Horiatiki Salad (Greek Salad or Village Salad)
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
Horiatiki Salad also known as Greek Salad or Village Salad combines the freshest ingredients like seasonal tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, red onions, tangy Kalamata olives, and creamy feta. I served it with a mildly piquant Greek Peperoncini for an extra boost in flavor.
Greek Salad is among the most popular but you may also want to try my Tomato Feta Salad with fresh mint or amazing Greek Panzanella with Garlic Lemon Vinaigrette.
What is Horiatiki Salad
Horiatiki Salad, or village salad, is what is known in the US as Greek Salad. It is a very humble dish that uses fresh and simple ingredients. It’s in season from late spring to early fall – when the tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are at their peak.
We’re now at the end of July on East Coast of US and the big, meaty tomatoes are just about to ripen up….but they’re not quite there yet.
However, the small, cherry tomatoes are taking over my tomato garden and they too are super delicious; that’s why I used them here in this recipe for my Horiatiki Salad.
I know, that this Horiatiki Salad should have big tomatoes cut up over the bowl to get all the juices marinating in there, but I am a huge proponent of using whatever is in season. Hence my use of little cherry tomatoes in this recipe. And you can pretty much find good quality cherry tomatoes all year long so you could potentially enjoy this salad throughout a year.
So, fast forward about 2 weeks & I’ll be using my beefsteak tomatoes for this amazingly simple salad. To be perfectly clear, a real Greek salad never contains lettuce!
What are Typical Ingredients in Greek Horiatiki Salad
Here’s a list of what Greek Salad contains:
- Tomatoes;
- Cucumbers;
- Green peppers (not red or yellow);
- Red onion;
- Kalamata olives;
- Good quality sheep’s milk feta (served as a block and not crumbled);
- Good quality, fragrant extra virgin olive oil (preferably from kalamata olives);
- Red wine vinegar; &
- Lots of dried oregano (preferably Greek dried oregano)!
Extra kick for a Greek Salad
Even though this salad is perfect on its own, I decided to spice up every bite with some Greek Peperoncini. You can add them whole or you can chop them. You can actually buy them already chopped if that’s your preference. They do add a little kick to this simple Horiatiki Salad and I love them.
I’ve visited Greek islands on a few occasions in my life, and every time I’ve landed in Greece I wanted to have my Horiatiki Salad immediately. There’s nothing better than fresh vegetables with super fragrant olive oil, a splash of red wine vinegar and dried oregano.
At least that’s what I thought until I went into a Greek Tavern in New York, and they served my favorite Horiatiki Salad with peperoncini too. I was blown away.
Ever since I’ve always added pepperoncini to my Greek Salads. Try it and let me know how you like it.
How to Make Horatiki Salad
Step by step tutorial on how to make Greek Salad:
- Cut up tomatoes and cucumbers;
- Slice bell peppers and red onions;
- Prepare pepperoncini and olives;
- Combine vegetables with olives and pepperoncini, then pour over dressing & top with a block of feta…then serve!
