Easy Greek Salad ~ A humble salad of fresh tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers with feta crumbles in a red wine vinaigrette.
The first time I was presented this Easy Greek Salad, I turned my nose up at it. You see, my entire life I have hated raw tomatoes. Traumatic childhood events by way of being forced to them scarred me so deeply, that I was repulsed if I got even the slightest bit of tomato in a bite of food. This scarring occurred when I was about 6 or 7 and last until I was 37. Yes folks, 30 years of pure raw tomato hatred.I have always loved canned tomatoes and tomato products in any form. Ketchup was a food group. Red sauce is what flows through my veins instead of blood.
But raw, NO THANK YOU!
So when my Aunt Gloria made this salad for a family reunion a several of years ago, I had no desire for the tomatoes, but the rest looked great to me. I enjoyed a hearty tomato-less serving and called it a day. Flash forward now to last summer, I had grown my first garden.
I grew several plants of tomatoes because I cook with them all the time.My garden was laden with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. I always have onions and feta on hand so I decided I would make this dish for my guests and was planning on just picking around the tomatoes like usual.However, something possessed me to want to try a tomato.
They were so vibrantly ruby, deeper in color than I had ever seen in a store-bought tomato. The flesh even looked different to me. I reached my fork over to my friend’s plate and in a swift, non-Michelle like manner took a tomato and ate it.
What happened next surprised me and everyone else. I went for another, and another, until I ate every tomato off my friend’s plate. I was so excited over this, I even made a Facebook status update. Friends and family, near and far, commented on this, not believing it to be true.It’s been a year now. I still eat raw tomatoes. But I can only eat fresh, homegrown tomatoes. Those from the store are still repulsive to me. They lack in flavor. Family still watch in awe as I willing put them in my mouth and don’t spit them into a napkin. Folks, I have grown as a human.
This salad is my absolute favorite summer dish because I love each component equally now. I usually dice up all the components and toss them together. I decided to be fancy and attempt a gourmet plating.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe tomatoes; sliced or diced
- 1 cucumber; sliced or diced
- 1/2 red onion; sliced or diced.
- 1/2 cup feta cheese; crumbled
- 11/2 tbsp . extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp . red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp . seasoned salt +/-
- 1/2 tsp . freeze-dried dill
- Black pepper; to taste
Instructions
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Decide on plating, either slice or dice.
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Assemble on a platter or add diced veggies to a bowl.
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Add the feta.
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In a small bowl, whisk until emulsified the olive oil, vinegar, seasoned salt, dill, and black pepper.
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Either drizzle the dressing over the platter or pour over the veggies in the blow and toss them gently.
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Chill until ready to serve.
16 Comments
janelle
September 3, 2014 at 6:54 amlove the presentation on this! would be great at party
Michelle
September 3, 2014 at 10:49 amThank you Janelle. I wanted to pretend I was fancy.
The Food Hunter
September 3, 2014 at 9:46 amI love how easy this is!
Michelle
September 3, 2014 at 10:50 amI’m with you FH. I love the ease of this dish.
Prairie Gal Cookin'
September 3, 2014 at 3:56 pmThis looks amazing – I would seriously love to have some of it right now! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Michelle
September 7, 2014 at 11:14 pmThank you PGC! It’s easy and light, but satisfying. Enjoy.
Jo
September 4, 2014 at 1:16 amLove this post – I too hated tomatoes until recent years. Actually it was a holiday in lanzarote which changed my mind as their tommies are as you say, and to die for. Love a Greek salad myself – cover anything in feta and I’ll eat it 😉
Michelle
September 4, 2014 at 10:55 pmI am always happy to find another person who has dislike toms like I have. But I am happy to like them now. And I am with you, put feta on anything and I am sold. I am using feta in a new dish tomorrow…It will either be awesome or horrible. 🙂
Christine
February 19, 2015 at 2:36 amYour tomato dislike reminds me of my sister! I love them…she avoids them like the plague. Maybe I should try this recipe with her!
Michelle
February 19, 2015 at 1:08 pmI feel her! I’m still leary of non-homegrown toms.
Mandy @Mandy's Recipe Box
February 19, 2015 at 6:53 amI love greek salad. This looks so good!
Michelle
February 19, 2015 at 1:08 pmThanks Mandy, this one is super simple.
Joanie @ ZagLeft
February 19, 2015 at 7:54 amHomegrown tomatoes are the best. I love the look of this salad too, simple and elegant – I’d serve it at a party or enjoy it with my own dinner.
Michelle
February 19, 2015 at 1:09 pmThank you Joanie! It’s easy and delicious.
Anna | ANNAdventure
February 19, 2015 at 8:37 amWow these look so delish!!! 🙂
Michelle
February 19, 2015 at 1:09 pmThank you Anna.