Horiatiki (Traditional Greek Salad)

A traditional Greek salad (Horiatiki) is a chunky salad that combines fresh summer produce, salty olives, and creamy goat cheese with a light oil and vinegar dressing for a satisfying summer meal or side dish. 

What is a traditional Greek salad?

Horiatiki (or Xoriatiki) means “village”. This Greek “village” salad brings together uncomplicated ingredients to create a wonderfully refreshing salad. This salad is traditionally served from early spring through early fall, when the fresh ingredients are readily available. 

What is in an authentic Greek salad?

If you’re familiar with Greek salads that are served in the States, you’ll probably be surprised to find that a Greek salad as served in Greece does not contain leafy greens or any complicated dressing. 

A traditional Greek salad includes: 

• tomato
• cucumber
• green pepper
• red onion
• Kalamata olives (un-pitted)
• sheep or goat’s milk feta cheese

The salad is dressed with a simple mixture of extra virgin olive oil, oregano, salt, and sometimes a little red wine vinegar. 

So simple, yet so delicious!

How do you make a Greek salad?

With such simple ingredients, quality is very important. But once you’ve chosen quality ingredients, preparing a Greek salad is quite simple. 

1. Wash and dry the vegetables. 
2. Cut the tomatoes into wedges, cucumbers and green peppers into thick slices, and red onion into thin slivers. 
3. Place the cut vegetables and olives a into a bowl.
4. Season the salad with salt and drizzle the olive oil and red wine vinegar. 
5. Toss to coat the vegetables. 
6. Top with feta cheese and dried oregano. 

What to serve with Greek salad.

Greek salad makes a great side dish or even a light summer main meal, particularly when all that fresh produce is ripe and in season. 

Try an authentic Greek salad with one of these Greek dishes:

• Grilled Pork Souvlaki
• Greek Stuffed Tomatoes (Gemista)
• Gyro Sandwich
• Lamb Kofte Burger

And don’t forget the crusty bread to soak up all the tasty juices from the salad!

Other Cucumber Salads

If summer has hit and your garden is full of cucumber, you’ll want to check out our recipes for German Cucumber Salad, Chinese Tiger Salad, Persian Salad Shirazi, and Thai Cucumber Salad to make good use of your bounty!