Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki)
This Greek Village Salad is a no-cook recipe made with fresh vegetables, feta, and a light dressing. Quick to prep, easy to serve, and perfect for warm nights or light meals.
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This isn’t a meal that asks much. No oven, no long prep, and no complicated steps. Just a handful of fresh ingredients, a few minutes of slicing, and a bowl of something light and satisfying.
You don’t need swaps or upgrades unless you want them.
What You’ll Need to Make Horiatiki
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 large cucumber, peeled or partially peeled and sliced into half-moons
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 12–15 Kalamata olives, whole or pitted
- 5 ounces feta cheese, cut into large chunks
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
How to Make Greek Village Salad
Step 1: Combine the Vegetables
In a medium bowl, add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and green bell pepper. No need to mix yet.
Step 2: Add the Olives and Feta
Scatter the olives over the vegetables. Place the feta on top in large chunks or as one small block.
Step 3: Whisk the Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar (or lemon juice), oregano, salt, and pepper.
Step 4: Toss and Serve
Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently if you’d like, or leave the feta on top and let people scoop around it.
Why This Salad Works
This is something you can make even when you’re tired. It comes together quickly, looks fresh on the table, and doesn’t require cooking or extra planning.
The ingredients are simple, familiar, and easy to prep. You don’t need anything special to make it work.
What to Serve With Greek Village Salad
You could serve this salad as is or with one of the following, if you’d like to bulk up your meal:
- Warm pita or crusty bread
- Grilled chicken or simple shrimp
- A scoop of hummus or a bowl of soup
- White beans tossed with olive oil and lemon
Variations That Still Keep it Simple
- Try grape or heirloom tomatoes
- Add a handful of white beans for more protein
- Swap feta for goat cheese
- Use fresh herbs like dill or parsley
What Makes it a “Village” Salad
This traditional style of salad, called horiatiki in Greece, skips lettuce and dressing from a bottle. It’s built from local vegetables, good cheese, and olive oil and served just as it is.
That’s why it works. No styling, no layers, just fresh ingredients that taste delicious.
A Simple Salad That Still Feels Like a Full Meal
Greek Village Salad is a fresh, no-cook dinner that comes together in minutes and doesn’t need anything more than a piece of bread or a few olives on the side.
Save this recipe for the nights when you want to eat well, without planning ahead or turning on the stove.
Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki)
Ingredients
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 large cucumber peeled or partially peeled and sliced into half-moons
- ½ small red onion thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 12 –15 Kalamata olives whole or pitted
- 5 ounces feta cheese cut into large chunks
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine the vegetables: In a large bowl, add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and green bell pepper.
- Add the olives and feta: Scatter the olives over the vegetables. Add the feta either in large chunks or as one small block on top.
- Whisk the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Toss and serve: Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Gently toss or leave the feta on top and let everyone serve themselves.
