Sometimes there’s just nothing better than digging into a solidly delicious salad, and this classic Greek Salad is our go-to for just that. It’s loaded with colorful, nutritious veggies but it also has all of the goodness of creamy, salted feta, and is studded with briny olives. Topped off with a super simple, dressing, this is the kind of salad that will have you putting this recipe on repeat!
Table of Contents
What is Greek Salad?
- If you haven’t had a Greek salad before, you’re going to fall in love with this Mediterranean goodness! Picture this: a vibrant mix of fresh veggies, tangy cheese, briny olives, and a zesty dressing that brings it all together. It’s like a party on your plate!
- While we could eat this salad just all on its own, the simple dressing is a real star on this salad — it’s where the magic happens! We whisk together some olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper for a flavor that is out of this world, yet so easy to make.
Ingredients You Need
- Cherry tomatoes – These juicy bursts of flavor add a pop of freshness that’s like a little party in your mouth. They’re the heart and soul of any Greek salad, bringing that essential tangy sweetness.
- Persian cucumbers – These little guys bring a refreshing crunch and a hint of mildness that balances out the zing of the other ingredients.
- Green bell pepper – This pepper adds vibrant color and crisp texture as well as a mild pepperiness that ties everything together.
- Sliced Kalamata olives – These little morsels are like little flavor bombs that explode with every forkful.
- Red onion – Red onion also adds a pop of color. Soaking it in water tames its sharpness just enough, so it adds a pleasant kick without overwhelming the other ingredients.
- Chopped pepperoncini peppers – Spice up your salad life with these little guys! They bring just the right amount of heat and tanginess to keep things interesting without setting your taste buds on fire.
- Feta cheese cubes – What’s a Greek salad without feta? It’s like Romeo without Juliet, Batman without Robin, peanut butter without jelly—you get the idea. Creamy, tangy, and utterly delicious, feta cheese is the crowning glory that ties all the flavors together.
- Olive oil – The liquid gold of the culinary world! Olive oil doesn’t just dress the salad; it elevates it to legendary status. Its fruity richness adds a luxurious mouthfeel and a subtle depth of flavor that turns the dressing for this salad into something truly special.
- Red wine vinegar – A splash of this tanginess cuts through the richness of the olive oil and feta, adding brightness and balance to every bite.
- Dried oregano – This humble herb might seem small, but it’s chock-full of flavor. Its earthy, aromatic notes add a touch of Mediterranean magic to the salad dressing.
- Sea salt – Every good salad dressing needs a sprinkle of salt to bring out the flavors and make them sing.
- Black pepper – Last but not least, a dash of black pepper adds a subtle kick and a hint of warmth that ties everything together.
How to Make This Super Simple Greek Salad
- Combine veggies and cheese. Add cherry tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, green bell pepper, Kalamata olives, drained red onion, pepperoncini peppers, and feta cheese to a large bowl.
- Make the dressing. In another bowl, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper and whisk until combined.
- Combine the dressing and salad. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss until all of the ingredients are coated.
- Serve. Serve immediately on its own or as a side dish.
Variations
- Tomatoes – Instead of cherry tomatoes, you can use vine-ripened tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or heirloom tomatoes for different flavors and textures.
- Cucumbers – If Persian cucumbers aren’t available, try English cucumbers or regular slicing cucumbers. You could also experiment with different cucumber varieties for a unique twist.
- Bell Pepper – While green bell peppers are traditional, you can add extra color and sweetness by using red, yellow, or orange bell peppers. You could even try roasted peppers for a smoky flavor.
- Olives – Kalamata olives are classic, but you can mix things up by adding other olive varieties like black olives, green olives, or even stuffed olives for added flavor.
- Onions – Red onions are common, but you can swap them for sweet onions or shallots for a milder flavor. Alternatively, you can skip soaking them if you prefer a stronger onion taste.
- Pepperoncini Peppers – If you’re looking for more heat, consider adding sliced jalapeños or banana peppers. You could also use fresh chili peppers for an extra kick.
- Cheese – Feta cheese is traditional, but you can substitute it with other Greek cheeses like halloumi or kefalotyri. Alternatively, try goat cheese or a mild blue cheese for a different flavor profile.
- Herbs – Besides dried oregano, you can experiment with fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or mint to add brightness and freshness to the salad.
- Dressing – While the classic dressing consists of olive oil and red wine vinegar, you can customize it by adding lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, or garlic for extra flavor and depth.
- Additional Ingredients – Toss in extra ingredients like avocado slices, artichoke hearts, roasted chickpeas, or capers to enhance the salad’s texture and flavor complexity.
Can I Store Leftovers?
You can absolutely store leftover — just try to keep the dressing and the salad separate so that it doesn’t get soggy.
Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the dressing in a mason jar or similar airtight container for 3-5 days.
We don’t recommend freezing this dish — enjoy it immediately or within a few days.
More Veggie-Based Recipes
If you’re as sold on whipping up scrumptious salads as we are, you’ll want to check out more of our faves!
Sweet Potato Salad with Chickpeas
Greek Salad
Make this Greek salad recipe with red wine vinaigrette for a vibrant, refreshing, tangy recipe perfect for a main course or side dish!
Ingredients
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup Persian cucumbers sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced Kalamata olives
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced and soaked in water for 10 minutes, then drained
- 1/3 cup pepperoncini peppers chopped
- 1/2 cup feta cheese cubed
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, green bell pepper, Kalamata olives, drained red onion, pepperoncini peppers, and feta cheese.2 cups cherry tomatoes, 1 cup Persian cucumbers, 1 green bell pepper, 1/2 cup sliced Kalamata olives, 1/2 red onion, 1/3 cup pepperoncini peppers, 1/2 cup feta cheese
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper until well combined.2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl.
- Toss gently until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve immediately as a refreshing salad.
Equipment
Notes
Note: We like to soak the onions for a bit as it helps reduce the strong flavor.
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Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 780mg | Potassium: 329mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 692IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe?Please leave a comment!
Loved this salad and so did my family. I will definitely be making this again.
An explosion of flavors! thank you girls xxx