Classic Greek Salad

This Classic Greek Salad is a fresh, colorful, and refreshing side dish made with crisp cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives, green olives, and creamy feta cheese. Everything is tossed in a simple homemade dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and black pepper. It comes together quickly and is perfect for lunch, dinner, picnics, or summer gatherings.

Recipe Overview

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Servings: 4–6

Ingredients

Salad

• 1 English cucumber, thickly sliced
• 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced into slivers
• ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives
• ½ cup pitted green olives
• 7 oz block feta cheese, cut into bite-sized cubes

Dressing

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Garnish

• Fresh oregano sprigs

Instructions

1. Prepare the Vegetables

Add the thickly sliced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion to a large glass salad bowl.

2. Add the Olives and Feta

Add the pitted Kalamata olives and green olives. Gently add the cubed feta cheese, keeping the pieces intact.

3. Make the Dressing

In a small bowl or jar, combine the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.

Whisk vigorously until the dressing is well blended.

4. Dress the Salad

Pour the dressing evenly over the cucumber, tomatoes, onion, olives, and feta.

Gently toss everything together until the vegetables are lightly coated. Be careful not to break up the feta.

5. Garnish and Serve

Garnish with fresh oregano sprigs and serve immediately.

For even better flavor, you can let the salad rest for about 10 minutes before serving so the vegetables can absorb some of the dressing.

Tips for the Best Greek Salad

• Use a block of feta rather than pre-crumbled feta for larger, creamier pieces.
• Keep the cucumber slices fairly thick so they remain crisp.
• Use good-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best dressing flavor.
• Toss gently after adding the feta to keep the cubes intact.
• For a stronger Mediterranean flavor, allow the dressed salad to rest briefly before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Classic Greek Salad pairs beautifully with grilled chicken, fish, steak, roasted vegetables, or warm pita bread. It also makes a refreshing addition to a Mediterranean-style dinner spread.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For the freshest texture, keep the dressing separate if you are preparing the salad in advance.

Nutrition

Nutrition will vary depending on the exact brands and portion sizes. The salad is naturally rich in vegetables and provides protein and calcium from the feta, while the olive oil contributes healthy unsaturated fats.