This 15-minute Greek salad options conventional components: tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, olives, pink onions, and feta cheese, tossed with the basic selfmade Greek dressing. You will not have the ability to cease consuming this wholesome Mediterranean salad – it is that good! It retains nicely refrigerated – nice for making forward and sharing with the gang at Summer time events, picnics, potlucks, and household gatherings.
Greek salad
This fast and simple Summer time salad options staples of Mediterranean delicacies: tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, feta cheese, lemon, olive oil, and recent herbs. It is a versatile recipe that you would be able to function a facet salad, facet dish, or a light-weight meatless meal. You may even flip it into a whole, extra substantial meal by including your favourite protein (reminiscent of grilled meats, seafood, rotisserie hen, hen kebabs and so many different choices!). The Greek salad definitely deserves a spot in your recipe rotation! And, should you love Greek delicacies as a lot as I do, remember to try these highly regarded recipes: hen and lemon rice with chickpeas and tomatoes and family-favorite Greek shrimp orzo.
Why you will like it
- Will be made forward – excellent for meal prep! As a standard Greek salad, this recipe options solely tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, pink onion, and feta cheese. When mixed in a salad, these components preserve nicely refrigerated and style even higher the following day as they get marinated with the dressing and launch juices!
- No leafy greens which signifies that the Greek salad will be refrigerated for as much as 4 days with out something wilting!
- A crowdpleaser. Everybody will love the freshness of this Summer time recipe. Share it with your loved ones and associates at Summer time barbecue events, picnics, potlucks, and vacation occasions!
- An amazing facet salad. Pair it with any fundamental course, particularly grilled meats, hen, seafood, and pasta.
The components
- Tomatoes. I used grape (or cherry) tomatoes in two colours. They make a stupendous presentation, however you need to use common tomatoes, too.
- Cucumber. Use two medium cucumbers or one giant one.
- Bell pepper. I used pink bell pepper simply because it provides such a pop of shade! I like to recommend utilizing pink, yellow, or orange bell peppers.
- Olives. Use pitted black, inexperienced, or kalamata olives. I used a combo of black and inexperienced olives, once more for a pop of shade!
- Feta cheese has a gentle texture and briny taste. You should buy a recent block of cheese or crumbled Feta – both works!
- Purple onion supplies a zesty chew and much more vibrancy to this colourful salad.
Traditional Greek salad dressing
The salad dressing is comprised of scratch with only a few easy components: additional virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, pink wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. It’s also possible to use dried Italian seasoning, or Herbs from Provance as a substitute of oregano. Mix all dressing components in a small mason jar and whisk with the fork. Or, shut it with the lid, and shake vigorously to emulsify.
Methods to make Greek salad
This Summer time salad solely takes quarter-hour to make. You may serve it instantly or refrigerate it for as much as 4 days. Beneath is the overview. The detailed recipe (with quantities) is on the backside of this publish (on the recipe card).
- Make salad dressing in a medium bowl by whisking collectively additional virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, pink wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Put together the veggies. Add diced tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, pink onion, olives, and crumbled Feta to the massive mixing bowl.
- Meeting. Add dressing to the massive mixing bowl and toss to mix. Season with salt and pepper.
Protein concepts
It is simple to show a Greek salad into a whole meal. Simply add your favourite grilled meats (hen and steak) or seafood (salmon or shrimp). There are additionally some ways to raise this recipe to a extra substantial Mediterranean meal. Listed below are some concepts:
- Add prosciutto or bacon. You may briefly crispy up the prosciutto within the preheated oven at 350 F for about 10 minutes.
- Add leftover hen, together with rotisserie hen.
- Add seafood, reminiscent of sauteed or grilled shrimp, scallops, salmon, lemon cod, or every other fish to show Greek salad into a fast and simple weeknight dinner!
- Add chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) for a meatless protein addition.
Variations and substitutions
- Veggies. What are you able to add along with the normal Greek components? My favorites are asparagus, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichokes, and zucchini.
- Add leafy greens, reminiscent of spinach, arugula, or butter lettuce.
- Cheese. This recipe makes use of feta cheese. It’s also possible to add small Mozzarella balls (pearls), sliced Mozzarella, or cubed Parmesan. Or, add grated Parmesan.
- Salad Dressing. Make a dressing from scratch or use your favourite store-bought Greek dressing.
