Description
This Fresh and Simple Greek Salad is a vibrant, healthy combination of ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumber, bell peppers, tangy feta cheese, and briny Kalamata olives. Tossed with a bright lemon-olive oil dressing and fresh parsley, it offers a refreshing Mediterranean flavor perfect for a light lunch or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 medium ripe tomatoes, diced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
- 0.5 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 medium bell pepper (preferably red or yellow), diced
Dairy
- 150 grams feta cheese, crumbled into bite-sized pieces
Other
- 1 handful Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1 small handful fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium lemon, juiced
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Wash Vegetables: Thoroughly wash all fresh vegetables under cold running water to remove any dirt or impurities.
- Prepare Tomatoes: Dice the ripe tomatoes into bite-sized pieces and place them into a large mixing bowl.
- Prepare Cucumber: Peel the cucumber, dice it, and add it to the bowl with the tomatoes.
- Slice Onion: Thinly slice half of a medium red onion and add it to the mixing bowl with the other vegetables.
- Dice Bell Pepper: Dice the bell pepper into small pieces and add it to the mixture in the bowl.
- Add Feta Cheese: Crumble the feta cheese into bite-sized pieces and incorporate it into the salad mixture.
- Prepare Olives: Pit and slice the Kalamata olives, then distribute them evenly throughout the salad.
- Add Parsley: Chop the fresh parsley and sprinkle it evenly over the salad to add freshness and color.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice until well blended.
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle the dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine all ingredients without bruising the vegetables.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to taste, stirring once more to evenly distribute the seasoning.
- Rest Salad: Let the salad sit for about 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld and the dressing to penetrate the ingredients.
- Serve: Serve the salad in a large bowl or portion it onto individual plates, optionally garnishing with extra parsley or feta cheese for presentation.
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh, high-quality ingredients such as ripe tomatoes and good-quality feta cheese.
- You can add a splash of red wine vinegar or a pinch of dried oregano to enhance the traditional Greek flavor.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 2 hours before serving.
- To make it vegan, omit the feta cheese or substitute with a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Adding cucumbers with seeds removed can reduce excess water content in the salad.
