Peasant Salad
Peasant salad is a simple yet delicious salad recipe, that does not include lettuce. If you are looking to think outside the box and enjoy a salad, that tastes fabulous, but it’s not your average salad, this one is when you should try out!
The Best Greek Peasant Salad (Horiatiki)
Greek Peasant Salad is another take on a delicious side dish. Peasant Salad is made using a few basic fruits and vegetables, topped with a delicious dressing to make a very tasty salad.
What Is Peasant Salad?
This is a type of Greek salad made using a piece of cucumber, along with tomatoes, red onion, feta, and olives. The salad is then topped with a delicious dressing made primarily from extra-virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar.
You can add various seasonings for additional flavor if you desire, but this is entirely up to you.
Are your taste buds watering yet? Ours you sure are!
Let’s turn our attention to what ingredients you will need in order to make this delicious Greek Peasant Salad. Then we will go over the step-by-step instructions on how you can prepare the salad on your own.
Greek Peasant Salad Recipe
Ingredients for cucumber salad
Cucumbers. You can use a large cucumber with the seeds removed or you can use miniature cucumbers if you prefer. While large cucumbers are typically cheaper, either one works out well for the salad. It is entirely up to your taste preferences and budget allowances.
Tomatoes. For this recipe, we recommend that you use cherry tomatoes in the Peasant Salad. You may choose to use any other type of tomato, but we have the best results with cherry tomatoes.
Red onion. Red onions help to give added color and flavor to your salad. You may choose to use any type of onion, but our favorite to use is red onions.
Feta. For the best overall quality of your Peasant Salad we recommend that you use a good quality feta for the cheese, cut into cubes.
Olives. Kalamata olives are a black variety of olives. You can pick them up at your local grocery store.
Fresh basil. Fresh basil is an optional ingredient to include in this Peasant Salad, however, we do recommend that you include it for an enhanced flavor.
Fresh mint. Using fresh mint is another optional ingredient, but also adds a delightful minty flavor to your salad when it is included.
It is entirely up to you if you would like to include this. You can typically find fresh mint in the produce section of your grocery store.
Ingredients for the dressing
Extra virgin olive oil. While you may choose to use regular olive oil, we have found that you will receive the best overall results with your dressing when you use extra virgin olive oil.
Red wine vinegar. Red wine vinegar is another ingredient that we strongly recommend you include in your Greek salad dressing. Red wine vinegar can be found at your local grocery store along with regular vinegar, or sometimes in the baking section.
Salt and pepper. A little bit of salt and pepper to taste added in to your dressing goes a long way to flavor the overall taste of your Greek salad dressing.
How to make a Greek Peasant Salad
Step 1: Prep and cut the ingredients
To make the salad, begin by preparing all of the ingredients. Start with your cucumber, and cut the cucumber into slices. Remove any seeds from the cucumber slices. Add cucumber pieces to your mixing bowl.
Next, thinly slice your red onion, and cut your cherry tomatoes into halves. Add each of these to your mixing bowl.
Take your feta cheese and cut it into bite-sized cubes before adding it into your mixing bowl.
Finally, if you are including olives, make sure that they are rinsed, and sliced if desired before adding them to your salad.
Step 2: Prepare the Greek dressing
In a separate small mixing bowl, combine extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk the ingredients until combined.
Step 3: Mix it all up!
Drizzle the salad dressing over your salad. Stir until your salad is coated in the dressing. Top with fresh basil and mint if desired.
Store covered in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Then serve and enjoy.
Tips & Tricks
Prepare in advance. The salad tastes fabulous when it is prepared an hour or two in advance, then stored in the fridge. Preparing in advance allows the salad and dressing to have time for the ingredients to melt together and enhance the flavor of your salad.
Remove the Seeds. It is a very important step to remove the seeds from your cucumbers. By doing so it helps to make your salad much more enjoyable.
Serving Ideas
We have found that the salad is best when enjoyed fresh, where after it has had a chance to chill in the fridge for approximately one hour. When the dressing is added to the salad it is best to eat the salad on the same day.
Storage
Room temperature. This salad may be kept at room temperature for no more than two hours before it should be moved to the fridge.
In the fridge. Once the salad is completely assembled, it is best to be kept in the fridge, in an airtight container, and enjoyed before one or two days have passed.
If your salad does not contain dressing, then it will likely last up to 3 to 4 days when kept in the fridge.
Variations
There are many different variations you can enjoy with this salad. Below are a few of our favorites.
Chickpeas. Adding a can of rinsed and drained chickpeas to your salad make a fabulous addition.
Nuts. Another way to make this salad is to include your favorite type of nuts. Some of our favorites include walnuts, pecans, and pistachios. Feel free to mix it up and add your favorite type of nut to the salad.
Tofu. If you are looking to replace the feta cheese in this recipe, tofu makes a great substitute.
FAQ
What are common Greek salad ingredients?
The most common ingredients for a Greek Peasant salad include cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and olives. Of course, you can mix things up and add any of your favorite ingredients.
How long will this Greek salad keep in the fridge?
On average, this Greek salad when the dressing is added to it will last between one and two days when stored in the fridge. However, if the dressing is not added to the salad, it is likely to last up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
What to serve with Traditional Greek Peasant Salad?
There are many main dishes that you can enjoy alongside your traditional Greek peasant salad. Below are a few of our favorites.
Greek Peasant Salad
Greek peasant salad is an easy and delicious side dish you can enjoy with any meal. If this salad is made primarily from cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and olives. Of course, you can mix things up and add your favorite ingredients as well. We hope you get this recipe a try and let us know what you think!
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Easy Greek Salad Recipe
Peasant Salad
Ingredients
Ingredients for cucumber salad
- 2 medium cucumbers sliced
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 medium red onion
- 8 oz fetta
- ½ cup olives
- Fresh basil to taste
- Fresh mint to taste
Ingredients for the dressing
- ⅔ cup Extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup Red wine vinegar
- ½ tsp Salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp Pepper or to taste
Instructions
- To make the salad begin by preparing all of the ingredients. Start with your cucumber, and cut the cucumber into slices. Remove any seeds from the cucumber slices. Add cucumber pieces to your mixing bowl.
- Next, thinly slice your red onion, and cut your cherry tomatoes into halves. Add each of these to your mixing bowl.
- Take your feta cheese and cut it into bite-size cubes before adding it into your mixing bowl.
- Finally, if you are including olives, make sure that they are rinsed, and sliced if desired before adding them to your salad.
- In a separate small mixing bowl, combine extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk the ingredients until combined.
- Drizzle the salad dressing over your salad. Stir until your salad is coded in the dressing. Top with fresh basil and mint if desired. Two, covered in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Then serve and enjoy.
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