Where does Greek Salad come from?

Greek Salad — country of origin: Greece.

What is Greek Salad made of?

Tomato, cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, feta, black olive, olive oil, oregano.

How do you pronounce Greek Salad?

Χωριάτικη σαλάτα (Greek) is pronounced /xoˈrʝatici saˈlata/.

Greek Salad

Χωριάτικη σαλάταPronunciation (IPA) /xoˈrʝatici saˈlata/

Tomato, cucumber, green pepper and red onion tossed in olive oil and topped with a slab of feta and black olives — the villagers' salad, no lettuce in sight.

Also known as: Horiatiki · Village salad

Allergens & declarations

Contains

Milk (including Lactose)

Contains milk and milk products (including lactose)

This describes the classic recipe, so you know what to ask about. It is not a declaration for any particular kitchen — recipes and suppliers vary, and only the restaurant can tell you what is in the dish it serves.

In detail

Greek salad is tomato, cucumber, green pepper and red onion tossed in olive oil and topped with a slab of feta and black olives. Greeks call it horiatiki, the villagers' salad, and there is deliberately no lettuce and no vinegar in the classic version — nothing to dilute what the vegetables and the oil already do.

What it really is

Ripe tomato, cucumber, green bell pepper and thinly sliced red onion are cut into rough chunks rather than fine dice — this is a coarse salad, not a delicate one — and dressed with nothing but a generous pour of olive oil and a scattering of dried oregano. A whole slab of feta sits on top rather than being crumbled through, and a handful of black olives sits alongside it.

The feta is a topping, not an ingredient tossed with the rest. Left whole on top, it stays firm and lets a guest cut into it fresh at the table rather than eating it pre-softened into the vegetables underneath.

How it is served

With the feta whole on top, drizzled with olive oil and oregano at the table.
Family-style, one bowl for the table rather than individual plates.
Alongside grilled meat or as the opening dish of a meze spread.

Flag the dairy in the feta.
Note that it is naturally vegan without the cheese, since guests often ask for exactly that swap.
Say if the vegetables are seasonal; a version made with underripe winter tomato is a genuinely different salad from a peak-summer one.

Typical ingredients

Put it on your menu with Menuella

Frequently asked questions

What is Greek Salad?: Tomato, cucumber, green pepper and red onion tossed in olive oil and topped with a slab of feta and black olives — the villagers' salad, no lettuce in sight.
Where does Greek Salad come from?: Greek Salad — country of origin: Greece.
What is Greek Salad made of?: Tomato, cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, feta, black olive, olive oil, oregano.
Which allergens does Greek Salad contain?: Contains milk and milk products (including lactose).
What is Greek Salad also known as?: Horiatiki, Village salad.
How do you pronounce Greek Salad?: Χωριάτικη σαλάτα (Greek) is pronounced /xoˈrʝatici saˈlata/. Select the speaker button next to the dish name to hear it.