The traditional Greek chopped salad gets and American spin with the addition of lettuce.
All the flavors you love in a Greek salad - tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, olives, feta cheese and a lemon vinaigrette plus lettuce.
Perfect summer salad!
There is one salad I make all summer long and that is either a Traditional Greek Salad, an American Greek Salad or a Kale Greek Salad.
The traditional salad is also called a chopped salad. All of the veggies are chopped into bite sized pieces and tossed with their dressing.
The American version adds lettuce to the mix.
I don't have a favorite, I love them both. The traditional version is great for make ahead or cookouts because you don't have to worry about the lettuce going limp.
Ingredients
- Green bell pepper - you can also use red, yellow or orange bell peppers.
- Cucumber and tomatoes - buy extras and make our Classic Cucumber Dill Salad and our super easy Tomato and Parsley Salad.
- Olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano and salt and pepper - you can use red wine vinegar in place of the lemon juice and fresh oregano in place of the dried.
- Feta cheese - try to find sheep's milk if you can - save some feta for another classic Greek recipe - Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta!
- Red onion - can use white or yellow, but red is sweeter.
- Kalamata olives - can substitute your favorite olive, but it does change the profile of the salad.
- Lettuce - or spinach or arugula.
Step by step instructions.
Whisk together the dressing ingredients: olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, and salt and pepper.
Thinly slice the red onions and add them to the bowl to let them marinate while you prepare the rest of the vegetables. This allows them to soften, mellow and quick pickles them.
Make a decision if you want your veggies sliced or diced. I chose to slice mine.
I cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise and then sliced them thinly, sliced the peppers and sliced the tomatoes.
Pit and cut the olives in half or quarters and tear or thinly slice the lettuce.
Add the lettuce to the bowl on top of the red onions and dressing.
Add the cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, olives and crumble the feta cheese on top.
Expert tip - if you want to transport this salad, put the harder veggies on top of the onion mixture and top with the lettuce. Then just toss when you arrive. This will keep the lettuce from getting soggy in the dressing.
Toss the salad until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
This is such and easy and refreshing summer salad! We actually make it year round though using hot house cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.
Check out my Salads Category for even more light and delicious salads like this one!
Recipe
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Greek Salad with Lettuce
Ingredients
- 1 green pepper thinly sliced or diced
- 1 cucumber thinly sliced or diced
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced or diced
- 3 tomatoes sliced into wedges
- 20 kalamata olives pitted, halved or quartered
- 4 ounces feta cheese crumbled
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 3 cups lettuce torn or sliced
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, oregano and salt and pepper. Add the red onion slices and let marinate while you prep the rest of the ingredients.
- Slice or dice the green bell peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Quarter or halve the kalamata olives. Tear or slice the lettuce.
- Place the lettuce on top of the red onion mixture, add the rest of the salad ingredients and toss to combine.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Notes
Video
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2011 and has been updated in 2021.
Deanne Mineau says
I made this for a dinner at friends last night, and so I followed your tips for travelling across Parksville on Vancouver Island. It was great to marinate the onions in the dressing, and mix everything once ready to eat. Thanks so much. Delicious, and very pretty as well.
Sarah says
Greek salad is my absolute favorite and I honestly like all versions of it. Having it with lettuce is wonderful.
Ellen J Pilch says
That looks good. Thanks for the recipe. I hope all your cats are doing well.
Katie says
Greek salad is my favorite!
Audrey says
Really refreshing salad!
Amy says
Thanks for the recipe! I'm going to go find some sheep's milk feta!
Kirby says
What a perfect summer salad!
grace says
the moment has passed and greek salads are no longer #1, am i right? meh, they'll be back on top before too long. 🙂
Deb in Hawaii says
I love a good Greek salad and this one looks delicious--perfect for a warm day. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays. I posted it and last weeks together (even without emails!) 😉
CherylK says
The only thing I'm missing is the feta so I'll zip over to the market and pick some up. This seems like it would be a perfect spring salad for this weekend. Who doesn't love Greek salads, for goodness sakes!?
Marjie says
I'd have to declaratively make this bold statement: "Salads are my favorite salads."
Can I have mine without olives?
Tina @ MOMS CRAZY COOKING says
I would love to invite you over to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS linky party for Summer Salads. This recipe would be perfect, we hope you stop by and link it up! Thanks a million!
Lyndsey says
Greek salads are always a delight. Good to know that we can get through that list of salads this time of year.
Chris says
My favorite is Caesar salad, but only because it's what I'm into right now. Had it for dinner last night and lunch today. But like you, there are so many I like.
Big Dude says
I second what Cathy said
Barbara says
Oops...that last comment was mine, Pam.
Barbara says
You made me smile at the Waldorf salad. My mother used to love that....she made it for herself all the time. I don't think I've made one in years!
Mrs B says
Greek Salad is one of my favorites too. I like the rest that you listed as well, but at least for the moment, I'd have to rank Greek at the #1 spot.
Following from Foodie Firday. Love to have you stop by and say hello!
~Mrs B
Nancy says
I love Greek salad! My favorite lately has been one with beets and crumbled blue cheese. Unfortunately my husband hates beets, so I don't get it often.
Lynda says
Salads are a favorite with me too and I'd never turn down this greek salad. Can't wait for fresh tomatoes to ripen for lots of summer salads!
Cathy says
Yum, I have no problem saying this is my favorite salad. You make Greek salad just the way I like it, lots of feta and olives. Best of all, it goes together in just minutes.
Joanne says
Anything with feta makes me super pleased! You can never go wrong with greek.
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says
I'm a big salad lover as you can tell by my blog. Greek salads are terrific with or without the lettuce.
Have a wonderful Memorial day Pam.
Sam
hip-chick says
yum!
Melynda says
That salad looks so fresh and inviting, I fail (often) on getting them to my table.....
Kim says
I think you named all my favorite salads too. I'm currently obsessed with caesar, but I never turn down a greek.
Kyle says
Sooo...how did the mammo go??
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
Any salad with kalamata olives goes high on my list of favorite salads!