The Secret to a Perfect Greek Salad
There's nothing quite like an authentic Greek salad—crisp vegetables, tangy feta, briny olives, and the star of the show: premium extra virgin olive oil. This classic Mediterranean dish is simple to make, but the quality of your ingredients, especially your olive oil, makes all the difference.
Ingredients
- 4 ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
- 1 cucumber, sliced into thick half-moons
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into rings
- 1 cup Kalamata olives
- 200g (7 oz) feta cheese, sliced into thick slabs
- 1/4 cup Bill's Premium Greek Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Your Vegetables
Start with fresh, ripe vegetables at room temperature—never refrigerate your tomatoes before making this salad! Cut the tomatoes into wedges, slice the cucumber into thick half-moons, thinly slice the red onion, and cut the bell pepper into rings. Arrange them in a large, shallow bowl or platter.
Step 2: Add the Olives and Feta
Scatter the Kalamata olives over the vegetables. In traditional Greek style, place thick slabs of feta cheese on top rather than crumbling it—this allows the cheese to maintain its creamy texture.
Step 3: Dress with Premium Olive Oil
This is where your early-harvest Greek olive oil shines. Drizzle the olive oil generously over the entire salad—don't be shy! The robust, peppery notes of premium olive oil are what give this salad its authentic flavor. Add the red wine vinegar for a touch of acidity.
Step 4: Season and Serve
Sprinkle dried oregano over the top (Greeks use dried, not fresh, for this dish), and add sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remember, the feta and olives are already salty, so taste before adding too much salt.
Step 5: Let It Rest
Allow the salad to sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. This lets the flavors meld together and the vegetables release their juices, creating a delicious dressing when combined with the olive oil.
Why Quality Olive Oil Matters
In a dish this simple, every ingredient counts. Our single-origin, early-harvest Greek olive oil brings a peppery, grassy complexity that elevates the fresh vegetables and balances the richness of the feta. Unlike mass-produced oils, premium olive oil adds depth and character that makes this salad truly memorable.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your Greek salad as a light lunch, a side dish for grilled meats or fish, or as part of a Mediterranean mezze spread. Pair it with warm pita bread to soak up the delicious olive oil and vegetable juices at the bottom of the bowl.
Kali orexi! (Bon appétit in Greek)