What to Serve Horiatiki Salad with
You can serve this humble Greek Salad with basically everything: all your favorite meat like lamb, chicken or burgers, fish and shellfish or vegetarian dishes. Here are a couple of my suggestions:
- Mediterranean Chicken Kebabs
- Pork BBQ Souvlaki
- Mediterranean Pan Fried Haddock
- Grilled Chicken Shawarma
- Greek Lemon Potatoes
- Mujadara (Rice and Lentils)
- Mushroom Black Bean Veggie Burger
More Greek Recipes to Try
- Kolokithopita – Greek Zucchini Pie
- Kolokithokeftedes – Greek Zucchini Fritters
- Melitzanosalata – Greek Eggplant Dip
- Vegetarian Moussaka
- Traditional Greek Tzatziki
- Greek Lentil Soup with Feta
- Greek Chickpea Soup – Revithosoupa
- Greek Spinach Rice with Feta
Horiatiki Salad (Greek Salad or Village Salad)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Tomatoes halved or cubed
- 2 cups Cucumber English, cubed
- 1 Bell Pepper green, sliced
- 1/2 Red Onion medium, sliced
- 1/2 cup Olives Kalamata
- 1/2 cup Peperoncini
- 7 oz Feta cheese in a block
Dressing
- 1/2 cup Olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tbsp Vinegar red wine
- 1 teaspoon Dry oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- If using cherry tomatoes, then cut them in half. If using Roma or Beefsteak tomatoes, cut them in 1-inch cubes;
- Partially peel a cucumber and cut it into cubes, similar in size to the tomatoes;
- Cut the Bell pepper and onion in thin slices or rings;
- Place the vegetables into a bowl, then add olives and pepperoncini;
- Combine all dressing ingredients and pour over the salad; then mix well and place onto a serving dish;
- Top salad with a block of feta & serve immediately (or sooner) with crusty bread.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on August 1, 2017, and since then it was updated to provide additional information.
Read about the author Edyta here or follow Eating European on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
This sounds right up my street, fresh and delicious. I love kalamata olives and feta cheese, I might just make this for dinner tonight!
Awesome! Thanks Emily
This salad looks so fresh and delicious! Summer tomatoes are the best! Peperoncini looks like a great addition!
Thanks Chrisitne! Peperoncini is a great addition 🙂
Oh my goodness! This salad is gorgeous with so many bright vibrant veggies!! If gobble this up!
Thank you Christina!
I fell in love with REAl Greek salad when I first visited Greece and you’re right – it is spectacular this time of year. I’ve made it with cherry tomatoes and too and I actually love them in this kind of salad! I am going to have to make this this week now because you’ve given me all of the cravings!
Make it Jeni! It is SO good 🙂
This is my kind of salad. Love all the Mediterranean flavours going on here. Perfect as a side…or hearty enough for a main dish. Entertaining perfect too.
Thanks Gloria! It is perfect for entertaining too! 🙂
That looks like a delicious, colorful and a hearty salad!
❥ tanvii.com
Thank you Tanvi!
This salad looks absolutely delicious and makes so hungry! I love your pictures because they bring out the vibrant colours of the vegetables.
Thanks Amanda!
Sounds very tasty! I love peppercinis! I probably spelled that wrong , LOL! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Thanks Nicole V!
This looks super yummy! I am never very inventive with my salads…we get so little good weather over here that salads are rarely on the menu, other than a quick side salad!
I hope this recipe will help you Nicola 🙂
rooh! Yummy! this look so delicious!!
Thank you!
I love the vibrant and bright colors of the vegetables! I love trying new salad recipes and I’ll definitely do this one.
Thanks Lisa
I fell in love with Peperoni. I will try it later and I’m sure my love ones would definitely like this. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Elizabeth
You are so evil! Putting that huge block of feta to entice me! Goodness gracious, it made me salivate almost immediately. Ya so bad! Bookmarking this~
Thanks Tiffany! I know how you feel! I can eat that whole block of feta by myself 🙂
Love all the veggies they are so colorful and bright. I like a fun salad, you can make for a dinner party.
It’s perfect for a dinner party. Thanks for stopping by Kristal!
What an intriguing salad. Look at that big block of feta cheese, mmmmm 🙂
This feta is out of this world 🙂
This looks amazing! I’d love to try it.
Thanks Lisa
Looks amazing. How does the feta get divided up? Do guests just take some Veges then a spoonful / knife slice of feta? Thanks….oh and I missed seeing the portions of the olive oil etc…or is it just by taste?
Hey Tanya. Yes, everybody can cut up as much Feta as they want. This is how this salad is served in Greece. For exact measurements on salad ingredients and the dressing scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all in there 🙂
Great! I made this with our fresh, organic tomatoes and bell peppers. Putting a link back on my blog…