With the vibrant flavors of butter lettuce, crisp cucumber, tangy feta cheese, and juicy cherry tomatoes, this simple recipe for a Greek Salad will have you thinking you’re dining in the shadow of the Parthenon.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: N/A
Yields: 6 servings
Want an authentic Greek cuisine within the confines of your own kitchen? Look no further! This salad is more than just a salad. It stands above other side dishes. It is a meal that will teleport you to sunnier climes (assuming you don’t already live in a sunny clime) and, what’s more, in that clime, you’ll feast on a colorful array of fresh vegetables such as butter lettuce, cucumber, green pepper, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and red onion. What more could you ask for?
How about a recipe for your own homemade Greek salad dressing!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- This Greek Salad is a salad — obviously — but that doesn’t mean it’s relegated to “side dish” duty. It can stand on its own as a meal or be added to grilled meats and roasted vegetables, or stuffed inside pita bread
- Few ingredients spell a particular cuisine quite like the combination of feta, Kalamata olives, and red onions.
- It is a quick and easy salad to prepare, perfect for BBQs and outdoor feasts.
Ingredients
Don’t know what butter lettuce is? You probably know it by other names: Boston or Bibb.
- 2 cups butter lettuce
- 1 cucumber, cut lengthwise, deseeded, and sliced into half wheels
- 1 green pepper deseeded and chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 5 oz. feta cheese, cut into cubes
- ⅓ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup Kalamata olives, pitted
- ¼ cup Greek salad dressing
Instructions
- Toss the lettuce, cucumber, green pepper, and tomatoes into a serving bowl.
- Top with the olives, feta, and red onion.
- Pour on the Greek salad dressing and serve.
Variations
Greek pasta salad: Add cooked and cooled pasta (such as fusilli or penne) to the basic Greek salad ingredients. Like the next recipe, which also adds a carb for a more substantial dish, this one is perfect for picnics.
Greek potato salad: Add boiled and cooled potatoes. I recommend adding Greek yogurt to the dressing (see the recipe I link to above) and tossing the ingredients — potatoes and all — in the creamy sauce.
Greek quinoa salad: Don’t want pasta or potatoes? Add cooked and cooled quinoa for a healthier, protein-packed alternative.
Grilled Greek salad: Lightly grill the vegetables until they attain a smoky flavor, then mix them with the olives, feta cheese, and dressing.
Greek salad with leafy greens: Butter lettuce is very watery and can lack taste (and nutritional value). Add fresh leafy greens like spinach or arugula for a more nutrient-dense version.
Greek salad with chickpeas: Adding chickpeas is easy and injects extra protein and fiber into the salad. And with that, it goes from being a side dish to an entrée.
Serving Suggestions
For a full Greek-inspired meal, consider serving your salad alongside grilled chicken souvlaki, marinated lamb chops, or crispy pan-seared fish — or attempt these recipes from AAM.
Spanakopita: Phyllo pastry — another Greek standard — is layered with spinach and feta cheese. It can double as an appetizer or an entree (heck, eat it as a dessert, it’s that good!).
Greek-Inspired Low-Carb Egg Muffins: These egg muffins work really well with the salad to produce a healthy, well-rounded meal. Both recipes share some of the same ingredients, though the egg muffins contain ham, so make the necessary changes if this doesn’t comply with your diet.
Greek Baklava: This flaky phyllo-pastry dish is a nut lovers fantasy come true. It takes some time but the taste as it melts in your mouth is worth it.
FAQs
Yes, this salad works really well with grilled chicken in it or tuna.
Yes, you can. Other vegetables or herbs can be added, based on your preferences. Think bell peppers of different colors, radishes, or fresh basil.
Simply omit the feta cheese and replace it with a plant-based alternative. A health food store should have vegan feta options. You can also use tofu or nut-based recipes to make it at home.
Yes, it is naturally gluten-free, as it primarily consists of fresh vegetables, feta cheese, and olives. The homemade dressing should also be gluten-free, though you may want to check the ingredients of the mustard to ensure no gluten-containing additives.
How to Store Greek Salad
If the salad already has the dressing applied, store it in the fridge and eat it within 24 hours. If the dressing has been kept separate, you can store it for a longer period of time. Pat the ingredients dry to prevent sogginess (lay some paper towel along the bottom of the container to absorb more moisture). The salad should last for up to 3 days. Be aware its quality might diminish over that time. Freezing the salad is not recommended.
Easy Greek Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups butter lettuce
- 1 cucumber cut lengthwise, deseeded, and sliced into half wheels
- 1 green pepper deseeded and chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 5 oz. feta cheese cut into cubes
- ⅓ cup red onion thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup Kalamata olives pitted
- ¼ cup Greek salad dressing
Instructions
- Toss the lettuce, cucumber, green pepper and tomatoes into a serving bowl.
- Top with the olives, feta and red onion.
- Pour on the Greek salad dressing and serve.
Notes
- This salad is naturally gluten-free, as it primarily consists of fresh vegetables, feta cheese, and olives. The homemade dressing should also be gluten-free, though you may want to check the ingredients of the mustard to ensure no gluten-containing additives.
- To make this vegan friendly, simply omit the feta cheese and replace it with a plant-based alternative. A health food store should have vegan feta options. You can also use tofu or nut-based recipes to make it at home.
Nutrition
