Traditional Greek Peasant Salad (Horiatiki Salad)

If you have ever eaten in a Greek home or at a Greek taverna (restaurant), you know that the Horiatiki Salata (traditional Greek peasant salad) is a must at every meal. We enjoy this salad at our meals because it’s so fresh and delicious but it is also very heart healthy! It’s a dish that’s loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and protein. It’s also very easy to make and takes only 10 minutes!

You may have seen many variations of this salad but the true traditional Greek salad is made with only the ingredients listed below. The key to a good Greek salad is using the freshest ingredients. Give your salad some oomph by picking out juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, superb extra-virgin olive oil, Greek oregano, and creamy feta cheese (we like Dodoni’s).  If you’re lucky enough to have a Greek/Mediterranean store in your area, you can find great ingredients imported straight from Greece! If not, most large grocery stores carry a variety of these ingredients as well.

Ingredients for Traditional Greek Peasant Salad

• 1 medium red onion
• 1 cucumber
• 4 tomatoes
• 1 green pepper
• 2 tbsp capers
• 6- ounce block of feta cheese
• 2 tsp dried Greek oregano
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup kalamata olives
• red wine vinegar optional

One of the things we love about this dish is the simplicity of it. With just a few ingredients (and a few minutes!) you have a beautiful healthy salad.

What to serve with Traditional Greek Peasant Salad?

We love to eat this salad on its own for a crisp and refreshing lunch! Some of our favorite main dishes to serve this Traditional Greek Peasant salad with are our Whole Roasted Greek Lemon Chicken, but if a whole chicken seems too intimidating try our Chicken Souvlaki. It also pairs great with fish, pair it with our Grilled Greek Salmon Kebabs or Fish Plaki (Oven Baked Fish).

Traditional Greek Peasant Salad - Horiatiki Salad

Traditional Greek salad bursting with flavor and vibrant colors!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine Greek

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cucumber
• 1 medium red onion
• 4 tomatoes
• 1 green pepper
• 2 tsp dried Greek oregano
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup kalamata olives
• splash red wine vinegar optional
• 6 ounce block of feta cheese or more to your taste
• 2 tbsp capers (optional mostly served in the salads on the Greek Islands)

Instructions

 

• Prep all of the vegetables by thoroughly washing them first.
• Peel and slice the cucumber into ¼” rounds, cut the onion into thin slices and slice the green pepper into rings.
• Add to a large bowl and cut the tomatoes into small wedges over the bowl to catch all of the juices.
• Add in the kalamata olives and sprinkle with oregano.
• Then pour olive oil and a splash of vinegar (if using) over the salad and toss gently.
• Just before serving place a block of feta cheese on top of the salad.
• Top feta block with capers and additional oregano.
• Serve with a crusty whole-wheat bread for soaking up all the wonderful juices.

Keyword Greek, Salad

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