As the summer draws closer and the days get warmer, we like our meals to be light and refreshing to keep us healthy and full. Salads are always the first option, and Greek salads offer a lot of nutritious and tasty variations you can try.
The classic Greek salad typically includes tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions, as well as olives and feta cheese. But we’ve compiled a list of some interesting Greek salad recipes and these salads are made with an assortment of vegetables, creamy feta, and various other ingredients, promising a truly satisfying and flavorful experience!
1. Greek Horiatiki Salad
Horiatiki is the iconic Greek salad that we all know and love. This traditional recipe makes a great option for a side dish as well as a full meal since it contains a good number of ingredients (and flavors!), including tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onion, olives, and garlic. Toss them all with a tangy lemon and olive oil-based vinaigrette, and dig in!
2. Greek Cabbage Salad
Greek cabbage salad might be one of the simplest recipes Greece has to offer, and we love it so much for being that way. If you have red and green cabbage, carrots, olive oil, and red wine vinegar, then you have your salad. You can also add some chopped walnuts for that extra crunch.
3. Greek Orzo Salad
Greek orzo salad can be much more filling than any regular salad, which makes it a perfect addition to your next dinner party. Mix up some traditional Mediterranean orzo, a handful of fresh green herbs, and some crumbled-up feta and toss it together with a zesty lemon vinaigrette. Simple cooking at its finest!
4. Greek Tomato Salad
Bored of the same old tomato salad to serve with your meat? This Greek version will spice up your salad game with a refreshing and original alternative — and it comes together in a breeze! Combine cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh oregano, crushed red pepper, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. And toss! Simple, easy to make, and incredibly refreshing!
5. Lentil and Feta Salad
This recipe has everything you want in a salad — it’s salty, tangy, minty, and spicy all at once! You can prepare this beauty in less than 20 minutes. Just cook the lentils with a bay leaf and combine it with a spectacular sweet paprika and garlic dressing. Then, pair it with some feta, chopped onion, kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, and fresh herbs. It looks gorgeous, tastes fantastic, and is full of nutrients!
6. Classic Greek Salad with Avocado
This recipe is essentially Horiatiki salad with a twist (and a great one) — avocado! You already know how this one works, but the addition of this superfood will make the salad creamier, adding a new dimension of flavor. This time the dressing doesn’t include any lemon, but if you’re feeling zesty, go for it. The flavors all melt together beautifully in every single bite!
7. BBQ Lamb Greek Salad
This BBQ lamb greek salad is a meal in itself, but it’s so delicious we couldn’t help putting it on this list! The caramelized lamb pairs wonderfully with the cucumber, tomato, onion, and feta, all combined with the lamb’s resting juices. Toss it all, add some mint, and drizzle with a zesty dressing on top!
8. Watermelon Feta Salad
If you want a fresh and juicy summer salad, you’ve reached your destination. Watermelon and feta salad is a Greek classic that’s perfect for the warmest days, and it’s also lower in calories than some of the ones we listed before. Some people like to add kalamata olives to make the flavors stronger, but if you have the main two ingredients and some mint leaves, you won’t need anything else!
9. Greek Pasta Salad
Who doesn’t love pasta salad? It gained a big reputation in the last few years and has continued growing ever since! There’s no secret behind this recipe — any veggies with pasta make a great pasta salad, and that’s how the Greeks did it. Pair the classic Greek salad ingredients with your favorite pasta for a hearty salad with some extra (and delicious) carbs!
