Greek

Greek Salad

Horiatiki, the village salad. No lettuce, no vinegar and a whole slab of feta on top. Anything else is a different salad.

Time
10 mins
Serves
4
Steps
6
Ingredients
9
Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumber, olives, red onion and a slab of feta

Method

  1. 01

    Cut the tomatoes into generous wedges and put them in a wide, shallow bowl. Salt them lightly and leave for a few minutes.

  2. 02

    Add the cucumber, pepper rings, red onion and olives, and toss gently with your hands.

  3. 03

    Lay the feta on top in one piece. Do not crumble it.

  4. 04

    Pour the olive oil over the feta and the salad. Use more than feels sensible.

  5. 05

    Scatter the oregano over the cheese, crushing it between your fingers as you go.

  6. 06

    Serve with bread and let everyone break up the feta themselves. The oil and tomato juice left in the bowl is the best part.

Cooking Tips

  • Salt the tomatoes first and let them sit. The juice they release becomes part of the dressing.
  • Leave the feta in one piece rather than crumbling it - that is how it is served in Greece.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Use more olive oil than feels sensible; there is no vinegar in a true horiatiki to balance it.
  • Green pepper is traditional, but cucumber alone is fine.

What to Serve With It

  • Serve with bread to mop the oil and tomato juice left in the bowl.

Storage and Reheating

  • Dress and serve immediately. Dressed salad weeps within the hour.