Best Greek Salad Recipe
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This is the Greek salad recipe we've been making for years and it is still the best one we've tried. It's the perfect healthy recipe to indulge in fresh summer veggies. You will LOVE this refreshing and delicious side dish!
Complete the meal with some baked chicken thighs and Greek lemon potatoes!
You might be thinking that the title of this post is a bit of an exaggeration, but if anything, the title plays down just how good this Greek salad is. We were going to call this The Best Greek Salad in the Whole Entire Universe, but that's a bit of a mouthful.
What makes this the best Greek salad recipe?
There are a couple of tricks that make this the best Greek salad ever.
- The tomatoes. Unless you're lucky enough to score tomatoes from the farmers' market or a friend's garden, always use cherry tomatoes. These little guys are much sweeter and more reliable year-round.
- Fresh herbs. The flavor of using fresh herbs in Greek salad totally kicks it up a notch.
- The dressing.Ā We like to use two different kinds of vinegar (don't worry, you have them both in your pantry), brine from the feta, some of our favorite herbs, and really great olive oil. The combo is amazing.
How to make Greek salad
One of the reasons we eat this easy greek salad recipe so often is that it is so quick and easy to make. Here's what you do:
- Whisk the salad dressing ingredients together in a small bowl. (Or double the dressing recipe so you can skip this step when you make the salad tomorrow.)
- Chop the veggies and add them to a salad bowl with the salty feta and olives then toss them with the salad dressing.
See how ridiculously easy that was?
READ MORE: Cucumber Tomato Salad
Greek salad ingredients
If you've ever wondered what's in a Greek salad, you'll be happy to know that it's made with simple ingredients. With only 6 ingredients (and an easy to make salad dressing) you can whip up this Greek salad in no time flat.
- Tomatoes. These can make or break the salad. If it's the height of summer when tomatoes are juicy and sweet, go ahead and use full-sized tomatoes. If it's spring, fall, or winter, use cherry tomatoes.
- Bell peppers. Most restaurant-style Greek salad will have green bell peppers, but we personally prefer a mix of colors.
- Cucumbers. Both English cucumbers and mini cucumbers work. In a pinch, you could use field cucumbers, but they are not typically as crunchy. Crisp cucumbers work best in a Greek salad.
- Red onion. Make sure it is thinly sliced so it's not over-powering.
- Feta cheese. The star of Greek salad! We prefer the style that is packed in brine so we can use some of it in the dressing.
- Kalamata olives.Ā These salty black olives are delicious. We like to leave them whole as we're big olive fans.
Greek salad dressing
- Start with the very best extra virgin olive oil you have in your pantry.
- Use two different kinds of vinegar (red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar) as the combination really takes the dressing to the next level.
- Feta brine. This is the water that feta is (almost always) packed in. It is salty and delicious.
- Herbs. We love the flavor of fresh dill, so we add it whenever it's on hand.
- Lemon juice brightens up the flavor.
- A little garlic and a little salt. You don't want much salt as the olives and feta cheese are both very salty.
Because we love this salad dressing so much, we often make a double or triple batch so we can have Greek salad a few times throughout the week.
What to serve with Greek salad?
On a hot summer day, this Greek side salad goes well with some grilled chicken or lamb burgers. In the winter, we often opt for baked chicken Breasts or baked chicken thighs. That combination of this fresh salad with the chicken is incredible and you really don't need anything else for dinner.
If you like a heartier meal, try serving it with one of these potato side dish recipes:
Recipe FAQs
What lettuce is in Greek salad
Traditional Greek salad doesn't have any lettuce. But if you'd like to add some, opt for crunchy lettuce like romaine lettuce or butter lettuce.
What kind of bell peppers should I use?
In restaurants, Greek salad is usually made with green bell peppers. But since we don't love green peppers, we use red, yellow, and orange. The best bell peppers to use are the ones you enjoy the most!
What kind of tomatoes are best?
If you can get your hands on juicy tomatoes growing in a garden, they are the best option. If not, use cherry tomatoes as they tend to be much sweeter and juicier than store-bought tomatoes.
Can I make extra Greek salad dressing?
Yes! Go ahead and double the recipe so you'll have extra on hand for salads this week. It tastes great on regular lettuce salad, too. The olive oil will harden in the fridge so you'll need to let it warm to room temperature then give it a good shake in the jar before using it.
Does Greek salad last in the fridge?
Like all salads, this one is best fresh. But compared to lettuce salads, Greek salad keeps well. The veggies will be slightly softer the next day, but you can definitely eat it as leftovers.
Greek Salad Recipe
Ingredients
The Dressing
- Ā¼ cup of the best-quality olive oil you have
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of the feta brine (see note)
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill (chopped)
- Ā½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Ā¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 clove garlic (very finely minced)
- Juice from Ā½ lemon
The Greek Salad
- 2 bell peppers (chopped)
- 1 English cucumber (chopped)
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes (cut in half)
- Ā¼ small red onion (thinly sliced)
- Ā½ cup feta cheese (crumbled or cut into small pieces (see note))
- Ā½ cup pitted kalamata olives
Instructions
- To make the dressing, whisk the olive oil, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, feta brine, dill, oregano, sea salt, garlic, and lemon juice in a medium-sized bowl.Ā¼ cup of the best-quality olive oil you have, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon of the feta brine, 1 tablespoon fresh dill, Ā½ teaspoon dried oregano, Ā¼ teaspoon sea salt, 1 clove garlic, Juice from Ā½ lemon
- Cut all the veggies so that they are roughly the same size. Add the bell peppers, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, and olives to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the top and toss to coat.2 bell peppers, 1 English cucumber, 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, Ā¼ small red onion, Ā½ cup feta cheese, Ā½ cup pitted kalamata olives
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our salad recipes!
