Different Salads You Can Find in Greek Cuisine

Written by Greek Boston in Greek Cooking Comments Off on Different Salads You Can Find in Greek Cuisine

To many people, there is only one real Greek salad. Loaded with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and plenty of olives and feta, this salad is at the cornerstone of fresh Greek cooking. But did you know that there are actually a few different types of salads that you can eat in Greece? Since many places in Greece have so much fresh produce, it makes sense that home cooks will want to do something different.

Here is an overview of some of the popular types of Greek salads that you can find:

Horiatiki

Horiatiki, or the Greek village salad, is what many of us think about when we want to eat a Greek salad. Loaded with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, scallions, bell peppers, olives, and feta cheese this salad is a summertime staple, especially during the growing season. It is usually doused with olive oil and sprinkled with fresh oregano from the garden or dried oregano. If you want to make this salad extra authentic, be sure to use Greek olive oil, imported Greek feta cheese and olives, and authentic Greek oregano!

Potatosalata

When many of us who come from places like the United States think of potato salad, we think of potatoes that have been tossed in a mayonnaise-based salad dressing. Greek potato salad, or potatosalata, is nothing like that! Typical Greek potato salad includes slices of freshly boiled potatoes and tossed with Greek ingredients such as onions, olives, feta cheese, and capers. It is also doused with flavorful olive oil and maybe a splash of red wine vinegar. To make this salad taste extra delicious, make it a day in advance from when you’re serving it so all the flavors can marinate together.

Patzarosalata

Another popular salad in Greece is patzarosalata, or a salad made with beetroots, beet greens, feta cheese, and garlic. Many people use a dressing made from Greek yogurt, others simply use olive oil and a bit of red wine vinegar. However, using olive oil and red wine vinegar is the most common way to dress it. This is especially good when the beets are cooked and then sliced or cubed when they get cold.

Lahanosalata

Cabbage salad is another Greek salad that you can find in Greece, especially when cabbages are in season in the colder weather. The cabbage is shredded and tossed in a bowl with olive oil and fresh lemon juice or red wine vinegar. Some people also added shredded carrots, olives, and feta cheese, depending on what they have on hand. This particular salad is often accompanied by traditional Greek meat dishes, such as roasted lamb or souvlaki. It also makes a light meal by itself, especially if served with feta cheese, olives, and some crusty Greek bread.

When it comes to serving salad, Greeks tend to use what they have available and what’s in season. Each of the above salads uses ingredients that are out at different stages of the growing season. For instance, the horiatiki salad is often served at the height of summer when tomatoes are at their plumpest and freshest.

Learn how to prepare and make these and many other Greek salads in our Greek salad recipe section here.

Categorized in: Greek Cooking

This post was written by Greek Boston