Traditional Greek Salad | Julie Blanner
This Greek salad is a traditional that you simply’ll end up making repeatedly. It takes simply minutes to make, and the mix of crisp greens, briny olives, salty feta, and the sunshine French dressing is not possible to withstand!
Spring is right here, and summer time will probably be right here earlier than you recognize it. I don’t find out about you, however when the climate begins warming up, I discover myself craving gentle meals stuffed with brilliant colours and daring flavors.
All these creamy casseroles and comfortable soups do an ideal job maintaining us heat through the lengthy, chilly winter months, however now it’s time to fill our plates with colourful contemporary vegetables and fruit.
Enter this Greek salad.
Greek Salad
It is a dish the place colours, flavors, and textures take middle stage. Juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers and peppers; briny kalamata olives and salty feta.
And all of it comes along with the best Greek salad dressing, seasoned with oregano for a few of that signature Mediterranean aptitude. Pair it with Greek hen for the right heat climate dinner.
Dietary Be aware
If you happen to’re on a dairy-free weight loss program – otherwise you’re not a fan of feta – you may skip it or swap it out with additional olives. A briny inexperienced olive can be a pleasant colour distinction to kalamatas.
Substances and Substitutions
- Cherry tomatoes – I really like the cherry tomatoes that come on the vine, however you should use one other selection should you’d like. Grape tomatoes, colourful heirloom varieties—they’re all an ideal addition to a Greek salad.
- English cucumber – English cucumber has smaller seeds than backyard cucumbers; should you use an everyday cucumber, you may lower it lengthwise after which scoop out the seeds with a spoon earlier than slicing it. It will hold the salad from getting soggy.
- Inexperienced bell pepper – Inexperienced bell pepper has a extra pungent taste than crimson, orange, or yellow.
- Pink onion – If you happen to’re not a fan of onions, attempt slicing them so skinny they’re virtually shaved. As soon as they’re tossed within the dressing and left to soak it up a bit, their taste will probably be a lot milder.
- Olives – We used pitted kalamatas.
- Feta cheese – Diced or thick-sliced—whichever you favor.
Greek Dressing:
- Additional-virgin olive oil – Greek salad is an effective excuse to interrupt out that bottle of tremendous fancy olive oil out of your pantry.
- Pink wine vinegar – To me, that is actually key to that traditional Greek salad taste, though some individuals desire lemon juice.
- Dry oregano
- Sea salt
- Floor pepper
Variations
- Strive swapping the inexperienced bell pepper for crimson bell pepper, or use a mixture of each. Not a fan of the feel of contemporary bell peppers? Strive roasted crimson peppers as an alternative.
- Make additional dressing and use it as a marinade for grilled hen or shrimp. Add the hen or shrimp to the Greek salad for an entire dinner.
- Serve the Greek salad with cooked quinoa or toss it with orzo for a deli-style salad that’s good for work and faculty lunches.
Instructions
- Make the dressing – Mix all the dressing components in a jar and shake it vigorously till the dressing is emulsified.
- Assemble – Pour the dressing over the salad components, gently toss to coat, and sprinkle the salad with further oregano earlier than serving.
Tip
You may assemble this as a tossed salad, or organize your Greek salad components on a platter for extra visible affect after which pour the dressing excessive.
Shortcut
For a salad with virtually no prep time, go to the salad bar at your grocery retailer and purchase all of the veggies, olives, and feta there. No slicing, dicing, and chopping wanted!
Tips on how to Retailer
Retailer Greek salad in an hermetic container within the fridge. If you happen to’ve already added the dressing, it’s going to final about 2 days; undressed salad can final 3 to 4 days. Give the dressing a superb shake earlier than utilizing it.
Continuously Requested Questions
No, Greek salad doesn’t usually comprise lettuce, though you may undoubtedly add it should you’d like! Historically, although, Greek salad is a mixture of vine-ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, olives, feta cheese, and crimson onions all tossed collectively in a lightweight French dressing.
Greek salad is a superb alternative for anybody who needs so as to add extra greens to their weight loss program. The crimson wine French dressing is olive oil-based, so it’s a lot decrease in energy and saturated fats than most creamy dressings, and all the contemporary greens are loaded with nutritional vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
I exploit halved cherry tomatoes, however should you’re utilizing bigger tomatoes, lower them into wedges. It will give your salad extra visible enchantment than diced tomatoes!
Greek salad pairs effectively with grilled meats, hen, and seafood. It additionally tastes wonderful as a topping for gyros or pita sandwiches. For a vegetarian meal, you may serve Greek salad with roasted chickpeas or baked falafel—crumbled falafel is so good on a salad!
Ideas
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For additional taste, add some contemporary herbs—mint, parsley, basil, and oregano all work effectively with the Mediterranean flavors of Greek salad. You may add capers to the dressing too, should you’d like.
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Dry the greens effectively; if there’s any water clinging to them once you toss them collectively and add the dressing, your salad will find yourself soggy and the flavors will probably be watered down.
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Serve it with crusty bread or pita to take in the dressing and bits of feta which are left in your plate.
Dietary Concerns
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free (make sure you’re select a feta cheese created from sheep’s milk or goat’s milk)
- Nut Free
- Vegan
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Greek Salad
This Greek salad is a traditional! It takes minutes to make and the mix of crisp veggies, briny olives, and feta is not possible to withstand.
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Directions
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Place the dressing components in a jar and shake vigorously. (Alternatively, you may place them in a bowl and whisk them.)
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Pour the dressing over the salad components, toss to coat, and sprinkle with further oregano earlier than serving.
Vitamin Data
Energy: 335kcal (17%), Carbohydrates: 6g (2%), Protein: 4g (8%), Fats: 34g (52%), Saturated Fats: 7g (35%), Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g, Monounsaturated Fats: 22g, Ldl cholesterol: 17mg (6%), Sodium: 632mg (26%), Potassium: 225mg (6%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 3g (3%), Vitamin A: 522IU (10%), Vitamin C: 27mg (33%), Calcium: 116mg (12%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Estimated vitamin info is offered as a courtesy and isn’t assured.