Sunday, August 19, 2012

The Dinner Table: A Greek Salad

 Oftentimes when I really want to remember the delicious food that we ate while in the Greek islands, I close my eyes, feel the breeze of the Aegean Sea and specifically remember biting into the juiciest, most amazing tomato that I had ever tasted, all while the sunset overhead.  
Prior to visiting Greece, I had quite a different idea in my head of what a Greek salad consisted of, oftentimes it was mixed greens (or even worse iceburg lettuce), crumbled feta, sliced black olives, and tomato. There was definitely something lost in translation when this salad started appearing on the menu in the United States.  The Greeks incorporate thickly sliced cucumber, sweet cherry tomatoes, diced feta, thinly sliced red onion, capers and Kalamata olives.  They then season it with a drizzling of olive oil and dried or fresh oregano.  Greek salad according to the Greeks, in my opinion is how salad should be; they combine the freshest ingredients and flavors that visitors will dream about and try to recreate for the rest of their life.  Continue for recipe...

Ingredients:

1 block feta cheese, diced (preferably sheep's milk)
1 large cucumber, diced (preferably hothouse)
1 pint cherry tomatoes 
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh oregano or 1 tablespoon dried
Extra virgin olive oil (preferably Greek)
Garnish with capers and Kalamata olives (if desired)

Serves 2 to 4 people.

Chop/slice all ingredients and place into a bowl, stir to mix together.  Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle oregano and garnish with capers and Kalamata olives if using.  


*All photographs by Alison

16 comments:

  1. Oh my God…This is so so cool. Your blog totally rocks!!!
    Best Regards
    Miss Margaret Cruzemark
    http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com/

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  2. looks really delicious can't wait to go to Santorin:)
    xx Kate

    http://style-department.blogspot.com

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  3. Thanks for sharing, I might try this! It looks easy enough for even a kitchen newbie like myself. Do you think it would still be good with the red onions cooked? Raw onions hurt my stomach. Or would it be better to not use them at all?

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    Replies
    1. I suggest not using onions at all if you can't have them raw. take it from a Greek! ;)

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    2. Thank you Eleonor!! I would recommend not adding them either if they bother your stomach:)

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  4. that looks great!

    http://fashion-babel.blogspot.com

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  5. Ah!You've tasted the real thing!
    Which islands have you visited?
    xxx
    Eleonor

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    Replies
    1. Hi Eleonor!

      Yes, you are so lucky that you have access to all of these fresh ingredients! Greece will hold a dear place in my heart for forever...we visited Paros and Santorini in May, I am dying to go back:)
      xo
      Alison

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  6. This is the authentic version!!!

    Loving your blog,
    -Lauren
    http://adornlafemme.blogspot.com/

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  7. Yum...this looks delicious and perfect for Summer!!

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  8. Super duper delicioso! I love Greek salads- so much flavor :) xx Sallie

    Www.bluebonnetsforsal.com

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  9. My favourite Salad as a die hard Greek girl during the summer!!

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  10. That looks SO good!!!
    -amy
    www.dreamingincashmere.com

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