Horiatiki (Greek Village Salad)
Transport yourself to the Greek islands with this Horiatiki Salad! This classic recipe is packed with fresh, chunky veggies, kalamata olives, feta cheese and it’s finished with red wine vinegar and olive oil. It’s fresh, flavorful and ready in minutes!
I visited Greece many years ago, and ate some of the most delicious food I’ve ever had in my life.
I ate my weight in chicken souvlaki, tzatziki, Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and honey, along with an array of Greek pastries that surpassed anything I’d ever eaten here at home.
The interesting thing was that the Horitaiki salad (also known as Greek village salad), is what really blew my mind. The ingredients were incredibly simple, but they were so fresh that the flavors exploded.
I don’t make this salad in any other season besides summer, because that’s when the ingredients are at their peak of flavor.
It makes all the difference, and it truly stacks up to the salads I had in Greece!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Horiatiki, otherwise known as Greek village salad, is rustic, chunky and packed with flavor.
- It’s the perfect way to utilize market or garden tomatoes and cucumbers in the summertime.
- It comes together in minutes and may be prepped up to an hour in advance.
- It makes a great summer side dish or vegetarian lunch!
Recipe ingredients
There are only a few simple ingredients in this Horiatiki salad, so it’s important to make them best for maximum flavor.
Ingredient notes
- Veggies. Tomatoes, cucumber and red onion are classic ingredients in this Greek village salad, but oftentimes you’ll find chopped green bell pepper as well. Your favorite variety of tomatoes or onion will work great!
- Olives. Kalamata olives are traditionally used in this salad, but if they’re too strong for you, use your favorite variety of olives.
- Feta cheese. A block of feta in the brine is the freshest and makes a big difference in this recipe, but you can use what’s readily available or what you have on hand.
- Vinegar and oil. Red wine vinegar and olive oil are combined for a simple “dressing” that makes this salad come alive!
- Oregano. Freshly chopped or dried oregano may be used.
How to make Greek village salad
This Greek Village Salad is extremely easy to make because it doesn’t require a lot of chopping and the dressing is super simple.
Pro tip: Use the freshest vegetables you can find, as well as good quality olive oil and vinegar for maximum flavor.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Place the chopped vegetables in a large bowl.
- Toss the vegetables with red wine vinegar first, so that the vegetables can absorb it for maximum flavor.
- Toss with the extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Serve the salad topped with a thick rectangle of feta cheese, dried oregano, and a drizzle of olive oil.
FAQs
If you order Horiatiki or Greek village salad in Greece, it includes rustic, chunky vegetables and olives, a creamy block of feta and dried oregano on top. It’s tossed with red wine vinegar and olive oil, which may sound simple, but that’s all it needs because everything is so fresh.
Greek salad is a composed salad, which means it contains lettuce, the vegetables are chopped smaller, and the feta cheese is crumbled into the salad. It’s tossed in a finished dressing like my Greek Salad Dressing as well.
Horiatiki means village, which is why it’s also referred to as Greek village salad. It consists of tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and is dressed simply with vinegar, oil and is finished with oregano.
Horiatiki is pronounced hor-ya-tee-kee.
Serving suggestions
There are so many ways to serve this Greek Horiatiki Salad!
- It makes a great weeknight dinner served with blackened salmon, air fryer chicken breast, air fryer pork chops, or pan seared steak.
- Serve at your next cookout alongside tomahawk steak, grilled shrimp or grilled burgers.
- Enjoy as a vegetarian lunch, adding white beans or chickpeas for a nutrition boost.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: Use the freshest vegetables you can find, as well as good quality olive oil and vinegar for maximum flavor.
- For best results, toss the salad with the vinegar and oil no more than 1 hour in advance, adding the feta just before serving.
- Customize this Horiatiki salad with your favorite variety of tomatoes, or add chopped green or yellow bell pepper as well.
- Recipe is easily scaled to feed a crowd as needed!
More Greek recipes you’ll love:
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Horiatiki (Greek Village Salad)
Ingredients
- 2 medium tomatoes cut into wedges then halved
- 1 medium medium cucumber I used seedless
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 12 kalamata olives
- 2 ounces feta cheese cut into thick slices or cubes
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
- dried oregano for serving
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the tomato, cucumber, red onion and kalamata olives in a medium bowl (If using cubed or crumbled feta instead of a thick slice, add that now as well).2 medium tomatoes, 1 medium medium cucumber, 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, 12 kalamata olives
- Add the red wine vinegar and stir to combine. Add the olive oil, salt and pepper, to taste, then stir until incorporated.2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Divide the salad between (2) plates and top with a slice of feta, a quick drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of dried oregano. Serve and enjoy!2 ounces feta cheese, dried oregano
Video
Notes
- Pro tip: Use the freshest vegetables you can find, as well as good quality olive oil and vinegar for maximum flavor.
- For best results, toss the salad with the vinegar and oil no more than 1 hour in advance, adding the feta just before serving.
- Customize this horiatiki salad with your favorite variety of tomatoes, or add chopped green or yellow bell pepper as well.
- Recipe is easily scaled to feed a crowd as needed!
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
**This recipe was originally published in July 2018. Step by step photos have been added, and the text has been modified to include more recipe information.
11 Comments on “Horiatiki (Greek Village Salad)”
It’s amazing how the simplest of ingredients can create the most incredible meal. This looks fabulous and makes me wish I was in Greee!
Simplicity can be amazing…so often I overcomplicate things unnecessarily! Thanks Sarah and I wish I was in Greece too!
This is my all time favorite salad! Looks so good! Simple to make, too! Pinning 🙂
Isn’t it the best?! Thanks Mira! 🙂
I’ve never heard of a Greek Village Salad, but I’m just in love with the ingredients and the chunkiness of this salad! I eat a lot of salads, and this one is a welcomed addition to the rotation!
It’s so nice to have salads without lettuce now and then! Thanks Leanne!
This just looks absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing this!!
Thank you Crystal!
I hope you enjoy the salad Jennifer!
This would be perfect for the summer!
Thanks Carolyn!