RECIPE: GREEK SALAD/HORIATIKI
Greek Salad/Horiatiki Salad is insanely an easy, super delicious and flavourful salad to put together. With homemade Greek Dressing and feta cheese, it makes a refreshingly light meal.
What is Greek Salad/Horiatiki?
Greek Salad/Horiatiki is a simple refreshing salad with simple ingredients and a dressing. When garden tomatoes ripen a simple Greek Salad or Horiatiki is prepared to enjoy everyday. Also known as Horiatiki Salata, horio means village. Just as the Greek don’t get tired of eating this salad, I too don’t get tired of it. Whenever, I’m able to get feta and baby tomatoes, the first thing I think of is Greek Salad/Horiatiki.
What are Salads?
Salads, what are salads? Salads are a combination of ingredients put together like grains, vegetables, fruits, meats, nuts,seeds. Vegetables and fruits are usually cut into small pieces, grained used are cooked, meats are usually boiled or roasted and nuts and seeds are either added raw or roasted lightly.
When is a Salad served?
A salad is usually enjoyed as a starter, as a light meal or with a main dish. Its the best way to eat your daily required vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. If a salad is consumed as a meal then its necessary to get your protein, carbs and good fat included in it.The more colorful a salad is the more tempting and attractive it is, making it a meal or side dish that even kids would love to have. I know of many adults too who say no to salads.
Salads are my favourite
Personally, I’m a big fan of salads. Give me a bowlful and I’m happy. However, the ingredients especially the fruits and vegetables have to be crisp and crunchy. The worst thing one can serve in a salad is wilted vegetables and fruits.My favorite kind of salads are the ones with cheese in them. Words on the menu like mozzarella, feta, cheddar, goat cheese all pop up for me.
Mediterranean Pearl Couscous Salad
FoodieMonday/Bloghop
So no wonder when Narmadha who blogs at Nam’s Corner suggested Salads as our 212th theme I immediately knew the salad I was going to make. You’ve got to check her blog out for some exciting recipes like her Bourbon biscuits and dosa pizza.
Greek Salad/Horiatiki – my choice for the theme
I had a large collection of salad recipes on my blog but what was missing is a Greek Salad. Greek Salad or as its commonly called in Greece Horiatiki Salad, is a basic refreshing combination of fresh, tangy and crispy ingredients. Its a very simple salad to put together and its the yummiest. I hear that the feta cheese we get everywhere outside Greece is not the type they have there. Its suppose to be soft. However, for now the feta I bought will have to do till I get the opportunity to taste the real thing when I go to Greece in April. Yes, another family wedding and its in Greece this time.
Greek Salad Dressing
I also believe in making my own dressing at home. I’ve tried a readymade Greek Salad dressing and I found it too sour. Making the dressing at home hardly takes a few minutes. I love to put the dressing ingredients in a jar, close the lid tight and give it a good shake. Remember close the lid tight. I once didn’t put the lid on properly and in a matter of seconds had dressing all over me and the wall! This time no dressing on me or the wall, just in the salad. So lets check out to make this easy peasy salad.
Ingredients required for Greek Salad/Horiatiki
- Tomatoes – can use normal tomatoes or the baby ones, the choice is yours. Make sure they are fresh and juicy.
- Cucumber – I prefer to use English Cucumber as they are crunchy, not full of seeds and best of all, you don’t need to peel off the skin.
- Bell Pepper – use any colour of your choice. Traditionally Green Pepper or Capsicum is used. However, these days a Greek Salad/ Horiatiki can be served with a mixture of colored pepper.
- Olives – While traditionally Kalamati Olives are the best. However, if not available in your region then use any of your choice.
- Onion – used red, white or yellow. I’ve used red onion.
- Feta – try and source real feta cheese.
- Fresh Herbs – use oregano, dill. I couldn’t resist using fresh mint.
- Salt – for the dressing. I’ve used seas salt. Use any salt of your choice.
- Pepper – black pepper powder.
- Olive oil – for the dressing, use extra virgin olive oil.
- White Wine Vinegar – or any good vinegar. Don’t use a vinegar substitute.
- Dried Oregano – for the dressing.
- Lemon Juice – for the dressing. If you don’t have vinegar or like the flavour of vinegar, replace it with fresh lemon juice.
- Fresh Garlic – just one clove, for the dressing as you don’t want an overpowering garlic taste.
Dietary Tip:
- Gluten Free
- Healthy
GREEK SALAD/HORIATIKI SALAD
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 medium size cucumber
- ½ sweet pepper any colour of your choice
- 10-15 cherry/plum tomatoes
- 10-15 olives ideally kalamata olives
- 100 g feta approx 1 cup
- 1 medium red onion
- a handful of mint leaves optional
For the Greek Salad Dressing:
- 4 tbsp virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp wine vinegar or any of your choice
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1-2 cloves of garlic minced
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp pepper powder
Instructions
Get the salad ready:
- Wash all the vegetables and pat them dry on a kitchen towel.
- As the skin of the cucumber was tender I didn't peel it. Cut into slices and then either halve or quarter them.
- Cut the pepper into cubes.
- Cut the cherry tomatoes into halves.
- You can leave the olives whole or cut them into halves.
- Cut the onion into thin long slices.
- The feta can be cut into cubes or you can crumble it.
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
Prepare the Dressing:
- Add all the ingredients into a jar and give it a good shake.
- Greek Salad is ready to be served immediately with the dressing on the side or drizzled over it. Or leave it in the fridge for a while and enjoy it chilled during summer.
Notes
- I used colored pepper as I prefer them over the green ones.
- If you don't get kalamata olives (they taste so different from the green and black ones) then use black ones.
- Use a proper vinegar and not vinegar substitute for your salads.
- Add more lemon juice instead of vinegar.
- I have tried to make the classic version of the Greek Salad. You can add seeds and nuts for variation.
- Use dill instead of oregano.
- I just couldn't resist adding fresh mint leaves. Its entirely optional
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A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
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- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962