What is in a traditional Greek salad?

A traditional Greek salad, or Horiatiki, includes tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, green bell pepper, Kalamata olives, and a block of feta cheese. It's typically dressed with extra virgin olive oil, oregano, and optionally red wine vinegar or lemon juice.

How to make the best Greek salad?

Use the freshest vegetables available, authentic sheep’s milk feta cheese, and high-quality olive oil. Keep the preparation simple and avoid over-mixing to preserve texture. Serve at room temperature for the best flavor.

What is the difference between Greek salad and Horiatiki salad?

Greek salad and Horiatiki salad are often used interchangeably, but traditionally, Horiatiki refers to the authentic Greek version with no lettuce. Western versions often add lettuce, which is not part of the original recipe.

What's the difference between Greek and Mediterranean salad?

Greek salad is specific to Greece and includes ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta. Mediterranean salad is a broader term and may include ingredients from other regions such as chickpeas, couscous, and different herbs.

Famous Greek Salads – Authentic Recipes & Easy Variations 2025

Description

This famous Greek salads recipe highlights the classic Horiatiki salad—an iconic dish from Greece made with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, red onion, Kalamata olives, green bell peppers, and a thick slice of feta. Dressed simply with olive oil, vinegar, and oregano, it’s bursting with Mediterranean flavor and incredibly easy to make.

Ingredients

Scale

3 ripe tomatoes, chopped into wedges
1 cucumber, sliced into half-moons
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
½ cup Kalamata olives (pitted or whole)
200g (7 oz) Greek feta cheese (block form)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar or lemon juice
1 tsp dried oregano
Sea salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

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Instructions

Prep the vegetables: Wash and cut tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions.
Assemble the salad: In a large shallow bowl or plate, combine all chopped vegetables.
Add olives and feta: Scatter Kalamata olives over the salad and place the block of feta cheese on top.
Dress the salad: Drizzle olive oil and vinegar or lemon juice evenly over the salad.
Season: Sprinkle with oregano and sea salt to taste. Add black pepper if desired.
Serve immediately at room temperature with crusty bread or grilled meat.

Notes

Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil for best flavor.
For variety, add capers or replace red onion with green onions.
Avoid crumbled feta—block-style preserves authentic texture.
This salad contains no lettuce—just like it’s served in Greece.
It’s even better after sitting for 10–15 minutes as the flavors meld.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-cook / Raw preparation
Cuisine: Greek / Mediterranean