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Simple, Easy Greek Salad

This simple and easy Greek Salad is bursting with freshness and flavour. Greek Salad is traditionally made with crisp chunks of cucumber, juicy sweet tomatoes, crunchy capsicum, salty olives and, of course, creamy feta cheese. My version includes these traditional ingredients along with crunchy Cos lettuce. This salad is perfect doubled or tripled to serve to a crowd and it’s hearty enough to have for a delicious healthy lunch.

I am a huge fan of Greek Salad. It’s quick and simple to prepare. It is fantastic as a side with dinner but also a fabulous salad to feed the masses. It is super simple to make ahead of time and refrigerate for later. And it’s pretty enough to serve at your parties too, it’s so colourful and vibrant. 

Traditionally, Greek Salad contains only a few simple seasonal ingredients, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, green capsicum, red onions and creamy feta. In my version I use green and red capsicum interchangeably depending on what is available and cheap. I also include Cos lettuce in mine…just be’cos 🤪. But in seriousness, I use lettuce to bulk out the salad – though traditionally no lettuce is added to the salad.

image of Greek Salad with large chucks of feta as traditionally served.

Greek Salads are dressed super simply – no fancy dressing required! You will only need dried oregano, lemon juice or red wine vinegar to dress this salad. And I think this adds to the rustic charm of this refreshing, flavour packed salad.

You Will Need: 

The quantity of the ingredients are in listed in the recipe card.

  • Cos lettuce – a non traditional addition in Greek Salads and you can omit. I add this to bulk out the salad, especially when serving at parties. You could also use iceberg or another fresh crisp variety. 
  • Cucumber – I use telegraph (also known as continental) cucumbers. I like to chop these roughly in large chucks. You can leave these unpeeled or peel thin strips in a pattern to create further interest in the salad.
  • Cherry tomatoes – I love the sweet pops of flavour in cherry tomatoes. I cut these in half for this recipe. They are an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C. Traditionally larger varieties of tomatoes are used and it’s important to choose ripe, sweet tomatoes for Greek Salads. When using the larger variety these are chopped in large chucks.
  • Capsicum – or bell peppers. Traditionally green capsicums are used but I use the green and red varieties interchangeably in my Greek Salads. 
  • Kalamata Olives – confession time…I actually much prefer black olives which I will more often than not use. But the Kalamata variety is traditional in Greek Salads. 
  • Red onion – I like thinly sliced red onion. You can take the bite out of the onion if serving to your kids by slicing thinly then soaking in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes, stirring a couple of times before draining off and using in your salad. 
  • Feta – choose a good creamy feta and serve in large chucks adorning the salad. 
  • Dried oregano – the traditional herb in Greek Salads.
  • Lemon – adds a delicious zesty freshness to the salad. You can also use red wine vinegar…but just don’t dress the salad until you serve. 
  • Olive oil – use a good quality olive oil for drizzling over the salad as a dressing. 
  • Salt and Pepper – optional if serving to younger kids but if not I recommend you season your salad.

Assembling the Salad: 

OK. So, I know that you know how to assemble a salad, but I’m going to tell you anyway. Just in case…

First, in a large salad bowl layer washed and chopped lettuce, making sure the lettuce is dry. No-one likes pools of water at the bottom of their salad 🙅🏻‍♀️.

Then add in the rough larger chunks of cucumber – you don’t want these too small and thinly sliced red onion. Next layer the cherry tomatoes and capsicum on top.

collage showing salad being assembled in layers

Then, scatter the olives around the salad and then adorn the salad with large chucks of feta. Season the salad with the dried oregano and salt and pepper.

If you are serving the Greek Salad immediately, drizzle the olive oil over the salad and the squeeze over the fresh lemon. If you are making the salad ahead of time, don’t do this now and dress the salad just before serving.

Serving suggestions for this Greek Salad:

  • I have served this salad with a delicious slow roasted lamb shoulder, minted yogurt and warmed pita bread and it was an absolute hit.
  • I love to serve Greek Salad at parties and it is perfect for BBQs with grilled lamb or steaks or with oven roasted chicken.
  • This easy, simple salad is also hearty enough for a filling lunch which I love to eat with beetroot hummus and warm pita crisps. SOOO good.

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Simple, Easy Greek Salad

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  • Author: Bernadette - Goodie Goodie Lunchbox
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 bowls as a side salad 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Combining
  • Cuisine: Greek

Description

This simple and easy Greek Salad is bursting with freshness and flavour. Greek Salad is traditionally made with fresh and crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, capsicum, salty olives and a creamy feta cheese. My version includes crunchy Cos lettuce.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 150g Cos Lettuce chopped into large chunks
  • 150g cucumber roughly diced
  • 30g red onion, thinly sliced
  • 150g cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 100g capsicum, sliced
  • 20 Kalamata olives
  • 100g creamy feta torn into large chunks
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 large fresh lemon
  • 2 tsp olive oil

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl layer the lettuce, cucumber, onion, tomatoes, capsicum. olives and top with the feta
  2. Sprinkle with the dried oregano, salt and pepper and if serving immediately drizzle over the olive oil and squeeze over the fresh lemon juice. If making ahead of time add the olive oil and lemon just before serving.
  3. Serve as a delicious side or a larger serve for a hearty lunch.

I hope you enjoy this Greek Salad! As always, if you do make my recipes please share your pictures with me on Instagram or Facebook. I love to hear from you! Also if you love my recipes, remember to rate them!

Bernadette x

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