- Don’t love pink onions? Attempt chopped inexperienced onions.
- Lime or lemon will work nice. Freshly squeezed juice is at all times the most effective!
Scrumptious add-ins
- Add pasta. Smaller pasta works nice, reminiscent of orzo or couscous. However you may add any pasta you want, together with spaghetti, linguine, angel hair, farfalle, penne, or rigatoni.
- Add pine nuts as a topping. I wish to toast pine nuts briefly (and thoroughly!) within the oven for a fair richer taste.
- Add capers as a substitute of olives, or add them as well as.
- Add different toppings, reminiscent of recent herbs (basil, thyme, or oregano), chopped inexperienced onions, or chopped chives.
Recipe suggestions and recommedations
- Chunk-sized components. Reduce, slice, or cube all salad components into bite-sized items (not too huge and never too small).
- Use cherry or grape tomatoes and slice every one in half. I like to make use of tomatoes of each yellow and pink shade. Common tomatoes work too, however cherry tomatoes make a greater presentation and normally maintain up higher in a salad, particularly should you make it forward.
- Add pitted olives and slice them into smaller items. Olives are inclined to have a robust, pronounced taste, so reducing them into smaller bites actually helps mellow that sturdy taste.
- Add a combination of kalamata, black, and inexperienced olives. Including completely different olives provides extra taste and shade to the Greek salad!
Storage Suggestions
- Fridge. Retailer the leftover salad refrigerated in an air-tight container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Make-ahead tip: For those who plan on refrigerating the salad for a day or two, do not add the dressing. Add the dressing proper earlier than serving.
Mediterranean fundamental dishes to go along with Greek salad
What goes nicely with Greek salad for dinner? Grilled meats, reminiscent of hen, beef, pork, lamb, and salmon. It’s also possible to serve it together with your favourite pizza, pasta, and even evenly charred pita bread. And, if you’d like particular Mediterranean dinner suggestions, listed here are some concepts:
- Lemon Shrimp Orzo
- Mediterranean Hen with Solar-Dried Tomatoes, Artichokes, and Capers
- Salmon with Lemon Rice, Chickpeas, Tomatoes, and Feta
- Hen Stir-Fry with Tomatoes, Spinach, and Feta
- Basil Pesto Tomato Mozzarella Hen Bake
- Mediterranean Lemon Rice
Different refreshing Summer time salads
- Greek Shrimp Salad
- Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad with Mozzarella and Basil Pesto
- Strawberry Spinach Salad with Pecans, Feta, and Balsamic Dressing
- Avocado Mango Salad with Arugula, Pine Nuts, and Honey-Lime Dressing
- Peach Blueberry Spinach Salad
The Most Wonderful Greek Salad
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Components
Salad dressing
- ¼ cup additional virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons pink wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- freshly floor black pepper to style
Salad components
- 12 oz cherry or grape tomatoes (pink and yellow) sliced in half
- 2 medium cucumbers quartered
- 1 medium pink bell pepper diced
- ⅓ cup pink onion chopped
- ⅓ cup black olives sliced
- ⅓ cup inexperienced olives sliced
- 4 oz crumbled feta cheese
Directions
Make dressing
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Mix salad dressing components in a small mason jar. Whisk with the fork till emulsified. Or, shut the jar with the lid and shake vigorously.
Assemble the salad
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In a big bowl, mix sliced cherry tomatoes, quartered cucumber slices, diced bell pepper, pink onion, olives, and feta cheese. Toss with dressing. Season with salt and pepper, if wanted.
Notes
- Use a combination of kalamata, black, and inexperienced olives for a burst of taste and a vibrant contact. The kalamata olives provide a gentler taste, whereas the completely different colours of olives add depth and visible attraction to this straightforward salad, making it a feast for the eyes in addition to the style buds!
- I like to recommend utilizing briny Feta cheese.
- You may retailer the leftovers refrigerated in an air-tight container for as much as 4 days.
- Make-ahead tip: Do not add the dressing should you plan on refrigerating the salad for a day or two. Add the dressing proper earlier than serving.
- What goes nicely with a Greek salad for dinner? Make it a whole meal by including protein, reminiscent of grilled meats, hen, beef, pork, lamb, and salmon. You may serve Greek salad together with your favourite pizza, pasta, and even evenly charred pita bread.
