Description
This Best Greek Salad Recipe is a refreshing Mediterranean classic featuring crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, red onions, green bell peppers, Kalamata olives, and creamy feta cheese. All ingredients are tossed in a simple homemade Greek dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and oregano. This easy, flavorful, no-cook side dish is perfect for summer meals or as an accompaniment to grilled meats and seafood.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup Kalamata olives
- ¾ cup feta cheese, cubed or crumbled
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Greek Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Wash all fresh produce thoroughly. Chop the tomatoes into bite-sized pieces, slice the cucumber into thin rounds, chop the green bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion to ensure even distribution of flavors.
- Combine salad base: In a large salad bowl, add the prepared tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, and Kalamata olives, creating the fresh vegetable foundation.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, dried oregano, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until emulsified and smooth.
- Toss the salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetables in the large bowl. Gently toss everything together to coat all ingredients evenly without bruising the vegetables.
- Add finishing touches: Sprinkle the cubed or crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh parsley on top of the dressed salad for added flavor and texture.
- Serve or chill: Serve the Greek salad immediately to enjoy its crisp texture, or refrigerate briefly to chill before serving if desired. Avoid dressing too far ahead to maintain vegetable crunch.
Notes
- Use ripe, fresh tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.
- Traditional Greek salad is often served with a large block of feta cheese on top rather than crumbled feta.
- Add a pinch of dried oregano over the feta before serving to boost authentic flavors.
- Avoid dressing the salad too early to keep the vegetables crisp and fresh.
- This salad pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken, fish, or warm pita bread for a balanced meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
