Greek Salad

Greek Salad

Considering feta cheese and Kalamata olives are two of my favorite foods, it's no wonder I enjoy Greek salad as much as I do.

The key to a perfect Greek salad is to use fresh lemon juice, and to purchase good quality feta and olives. Cheap feta cheese is too salty, while cheap olives are definitely inferior in taste and not worth the money. For my London area readers, I would highly recommend you visit Perfect Bakery, located at 116 Hamilton Road here in London. Perfect Bakery offers a wide variety of European pastries and a good selection of Greek groceries, including the best sheep's milk feta cheese and colossal Kalamata olives in the city.

On the menu with baked gigantes beans in tomato sauce and Greek tomato rice.

Greek SaladGreek Salad
Recipe by
Cuisine: Greek
Published on January 26, 2008

The classic Greek salad — fresh, robust and zesty

Preparation: 20 minutes

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Salad:
  • 1 small red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 1 small green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 1 small yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 2 large firm tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 to 3 cups mixed greens, torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 Spanish, red or yellow onion, sliced into rings
  • 1 scallion, chopped
  • 1 small cucumber, sliced
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
Dressing:
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
  • juice from 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions:
  • In a large bowl, combine the vegetables, feta cheese and olives. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, lemon juice, thyme, basil and black pepper. Pour over vegetables and toss.

Makes 6 to 8 servings
Greek Salad

6 comments:

indosungod said...

Lisa, looks fresh and inviting, feta cheese is a big favorite, it took me 10 odd years to warm up to cheese. Now love anything especially with feta cheese.

Laurie Constantino said...

Lisa, it looks very tasty. Lemon juice in the dressing makes it great. An interesting piece of trivia: I've never had this type of salad with lettuce in Greece, although lettuce is always served in Greek salad in the US and, apparently, Canada. I can't explain it, but there you have it.

Lisa Turner said...

Laurie:

Thanks for that bit of info. I had no idea the salad was made sans lettuce in Greece. I wonder if you include lettuce in your version?

Laurie Constantino said...

Well, I make a lettuce salad very similar to yours when I'm in the US. In Greece, the only lettuce salad I make is with shredded romaine, dill, lemon, and olive oil in the spring - an essential for the easter table. Because of the climate, there is only local lettuce in the winter and spring. The standard salad in Greece is tomatoes, cucumbers, green pepper, onion and topped with feta and olives, usually called "horiatiki salata" which means village-style salad.

Lisa Turner said...

Laurie;

I think a bit of goat's milk yogurt would compliment your made in Greece lettuce salad. Thanks for sharing your culinary creations here. Much appreciated.

Dori said...

A greek salad is my favorite salad! Your awesome pics have me craving for one now! It really looks amazing :)