This Greek salad combines sweet cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, red onion, feta, and a bright homemade Greek salad dressing. It’s ideal for meal prep, a summer picnic, or a light, healthy main or side dish.
Greek Salad = The Perfect Salad
Everyone has a different idea of the perfect salad. For me, this Greek salad wins: it’s simple, vibrant, and full of texture — and it doesn’t rely on leafy greens. Each ingredient is cut into bite-sized pieces so every forkful delivers a balanced combination of flavors: sweet tomatoes, cool cucumbers, sharp red onion, briny olives, and creamy feta.
Why this Greek salad works so well:
- All ingredients are cut into bite-sized pieces, so you get a mix of flavors in every bite.
- It’s excellent for meal prep. Store the salad separately from the dressing and add the dressing only when you’re ready to serve.
- The flavors are bright and balanced — fresh, salty, and vinegary — making the salad deeply satisfying without being heavy.
Ingredients in a Greek Salad
Classic Greek salads usually include cucumber, tomato, red onion, olives, and feta. This version follows that tradition and adds a couple of extras for freshness and color. The key is uniform, bite-sized pieces so the salad mixes and holds well.
- English cucumbers (sliced)
- Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- Red pepper (diced)
- Crumbled feta
- Red onion (thinly sliced)
- Kalamata olives (pitted and halved)
- Fresh mint (chopped)
- Greek salad dressing (see dressing section)
How to Prepare Tomatoes + Cucumber
This salad is quick to assemble, though the most important step is removing excess moisture from the cucumbers and tomatoes. If you skip that, the salad can become watery when dressed.
Why drain the vegetables first?
Cucumbers and tomatoes naturally hold a lot of water. When you toss them with salt, they release liquid that can dilute the dressing and make the salad soggy. To avoid that, place the halved tomatoes and sliced cucumbers in a bowl, sprinkle with a small pinch of salt, and let them sit for at least 15 minutes. After they sit, pour off the excess liquid or drain them in a sieve before combining with the other ingredients.
The Best Greek Salad Dressing
A good homemade dressing lifts this salad to the next level. Make the dressing in a mason jar or small container with a lid so you can shake it up easily. Typical ingredients include olive oil, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, a touch of honey, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, and salt. Adjust proportions to taste: more vinegar or lemon for brightness, more honey for balance, and plenty of oregano for that classic Greek flavor.
Make extra dressing and refrigerate it to use on grilled chicken, pasta salads, or other Mediterranean dishes.
What to Serve with Greek Salad
This Greek salad is lovely on its own as a light lunch or dinner. It also pairs beautifully with grilled or roasted Mediterranean-style proteins. Try it alongside roasted or grilled chicken, salmon, or stuffed chicken breast for a complete meal with complementary flavors.
Storage
If you have leftovers, transfer the salad to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For best texture, store the dressing separately and toss the salad with dressing just before serving.
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Greek Salad Recipe
This Greek salad serves 4. Prep time: about 30 minutes. It’s an easy, fresh option for warm-weather meals or make-ahead lunches.
Ingredients
- 3 cups sliced English cucumbers
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/8 teaspoon salt (for drawing moisture)
- 1/2 red onion, finely sliced
- 1 large red pepper, diced
- 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint, lightly packed
- 3–4 tablespoons Greek salad dressing (to taste)
Instructions
- Place the cucumbers and cherry tomatoes in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Toss and let sit for at least 15 minutes to draw out excess liquid, then drain.
- While they rest, combine the red onion, red pepper, olives, feta, and fresh mint in a large mixing bowl.
- Drain the cucumbers and tomatoes in a sieve, discard the excess liquid, and add them to the bowl with the other ingredients.
- Gently toss everything together and add 3–4 tablespoons of Greek salad dressing, or to taste, until the ingredients are evenly coated. Serve immediately.
- For meal prep, keep the dressing separate and add it just before serving to preserve texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation: Calories: 258 kcal; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 26 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sugar: 4 g.
Photo Credit: The Wooden Skillet