Best Greek Salad Recipe
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This is the Greek salad recipe we’ve been making for years, and it remains the best we’ve tried. It’s the perfect recipe for enjoying fresh summer veggies. You will LOVE this refreshing and delicious side dish!
You might think the title is an exaggeration, but if anything, it understates just how good this Greek salad is. I’ve been making this version for years, and it’s still the one I come back to every single time. It stays true to the classic, with one small twist in the dressing that makes it truly stand out.
What really sets this salad apart comes down to a few simple choices. I always reach for cherry tomatoes when I can—their sweetness makes a noticeable difference—and I never skip the fresh herbs, which bring everything to life. They add a brightness and depth that dried herbs just can’t match.
And then there’s the Greek salad dressing. I use a combination of two pantry vinegars, a splash of brine from the feta, good olive oil, and a few favorite herbs to tie it all together. It’s bold, balanced, and so good it practically begs to be spooned over everything in the bowl.
Traditional 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 so you can whip up this 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 I 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 salad! I prefer the style that is packed in brine so I can use some of it in the dressing.
- Kalamata olives. These salty black olives are delicious. I like to leave them whole as we’re big olive fans.
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, I 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.
Traditional Greek Salad Recipe
Ingredients
The Dressing
- ¼ 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 notes)
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill (chopped)
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 clove garlic (very finely minced)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (fresh is best)
The Greek Salad
- 2 bell peppers (chopped)
- 1 English cucumber (chopped)
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes (cut in half)
- ¼ small red onion (thinly sliced)
- ½ cup feta cheese (crumbled or cut into small pieces – see notes)
- ½ 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.¼ 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, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, 1 clove garlic, 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 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.2 bell peppers, 1 English cucumber, 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, ¼ small red onion, ½ cup feta cheese, ½ cup pitted kalamata olives
- Pour the dressing over the top and toss to coat. Serve right away.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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I have been making this recipe for years! It is the best Greek salad recipe of all time!
I noticed that no matter how many servings are prepared, the recipe consistently reads “1/2 lemon”. Hmmm…
I’m sorry for that confusion! I’ve updated the recipe so it will scale properly for you.
I just love this fresh and delicious salad! My garden is overflowing with veggies so this has just been great for using them up and the dressing is light and flavorful. Perfect summer dish!
That makes me so happy to hear! Fresh garden veggies make this salad even better, and I love that you’re putting them to good use. That light dressing really lets all those flavors shine!
Wonderful end of summer refreshing dinner! My husband was begging for Greek salad and he’s now a happy guy!
That sounds amazing! I’m so glad it hit the spot and made your husband happy—that’s the best compliment! Greek salad really is the perfect end-of-summer meal.
Just made for lunches for the week with chicken. I skipped the olives (not a fan!)
That sounds perfect for meal prep! Adding chicken makes it such a satisfying lunch, and the salad has plenty of flavor even without the olives. Love that you customized it to your taste!
Made this for a family dinner last night. Great recipe that I was able to use lots of fresh veggies from my garden! I’ve never used the feta brine before. Great idea!
That sounds perfect—fresh garden veggies make everything better! So glad you tried the feta brine trick; it adds such a nice punch of flavor.