Maroulosalata (Greek Lettuce Salad with Dill and Lemon)
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Maroulosalata is a traditional Greek lettuce salad made with romaine lettuce, fresh dill, green onions, and a bright lemon-olive oil dressing called ladolemono. This ten-minute salad has a clean, fresh flavor that pairs perfectly with any dinner recipe!
Prep Time
10 Minutes
Total Time
10 Minutes
Servings
4 sides
What Makes Maroulosalata Salad Stand Out?
Quick Answers to Your Maroulosalata Questions
What Is Maroulosalata?
Maroulosalata (pronounced mah-ROO-loh-sah-LAH-tah) is a traditional Greek lettuce salad that is made with finely shredded romaine, fresh dill, green onions, and a lemon-olive oil dressing. The word “Marouli” means romaine lettuce in Greek. “Salata” means salad.
What is ladolemono salad dressing?
Ladolemono is a traditional Greek salad dressing made using olive oil (ladi), lemon (lemono), and garlic. It is tossed in salads, grilled vegetables, and seafood.
Is maroulosalata the same as Greek salad?
No, the classic Greek salad (horiatiki) is made with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta. A maroulosalata is made with romaine lettuce, dill, and green onions.
The Freshist Salad I ate Every Night on the Greek Island Paros
In my 30s, I threw caution to the wind and backpacked across Europe. On the island of Paros, I rented a room from a local. At night, he cooked for all of his guests. It was always a spread of traditional Greek cooking, and this simple salad was included with every meal. What stuck with me was the fresh flavor, a hint of dill, and lots of lemon.
You can find this simplicity in other Greek recipes, including spanakorizo, spinach rice.
Made With Love, Ruth
Ingredients for Traditional Maroulosalata
Key Ingredients (And Why They Matter)
Romaine lettuce
Romaine is the maroulosalata lettuce. Other lettuces work with these ingredients, but changing the lettuce will change the character of this salad.
Fresh dill
Fresh dill is a must in this recipe. It creates a herbaceous, fresh flavor. Dried dill will not work, and it won’t give you the signature of maroulosalata.
Green onions
Thinly sliced green onions blend with the other flavors and add a soft flavor.
Ladolemono dressing
Ladolemono dressing is a simple mix of olive oil, fresh lemon, garlic, salt, and pepper. The ingredients are mixed well until they are emulsified. The result is a bright dressing.
- See the recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
More salad recipes….
How to Make a Greek Lettuce Salad (Step-by-Step Instructions)
Step One: Prepare the lettuce
Remove any damaged romaine leaves. Then you want to cut the lettuce into thin strips. I do this by starting at the base and cutting off the stem. Then I slice in thin shreds, working my way up to the green part of the lettuce.
Crisp Lettuce Variation
For a crisper lettuce, place the shreds in ice-cold water for ten minutes. Then use a salad spinner or tea towel to remove as much water as possible. Skip the massaging and toss the dressing instead.
Step Two: Prepare the herbs
Slice the green onions into small slices. Finely chop the fresh dill (and the optional mint if you are using it)
Step Three: Make the dressing
Vigorously mix the extra virgin olive oil, lemon, garlic, salad, and pepper to emulsify the dressing. You can do this with a whisk or in a mason jar with the lid tightly screwed on.
Step Four: Dress and serve
Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Gently massage the dressing with the lettuce. Season with lemon, salt, and pepper, and top with crumbled feta or vegan feta. Serve immediately.
Pro Tips for the Best Maroulosalata
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
For this salad, you want to use your best extra virgin olive oil within your budget. I recommend cold-pressed for the richest flavor.
Freshly ground pepper
When I make this salad, I always find myself adding lots of freshly ground pepper. I find the pepper balances out the richness of the oil.
Perfect Pairings
- Greek spinach rice
- A Mediterranean mezze
- Vegan puff pastry spanakopita
- In a pita pocket with falafel patties
Frequently Asked Questions
How Did It Go?
I hope you loved this Maroulosalata green lettuce salad as much as I do! Before you go, please leave me a rating and let me know your thoughts on this recipe. Your feedback is valuable to other readers and me.
Maroulosalata (Greek Lettuce Salad with Dill and Lemon)
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 large heads romaine lettuce finely shredded
- 4–5 green onions thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh dill finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint optional, finely chopped
- ½ cup feta or vegan feta cheese crumbled
Ladolemono Dressing
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice about 1–2 lemons
- 1–2 cloves garlic finely minced or grated
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the lettuce: Remove any damaged romaine leaves. Then you want to cut the lettuce into thin strips. I do this by starting at the base and cutting off the stem. Then I slice in thin shreds, working my way up to the green part of the lettuce.
- Prepare the herbs: Slice the green onions into small slices. Finely chop the fresh dill (and the optional mint if you are using it)
- Make the dressing: Vigorously mix the extra-virgin olive oil, lemon, garlic, salad, and pepper to emulsify the ingredients. You can do this with a whisk or in a mason jar with the lid tightly screwed on.
- Dress and serve: Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Gently massage the dressing with the lettuce. Season with lemon, salt, and pepper, and top with crumbled feta or vegan feta. Serve immediately.