Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki) with a Block of Feta

Introduction

The salad you get in Greek tavernas has nothing to do with the lettuce-drowned-in-vinaigrette version most restaurants outside Greece call "Greek salad." A real horiatiki is a study in restraint: peak-season tomatoes, cucumbers, green pepper, red onion, olives, and a full block of feta sitting on top like a crown, all sluiced with olive oil and dried oregano. There is no lettuce and there is no dressing beyond oil and vinegar. It's meant to be scooped up with warm bread and eaten hot afternoons on a shady terrace. Bring it to a cookout alongside a mediterranean chickpea salad and you have lunch.

Cooking your way through our archive? Don't miss our Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Feta and Lemon or our Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons, and browse every salad recipe for more ideas.

Ingredients

• •600 g very ripe tomatoes, cut into large wedges
• •1 large cucumber, halved lengthwise and thickly sliced
• •1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• •1 small green bell pepper, sliced into rings
• •150 g Kalamata olives, with pits
• •200 g block of Greek feta cheese (do not crumble)
• •1 tsp dried oregano, plus more for serving
• •1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• •1 tbsp red wine vinegar (optional)
• •Flaky sea salt
• •Warm crusty bread, to serve

Instructions

1. 1

   In a wide, shallow serving bowl, layer the tomato wedges, cucumber slices, red onion, green pepper rings, and olives.

2. 2

   Sprinkle with a pinch of flaky salt and half the oregano.

3. 3

   Place the whole block of feta on top of the salad — do not crumble it.

4. 4

   Drizzle the olive oil generously over the feta and salad. Add a splash of red wine vinegar if using.

5. 5

   Finish with the remaining oregano and a final crack of pepper. Let sit for 10 minutes so the flavors mingle before serving with plenty of bread for mopping up the juices.

Nutrition (per serving, estimated)

Nutrition is an approximation generated from ingredient databases and may vary based on brands and exact measurements.

Calories

330 kcal

Protein

10 g

Carbs

15 g

Fat

28 g