Use Local Ingredients for this Greek Inspired Salad

Mediterranean flavors and simplicity are at the heart of this Greek inspired salad. The recipe combines capers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions with creamy feta cheese and briny capers.  

This salad comes together very quickly using locally sourced, fresh ingredients. A very good friend shared this recipe with me; he made me promise to never, ever put lettuce in a Greek salad. The beautiful thing about this recipe is you can use whole vegetables, not measure much, and not worry about proportions.

Greek Salad’s Popularity in the USA

The Greek salad we know today has only been around since the 1960s. The salad’s origins trace back to the late 19th century when Greeks heavily relied on vegetables and bread due to economic hardships.¹ Cheese was a rare luxury then. The addition of feta cheese in the 1960s transformed this simple dish into a beloved staple of Greek restaurants. Its simplicity and use of fresh ingredients grown right here in Southern Illinois make it an ideal salad for summer time. 

The Greek salad’s appeal lies in its simple yet flavorful combination of fresh vegetables, feta cheese, and olive oil. Mediterranean diets became popular in the USA in the early 2000s, and this salad followed suit. People frequently recognize Greek salad for its nutritional value, making it an attractive option for health-conscious consumers.² The gorgeous colors of this dish also make it appetizing for food content creators, which has only reinforced the dish’s popularity. 

For me, this Greek inspired salad has become a staple because of its versatility; the ingredients are easily adaptable. If you don’t have bell peppers, use banana peppers. Olives take the place of capers and vice versa. Shallots or leeks can stand in for onions, providing a less pungent flavor. You can easily use what is in season in your area to make this your own. 

Greek Inspired Salad

Recipe by Niki Davis

Course: Recipes, Side Dishes, Soup and Salad

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Mediterranean flavors are at the heart of this Greek inspired salad. Juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and sharp onions come together with creamy feta cheese and briny capers. Using fresh ingredients, this salad comes together quickly. Serve it as a side with fish for a filling meal.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• ½ teaspoon salt and pepper

• 2 small cucumbers, diced

• 1 green bell pepper, diced

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• 1 large tomato, chopped

• ½ red onion, diced

• ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese

• 1 tablespoon capers

Directions

• Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper together in a salad serving bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss to coat. Let the salad rest for about 15 minutes before serving.

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1. https://www.greekfromgreece.com/posts/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-greek-salad ↩︎
2. https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/cooking-with-olive-oil/greek-salad-is-trending/85573 ↩︎