Looking for a salad that’s both refreshing and flavorful? Look no further than the Greek Peasant Salad Recipe, also known as Horiatiki Salata. This dish is the perfect balance of juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, creamy Feta cheese, and savory olives, all topped with a tangy vinaigrette dressing made with extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and dried oregano. Remember to have some crusty bread on hand to mop up the delicious olive oil and tomato juices at the bowl’s bottom!
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What Is Peasant Salad?
If there’s one Greek dish you should learn to make, it’s an authentic Greek Peasant salad.
Greek Peasant Salad is also known as Horiatiki salad, which means “village salad.” This simple yet delicious meal consists of fresh vine-ripened summer tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, bell peppers, and olives. The vegetables are combined with oregano and dressed with extra-virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of feta cheese.
This rustic Mediterranean salad celebrates fresh seasonal ingredients and is a perfect example of the best in-season ingredients. The Greek peasant salad is a popular dish eaten throughout mainland Greece and the Greek islands in taverns and homes.
Its crisp, refreshing, salty, and sharp flavors make it a standout dish that stands the test of time. It’s a salad that can be served as a main course or a side dish and is perfect for summertime barbecues or picnics. This delicious tomato-based salad best represents all the authentic Greek flavors and aromas loved worldwide.
Overall, the Greek Peasant Salad is a colorful and healthy dish that’s perfect for any occasion. So, what are you waiting for? Try it now and impress your guests with this mouth-watering salad!
Fun Fact: The Authentic Greek Salad does not have lettuce.
Ingredients and substitution
Below is the ingredients list and possible substitutions. The exact ingredient amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Greek feta cheese is tangy and crumbly, made from sheep’s milk or a mixture of sheep and goat milk.
- Tomatoes—You can use grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or vine tomatoes. Ripe tomatoes are halved and cut into wedges about half an inch thick.
- Cucumber – English cucumber.
- Green pepper—Green pepper is traditionally used in a Greek salad, but you can substitute red pepper. The Green bell pepper should be cored and sliced.
- Onion – Red onion cut into slices.
- Olives—Kalamata olives are a staple in Greek cuisine, so use them for a traditional Greek salad. I used green olives because that’s what I had.
- Capers – capers add a salty, sharp burst, which tastes so good. Its optional.
- Extra Virgin Olive oil – use the best quality olive oil.
- Oregano—Dried Greek oregano is the traditional herb for this salad, but you can use fresh oregano.
- Red wine vinegar – It brings a touch of sharpness.
- A few fresh mint leaves. They add such freshness to the salad. It’s Optional.
- Salt to taste.
Step-by-step process
Place thinly sliced onions, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and oregano in a bowl. Mix everything well. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes.
Add cucumber, tomatoes, capers, olives, bell pepper, mint, and feta cheese. Toss well. Greek Peasant Salad is ready. Enjoy!
Tip: Serve it with Sourdough or fresh crusty bread. It is perfect for mopping up all the delicious juice.
Tips, Notes and Quick FAQs
- I always prefer cubing the feta cheese. While serving the whole feta cheese on top of the vegetables is traditional, cubing the feta or crumbling it into the salad can be easier.
- Make sure you use pitted olives!
- This salad is for 6 people as a side dish or starter or three people as a main dish.
My favorite way to eat this traditional Greek village salad is by itself for lunch.
It goes well with Burgers, Pizza, Pasta, and Any grilled, BBQ’d, or roasted dishes.
It’s best eaten the day it’s made. The leftovers taste great the next day for lunch, but they might be a little past their best.
The salty bite of the feta cheese is a must in the recipe. However, you can substitute Halloumi or goat milk cheese for this salad.
Yes, you can easily double or triple the recipe.
Absolutely! Use 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano instead of 1 teaspoon of dried oregano.
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Greek Peasant Salad
Ingredients
- 1 Big English cucumber cut into 1 Inch cubes
- 4 Medium Roma Tomatoes Cut into wedges
- 1 medium red onion thinly sliced
- 1 medium green bell pepper thinly sliced
- ½ cup olives
- ¼ cup mint leaves optional
- 2 tablespoon Capers optional
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoon red vine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 4 oz. Feta cheese Cut into 1 inch cubes
Instructions
- Place thinly sliced onions, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, black pepper, and oregano in a bowl. Mix everything well. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add cucumber, tomatoes, capers, olives, bell pepper, mint, and feta cheese. Toss well. Greek Peasant Salad is ready. Enjoy!
Notes
- I always prefer cubing the feta cheese. While serving the whole feta cheese on top of the vegetables is traditional, cubing the feta or crumbling it into the salad can be easier.
- Make sure you use pitted olives!
- This salad is for 6 people as a side dish or starter or three people as a main dish.
Nutrition
Warm regards,
Dhwani.
Its amazing!