Greek Salad is crispy, crunchy, and loaded with the flavor of simple Greek dressing. This is salad is so simple and filling with the addition of protein in it. For the dressing, no prep work is needed. While serving you can mix olive oil and lemon juice. Kalamata olives with brine take it to the traditional way. Usually, it consists of very simple ingredients like chickpeas, tomato, olives, onions, green bell pepper. No lettuces or spinach are added. I added few leaves and red peppers to it. If you want to have a traditional Greek salad stick with green peppers and red onions.
I have made both vegan and traditional versions. Combine all the ingredients leaving the feta cheese separately in a bowl. While serving if they want they can add feta. For this type of salad, they don’t use crumbled feta. Only feta blocks are used after slicing them into small rectangular pieces.
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Food for the thought
“It is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple.”
― Rabindranath Tagore
Benefits of the ingredients (source)
Chickpeas As a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Additionally, they are high in protein.
Cucumbers are low in calories and high in nutrients. It contains antioxidants
Olives have anti-inflammatory properties. Helps to naturally relieve pain.
Video for Greek salad
Steps for making Greek salad
- Mix olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, pepper, and salt to taste in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl combine cooked/canned chickpeas, tomatoes, green peppers, olives, onions. I added spinach(optional)
- while serving, combine the dressing and vegetables. Mix well. Serve.
Variations
I have used variations like adding spinach and red peppers. Try to add vegetables that goes with chickpeas and feta.
The other salads you may be interested
Quinoa salad with chickpeas
Thai Pineapple & Cucumber salad In wonton Cups
Green papaya salad | Vegan som tum
Colorful Russian salad with Greek yogurt
Warm French Lentil salad
Questions
How to make the Greek salad vegan?
Do not mix feta. Store feta cheese as blocks in a separate bowl. If your family members/ friends are not vegan they can mix it any time.
what is the dressing for Greek salad?
It is very simple. And there is no necessary to mix and keep. If serving for a big party you can keep olive oil, lemon juice on the table as people can mix as per their taste with oregano. If making the dressing, combine olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, pepper, and salt to taste.
Can I use canned chickpeas?
Absolutely. If using canned chickpeas, drain the water completely and check for the salt level in the dressing. Do not throw away the water. You can whisk it and use it as a dressing for other salads.
How to boil dry chickpeas?
Soak chickpeas/garbanzo beans overnight or 8 hours. Rinse, and pressure cook in Instant pot or cooker for 15 minutes. I would strongly recommend pressure cooking for cooking beans. It saves you a bunch of time. If cooking on stockpot. Boil 4-5 times water than chickpeas and allow the beans to cook until soft. It will take an hour. Do check between for water level.
Can I freeze the salad?
Yes. You can. Do not mix the dressing in a salad while freezing. Avoid cucumbers. The water content in cucumbers does not freeze well. You will not get the taste, If you are freezing, freeze chickpeas, olives, and bell peppers. Before using defrost them in the refrigerator overnight. Then microwave high for one minute. Mix onions, cucumbers, feta cheese, and dressing and enjoy.
How to meal-prep the Greek salad?
Cook the chickpeas if you are using dry beans. Chop the vegetables and place them in separate containers with chickpeas. Mix dressing in small bottles and refrigerate them. Dressing stays good for one week. While serving or packing, combine feta cheese. Just before eating salad mix the dressing.
Recipe card for making Greek Salad
Greek Salad
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Chickpeas (drained) canned or cooked
- 1/2 English cucumbers sliced
- 1/2 cup green pepper sliced lengthwise
- 20 grape tomatoes halved
- 10 kalmata olives
- 1/4 cup onions thinly sliced
- spinach handful, optional
- 4 slices feta cheese if using
For dreesing
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tbsp oregano
- pepper and salt to taste
Instructions
For dressing
- Combine olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, pepper, and salt in a bowl and keep aside.
For salad
- In a mixing bowl, add chickpeas, cucumber, onions, green peppers, olives, feta cheese(if using), and spinach.
- Combine the seasoning while serving.