad dressing ingredients.
3. Drizzle the Greek salad dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
4. Add the cubed feta cheese.

It’s very easy to make this light, refreshing and healthy salad – it takes only about 15 minutes to chop the vegetables and toss them in a bowl with a light dressing. The most time-consuming part of the salad assembly is going to be chopping the vegetables. I usually chop the tomatoes (you can use different varieties of tomatoes to add more color, texture, and flavors) and bell pepper in bite-sized pieces, halve the cucumber lengthwise, slice it, and thinly slice the onion.

Greek Salad Dressing

I love that this Mediterranean salad dressing is so simple to make yet it packs so much flavor! You don’t need fancy, hard-to-find ingredients for the Greek dressing – just olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Ingredients that you usually have on hand. I use this simple salad dressing as a go-to dressing on a lot of other salads as well.

Variations/Substitutions for this Recipe for Mediterranean Salad

There are several variations and substitutions you can make for a Greek salad:

1. Cheese: Instead of feta cheese, you can use goat cheese, mozzarella, or even grated Parmesan for a different flavor profile.
2. Greens: You can add some greens like romaine lettuce, mixed greens, spinach, kale, or arugula for added nutrients and flavor.
3. Vegetables: Besides the classic ingredients, you can also add or substitute with artichoke hearts, or roasted vegetables like eggplant and zucchini.
4. Proteins: To make it a heartier meal, add grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon. You can also include canned chickpeas or white beans for a vegetarian protein option.
5. Dressing: While Greek dressing is typically made with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs like oregano and parsley, you can experiment with different dressings such as balsamic vinaigrette, tahini dressing, or a citrus-based dressing for a unique twist.
6. Herbs: Fresh herbs like dill, basil, or mint can enhance the flavor of your Greek salad. Sprinkle them on top or mix them into the dressing for a burst of freshness.

By incorporating these variations and substitutions, you can customize your Greek salad to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs while still enjoying its vibrant Mediterranean flavors.

What to serve with this Mediterranean Salad?

This easy Mediterranean salad goes wonderfully with roasted or grilled chicken, lamb, beef, and even with baked salmon. You can even serve it as a main course if you add grilled chicken or salmon on top, or as a side dish to the recipes below:

• Chicken in Creamy Mushroom Sauce
• Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs
• Easy Creamy Chicken Marsala
• Honey Sriracha Salmon

Can I make this salad in advance

Yes, you can make it a day or two in advance but don’t add the dressing until you are ready to serve it. Store the chopped salad ingredients and the dressing separately in the refrigerator.

How to store this Mediterranean Greek Salad

You can store the undressed chopped salad covered in the fridge for about 2 days. It will keep in the refrigerator for about a day if it’s a fully dressed salad.

More Easy Side Salads

• Cucumber Salad
• Wedge Salad
• Shopska Salad (Bulgarian Salad)
• Caprese Salad
• Red Cabbage Slaw
• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Carrot Salad