Authentic Greek Village Salad (horiatiki)

by Alexia Zolis on September 9th, 2024

Make this traditional Greek village salad in just 20 minutes! This refreshing and healthy meal is sure to be a weeknight staple.

Looking for a quick, fresh, and delicious way to eat your veggies? This Greek village salad is this dietitian’s favourite weeknight salad! Ready in just 20 minutes, this salad brings the taste of Greece straight to your kitchen with minimal effort and maximum flavour.

As someone with Greek roots, I can tell you that it never gets old. It’s the salad I grew up on, and I can guarantee it’ll become a favourite in your home too! Packed with fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and feta cheese, it’s perfect for any night of the week, and there’s no lettuce involved—bonus, right?

If you’ve ever visited Greece, chances are you’ve had this salad alongside almost every meal. Today we’re recreating that same experience at home with my family’s traditional recipe. Stick around to learn how to make a salad you will never stop craving.

Ingredients to make Greek village salad

The beauty of this greek village salad is its simplicity. You might already have most of these ingredients on hand. This salad can be totally customizable to what you have so check out the tips and tricks section to see how you can make it your own.

Tomatoes – Fresh, ripe tomatoes on the vine are the best choice! Slice them into wedges and you’re good to go!

Cucumbers – Give this salad a refreshing and satisfying crunch.

Red onion – A sharp flavourful addition.

Cubanelle peppers – These mild green peppers add a subtle flavour that takes this salad to the next level.

Kalamata olives – A must for the authentic Greek taste. If olives aren’t your thing, feel free to skip them.

Feta cheese – Top this salad with a hearty block of feta to be traditional, or crumble it for ease.

Oregano – The key to getting that classic Greek flavour.

Olive oil – Use a high-quality extra virgin olive oil to tie this salad together.

Red wine vinegar – Adds some tang and acidity to balance out the flavours.

Sea salt – Brings out the flavours of each ingredient.

How to make the best traditional Greek village salad (Horiatiki)

One of the reasons this salad is a favorite is because it’s so quick and easy to throw together, perfect for those busy weeknights when you want something healthy but don’t have a ton of time.

Prep the veggies. Start by slicing your tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and Cubanelle peppers. Then, pit and halve the Kalamata olives.

Season the tomatoes. Add the tomatoes to a large bowl and season generously with sea salt to help release their juices.

Combine and mix. Toss in the cucumbers, onions, peppers, and olives. Sprinkle everything with oregano, another pinch of sea salt, and a generous drizzle of olive oil and red wine vinegar. Toss together until combined.

Top with feta. Place a hearty block of feta on top.

Serve and enjoy. That’s it! You’re ready to serve your Greek village salad.

How to serve Greek village salad

This mediterranean salad pairs perfectly with just about anything! Traditionally I like to serve it with some lemon potatoes and souvlaki but it’s equally as delicious when served with anything else.

Tips and tricks

Use tomatoes on the vine 

This is hands down the best type of tomatoes to use for this recipe. They’re sweeter and juicier than other varieties.

Red onion or Vidalia onion?

Both work great in this recipe, use what you have!

Greek feta cheese only

Greek feta has the most authentic flavour.

Measuring is optional!

Use this recipe as a guide. If you would like more or less of an ingredient, go for it! I promise it will still taste delicious.

Use what you have

While including all the ingredients is essential for this salad to taste its best, it’s not always doable. With that being said, you can totally make this salad with just tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olive oil, and vinegar. 

All you have to do is season the chopped veggies generously with salt, drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar and you have a simple and delicious salad at your fingertips!

Final Thoughts

This Greek village salad is a great way to bring more vegetables into your daily routine. Plus, it’s quick, healthy, and perfect for weeknights. Whether you’re new to Greek cuisine or a long-time fan of Mediterranean recipes, this salad will quickly become a favourite.

If you make my greek village salad, let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @TheHealthyLivingRD so I can see your delicious creations!