Print

Fresh Greek Salad Recipe with Easy Homemade Zesty Dressing for Summer

fresh greek salad - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick and easy fresh Greek salad featuring ripe tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and feta cheese, tossed in a bright, tangy homemade zesty dressing. Perfect for a light, refreshing summer meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Ripe tomatoes, chopped (about 1-inch pieces)
  • English cucumber, diced (peeled or not)
  • Red onion, thinly sliced and soaked in cold water
  • Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • Green bell pepper, chopped
  • Feta cheese, crumbled (firm, tangy variety like Dodoni or Valbreso)
  • Fresh parsley or oregano leaves, chopped (optional)
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Wash all produce thoroughly.
  2. Chop tomatoes into bite-sized chunks (about 1-inch pieces).
  3. Peel cucumber if desired, then dice similarly.
  4. Thinly slice red onion and soak in cold water for 5 minutes, then drain well.
  5. Chop green bell pepper into small pieces.
  6. Halve the pitted Kalamata olives.
  7. In a small bowl or jar, combine olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Whisk or shake vigorously until emulsified and slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  8. In a medium mixing bowl, add all chopped vegetables and olives.
  9. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently but thoroughly to coat.
  10. Crumble feta cheese over the top without mixing too aggressively to keep chunks visible.
  11. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or oregano if using and give the salad one last gentle toss.
  12. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving. If chilling, add feta just before serving.

Notes

If tomatoes are very juicy, drain some liquid before tossing to avoid a watery salad. Use room temperature ingredients for better flavor blending. Soaking red onion in cold water mellows sharpness. Add feta just before serving if chilling salad to prevent sogginess. Adjust lemon juice and vinegar gradually to balance acidity. Mince or crush garlic finely to avoid harsh raw bites.

Nutrition

Keywords: Greek salad, fresh salad, homemade dressing, summer recipe, easy salad, healthy salad, vegetarian, gluten-free

Find it online: https://elvafood.com/fresh-greek-salad-recipe-with-easy-homemade-zesty-dressing-for-summer/