Greek Salad
Fresh Greek Salad is my new favorite salad. Full of all the fresh greens, vegetables, feta cheese, and my homemade Greek Freak dressing that you can possibly handle, you're going to have a new "go-to" salad to serve anytime the occasion calls for it.
Greek Salad with Greek Freak Dressing
There are a few ingredients necessary in my book for a salad to qualify as a "Greek Salad". First, it better have great olives. Sure you can use any of those canned black olives if you want, but I seriously recommend finding a grocery store with an olive bar.
You get tons of choices of much better-tasting olives. There, you can find my favorite which is the big Kalamata olives.
Next, it better have some Feta cheese. How can it be Greek without some Feta? Serious, was there ever a question?
Why You'll Love This Dish
- Fast to make. You can have the whole salad ready in about 15 minutes.
- Great for gatherings. It is easy to scale for potlucks, parties, and family meals.
- Big flavor. Feta, olives, tomatoes, and vinaigrette keep every bite bold and balanced.
- Easy to prep ahead. Chop everything early and toss it together right before serving.
- Flexible on the table. Serve it as a side dish, lunch, or part of a bigger Mediterranean-style spread.
Get my easy Side Dish recipes!
Recipe Shopping List
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Leafy Greens - These make up the base of the salad and turn it into a more substantial dish. Romaine, spring mix, or a blend of sturdy greens all work well.
- English Cucumber - This adds a cool, crisp bite and holds up well in salads. It is a nice pick since the seeds are smaller and the skin is tender.
- Cherry Tomatoes - These bring sweetness and juiciness to balance the salty ingredients. Grape tomatoes can be swapped in with no problem.
- Crumbled Feta Cheese - Feta gives the salad its creamy, tangy finish. Block feta crumbled at home often has a stronger texture and flavor.
- Red Bell Pepper - This adds crunch and a mild sweetness that rounds out the sharper notes from the olives and vinaigrette.
- Kalamata Olives - These add the briny, savory flavor that gives the salad much of its Greek-inspired profile. Sliced whole olives work best for even bites.
- Croutons Or Breadsticks - These are optional, though they add crunch and make the salad feel a bit more filling. Add them right before serving so they stay crisp.
- Greek Freak Vinaigrette - A bold vinaigrette brings all the components together. Any Greek-style dressing with herbs, acid, and olive oil will fit here.
Try with Smoked Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
How To Make This Recipe
This is just the overview so you can see what you're actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you'll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Wash and dry the leafy greens, then add them to a large serving bowl.
- Slice the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, and prepare the bell pepper.
- Add the vegetables, feta, and kalamata olives to the bowl with the greens.
- Keep the salad chilled until serving time, then add croutons or breadsticks if using.
- Dress only the amount you plan to eat right away, toss gently, and serve.
Have some French Onion Soup!
Recipe FAQ
Feta cheese has to originate in Greece to be called Feta. Since 2002, it can only be real Feta cheese if it was made in Greece with the milk of Greek sheep.
Since very ancient times, Greeks take their sheep very seriously. Whenever it was time to make a big point with Saturn or Apollo or any of the others, then time to put a sheep on the grill.
But, toss the rams on the fire and save the ewes for milking and making that wonderful Feta cheese!
Good Feta is dry-aged cheese that crumbles very nicely. It is pretty salty, so don't feel like you need to add extra salt with Feta in the mix.
Kalamata olives are big and meaty. They are a dark eggplant purple color. Although they are a variety of olive and grown on multiple continents, the ones grown in a specific area of Greece qualify for a special designation.
If you are getting the kalamatas from the Peloponnese in Greece, then expect a much higher price than domestics.
The original kalamatas were grown in Laconia, which is where the Spartans were. I am pretty sure that meant preserving their honor and integrity was a serious point of pride. Don't mess with the Spartans or their kalamatas.
The olives come brined and prepared for eating in either a white wine and olive oil mix or just in olive oil. Sometimes additional herbs are preserved with them as well to add more flavors.
Speaking of more flavor, you should serve this with some homemade Zaatar Manakish! It would be incredible! Also, this Greek Beet Salad is a perfect addition to your next Greek-inspired meal!
If you can't find any good Feta cheese in the dairy section or at the deli counter, then you may need another option instead. (But also, where do you live? Feta is errrrrywhere!)
You can use fresh ricotta, or goat cheese (chevre) or halloumi, or queso fresco from Mexico. These cheeses are a bit less salty than Feta. If you are trying to watch your sodium intake, then those are the way to go.
Can you still call it a Greek salad if you don't use Feta cheese?
I don't want to answer that, but I promise not to tell if you do. Just put on a bit of extra Greek Freak dressing to cover up the Feta being missing.
Greek Freak from Spiceology is a Mediterranean-themed spice blend. The seasoning includes garlic, herbs, a hint of red pepper, and dried onion powder in addition to a bunch of other things that I'm pretty sure are mostly magic. It tastes great on almost everything.
The leafy greens can be any mix of greens that you like. Romaine lettuce, spinach, arugula, and mustard greens all combine quite nicely. You can blend those in any ratio, or you can use the pre-mixed greens you find in the store. I particularly like the Spring Mix that you can get in the produce aisle.
I guess just like olives and Feta, having spinach in there only helps keep the Greek flare in full effect. Make sure you have some spinach in the greens. Popeye also approves. He isn't Greek, but he knows the benefits of eating spinach.
Make some Greek Meatballs!
More Greek Recipes
If you want to eat more Greek-inspired cuisine (and you should), then check these recipes out:
- Greek Chicken Marinade
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Greek Freak Empanadas (I know the Greek version is called a "kreatopita")
- More Greek Freak Recipes
Pin For Later
Greek Salad
Big bold flavors are the star in this Greek Salad with leafy greens, olives, feta, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a homemade Greek vinaigrette. Perfect salad for potlucks, family gatherings, or your average weekday.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces leafy greens
- 1 English cucumber, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ red bell pepper, sliced
- ½ cup chopped kalamata olives
- croutons or breadsticks
- Greek Freak Vinaigrette
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Instructions
- Combine all ingredients immediately before serving in a large serving bowl. Keep chilled, and only add croutons and dress as much as you will eat within an hour or so.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container, and dress right before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 82Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 211mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.
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