Authentic Greek Cucumber Salad
Authentic Greek Cucumber Salad, also known as horiatiki, is a traditional Greek salad that is made in 10 minutes! This classic Mediterranean cucumber salad is loaded with crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, red onions, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a tangy homemade Greek dressing. One bite and you will have this salad on repeat!
Prep Time
10 Minutes
Total Time
10 Minutes
Servings
2 Mains
Quick Answers
Do you put feta cheese in a Greek salad?
A traditional Greek salad is served with feta cheese. A true Greek salad will serve the salad with a block of feta cheese that has been cut into blocks. To stay vegan, my version uses crumbles.
What is the difference between Greek salad and Horiatiki salad?
The horiatiki salad is a traditional Greek salad made without lettuce. In the U.S., a Greek salad often includes lettuce, which is the main difference.
What goes in an authentic Greek salad?
A true Greek salad will always have cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese. The dressing will always be tangy thanks to the red wine vinegar.
Why I Love this Greek Salad!
Salads always taste fresh, or at least they should. This salad is chock-full of veggies and big flavors! One bite and you’ll understand why this classic Greek cucumber salad is on repeat in my kitchen.
It takes only 10 minutes to make, and the result is a fulfilling salad that always has you reaching for more. I usually keep it traditional, with a red wine vinaigrette. But, if you want to add spice, I recommend using a harissa vinaigrette instead.
Ruth Grindeland
Key Ingredient Notes (Why They Matter!)
Cucumbers
You can use any variety of cucumber, but the most important thing is that you remove the seeds and pat the cucumber dry. This simple step keeps your salad from becoming watery.
Kalamata Olives
I recommend using either pre-sliced or pre-pitted Kalamata olives. They make assembling this salad fast and easy. If you do not like Kalamata olives, you can use black olives, which have a milder flavor, or omit olives altogether.
Tomatoes
You will want to use a firm medium-sized tomato, such as a Roma or Campari. Same as the cucumber, you will want to cut it in half and remove the seeds to keep your salad from becoming watery.
Feta Cheese
Can we all agree that everything is better with feta? (I love saying that.) You can use dairy or vegan feta. The traditional Greek salad is made with a block of feta that is cut into cubes. Crumbles also work. I use the Follow Your Heart brand of dairy-free feta cheese.
See the recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
Watch how to Make this Recipe
More Mediterranean Salads
Variations and Substitutions
- Bell Peppers – Finely chop any color of bell pepper to match the size of the other vegetables in the salad. It will add a crunch.
- Fresh Mint – Roll mint leaves into a tight ball and make thin slices. One cut avoids bruising and adds a fresh pop of flavor.
- Pine Nuts – Adding pine nuts will add texture and subtle flavor. I like to add them raw, but if you want more flavor, I recommend toasting them in a skillet until they turn a golden color.
Storing Instructions
- Make-Ahead Instructions – Wash, dry, and cut the veggies and store them in an airtight container for up to three days. Then, just before eating, drain any excess water. Then toss with the red wine vinaigrette and feta cheese.
- Storing Instructions – Once dressed, store in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.
Perfect Pairings
- Puff Pasty Spanakopita
- Authentic Greek Spanakorizo
- Mediterranean Rose Water Lemonade
- Turkish Flat Bread
- Easy Homemade Yeast Bread
After you make this Greek salad recipe, leave a rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below. Your feedback helps other readers and gives me a chance to answer any questions you might have.
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Authentic Greek Cucumber Salad
Equipment
- 1 Medium bowl
- 1 small whisk
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 large standard slicing cucumbers, seeded and cut into quarters
- 1 cup (139g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup (34g) Kalamata olives, sliced
- ½ cup (80g) red onion, sliced thin
- ¼ cup (38g) feta or vegan feta cheese crumbles
- ½ large lemon, squeezed
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (28g) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (15g) red wine vinegar
- ½ tablespoon (2.5g) oregano, dried (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- 1 teaspoon (5g) dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Ingredient Preparation:
- Cucumbers: Start by washing and drying the cucumbers. Cut them lengthwise and gently scoop out the seeds. Slice each half again lengthwise and then chop into quarter-sized pieces. In a traditional salad, the cucumbers are in large bite-sized chunks and not slices.
- Tomatoes: Wash and pat dry with paper towels. If you're using Roma or larger tomatoes, cut them in half. Remove the seeds and the watery interior. Depending on the size and type of tomato, slice them into manageable, large chunks, but also bite-sized pieces.
- Red Onion: Peel and slice the red onion into thin, long slices
- Olives: If your olives are whole, slice them into smaller pieces. If your olives are pieces, you do not need to prepare.
- Feta Cheese: If the feta cheese is in a block, crumble it into smaller pieces. You do not need to prepare if your feta cheese is already crumbled.
Dressing Preparation:
- In a separate, small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients.
Combining the Ingredients and Dressing:
- Place all the ingredients in a large bowl. Evenly pour the dressing over the top and gently toss everything together. Squeeze a small amount of fresh lemon over the top for a fresh flavor.
Notes
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- Cheese: Goat cheese is an excellent substitution. If you want sharper flavors, try blue cheese! Both of these are available in vegan options.
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- Olives: Out of Kalamata olives? Not your thing? No worries, use black olives instead.
Tastes great. Refreshing! Easy to put together and “forgiveable” if you need to sub an ingredient to use what’s on hand. Do you have nutrition breakdown or did I miss that and the number of servings this makes?
Hi Gayle, the servings and nutrition information is listed below in the recipe card. I am so glad you enjoyed my recipe