This authentic Greek salad, also known as Horiatiki, is loaded with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, red onion, green bell pepper, creamy feta, and briny Kalamata olives. Everything is tossed with oregano and a simple homemade red wine vinaigrette for a fresh Mediterranean salad ready in just 15 minutes.
Serve it alongside my Chicken Kabobs in Oven for an easy Mediterranean-style dinner. Add Creamy Hummus with warm pita on the side, pour a cold Cucumber Lemonade, or try my Creamy Cucumber Salad with Greek Yogurt when you want another fresh summer salad.
There is no cooking required.
The vegetables stay crisp and fresh, while feta and Kalamata olives add plenty of salty, savory flavor.
A homemade Greek salad dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and garlic takes only a minute to shake together.
It also works as a side dish, light lunch, barbecue salad, or part of a Mediterranean-style spread.
Table of contents
- What You Need
- How to Make Greek Salad
- What Is Traditional Greek Salad
- Does Authentic Greek Salad Have Lettuce
- Easy Greek Salad Dressing Recipe
- Why Red Wine Vinegar Works So Well
- How to Keep Greek Salad From Getting Watery
- Should You Peel Cucumbers for Greek Salad
- How to Make Red Onion Less Strong
- Block Feta vs. Crumbled Feta
- What Goes With Greek Salad
- FAQs
- More Recipes You Will Like
What You Need
How to Make Greek Salad
- Add the minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, red wine vinegar, and olive oil to a small jar.
- Close the jar and shake well until the dressing is combined.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, green bell pepper, red onion, feta cubes, and Kalamata olives to a large bowl.
- Sprinkle with dried oregano.
- Pour the dressing over the salad.
- Toss gently until everything is lightly coated.
- Taste and adjust with more salt, pepper, or vinegar if needed.
- Serve right away for the freshest texture.
What Is Traditional Greek Salad
Traditional Greek salad is commonly known as Horiatiki.
Its core ingredients are fresh tomatoes, cucumber, onion, feta, olives, oregano, and olive oil.
The official Visit Greece version also uses vinegar and does not depend on lettuce.
This recipe follows that classic combination while adding green bell pepper and a little garlic to the vinaigrette for extra flavor.
Does Authentic Greek Salad Have Lettuce
Traditional Horiatiki is different from many American restaurant-style Greek salads.
It is built around tomatoes and cucumbers rather than a bed of lettuce.
That means you don’t need romaine or another leafy green for this recipe.
The juicy tomatoes actually become part of the dressing as the salad is tossed with olive oil and vinegar.
Easy Greek Salad Dressing Recipe
This Greek salad dressing recipe uses a simple 2:1 ratio of olive oil to red wine vinegar:
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper add the remaining flavor.
Add everything to a jar and shake vigorously until temporarily emulsified.
Because homemade vinaigrettes naturally separate as they sit, shake or whisk again immediately before using.
Why Red Wine Vinegar Works So Well
Red wine vinegar is sharp enough to balance the richness of feta and olive oil without overpowering the fresh vegetables.
As the dressed tomatoes sit, their juices mix with the vinaigrette and create an even more flavorful liquid at the bottom of the bowl.
Keep some crusty bread nearby if you want to soak it up.
How to Keep Greek Salad From Getting Watery
Tomatoes and cucumbers naturally release moisture.
For the best texture:
Use firm, ripe vegetables rather than overripe ones.
Dry the vegetables thoroughly after washing.
Add the dressing shortly before serving.
Don’t heavily salt the vegetables far in advance.
Serve the salad soon after tossing.
If making the salad ahead, store the vegetables and dressing separately.
Should You Peel Cucumbers for Greek Salad
Usually, no.
Persian, Lebanese, and English cucumbers have relatively thin skin and work well unpeeled.
If you’re using a standard cucumber with thick or bitter skin, you can peel all or part of it.
If it has a large watery seed center, remove some of the seeds before slicing.
How to Make Red Onion Less Strong
Thinly sliced raw red onion brings sharpness that balances the creamy feta.
If you want a milder flavor, place the onion slices in cold water for about 10 minutes.
Drain thoroughly and pat dry before adding them to the salad.
This keeps the crunch while softening some of the onion’s intensity.
Block Feta vs. Crumbled Feta
Block feta is my first choice for this salad.
It stays creamy inside and holds its shape better when the salad is tossed.
Pre-crumbled feta works when that’s what you have, but the smaller pieces tend to mix into the dressing and can make the salad look less defined.
What Goes With Greek Salad
Greek salad pairs especially well with simple grilled or roasted proteins and Mediterranean-style sides.
Try it with:
- Chicken kabobs
- Grilled chicken
- Grilled fish
- Hummus
- Pita bread
- Couscous
- Rice
- Roasted potatoes
- Falafel
- Grilled vegetables
It is also filling enough for a light lunch with warm bread.
FAQs
Yes, but keep the dressing separate until serving so the vegetables stay crisp.
Block feta is best because it has a creamier texture and holds its shape better than pre-crumbled feta.
Yes, but Kalamata olives have a stronger, brinier flavor that works especially well in Greek Salad.
No, not if you are using Persian, Lebanese, or English cucumbers. If the skin is thick or bitter, you can peel it.
Traditional Greek-style salad usually does not need lettuce, but you can add romaine if you want a bigger salad.
The dressing can be stored in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Shake well before using.
More Recipes You Will Like
Authentic Greek Salad
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add the minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, red wine vinegar, and olive oil to a small jar.
- Close the jar and shake until the dressing is well combined.
- Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, green bell pepper, feta, and Kalamata olives to a large bowl.
- Sprinkle the salad with dried oregano.
- Pour the dressing over the salad.
- Toss gently until everything is lightly coated.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- Use ripe tomatoes for the best flavor.
- Block feta gives the salad a better texture than pre-crumbled feta.
- Add the dressing right before serving to keep the vegetables crisp.
- Thinly slice the red onion so it blends well with the other ingredients.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
