Mediterranean Salad Recipe

You can never go wrong with a good salad, whether it’s a zesty tomato avocado salad, a hearty chicken salad with grapes, or this fresh and colorful Mediterranean salad.

I almost always serve a salad with dinner, but sometimes plain old lettuce can get boring. This Mediterranean salad skips the lettuce in favor of a pile of fresh chopped veggies instead. It takes just minutes to put together and pairs perfectly with grilled steak, roasted chicken and fresh seafood.

How do you make Mediterranean Salad?

Place cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olives, green bell peppers and parsley in a large bowl. Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, herbs and spices to make the dressing. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss gently to coat. Top the salad with feta cheese. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley for garnish, then serve and enjoy.

Tips for the perfect salad

You can use regular cucumbers, English cucumbers or small Persian cucumbers in this recipe. If you use standard cucumbers with waxy skin, you’ll want to peel them first. There is no need to peel English or Persian cucumbers. I buy a block of feta cheese and crumble it myself for the best flavor. The tubs of crumbled cheese at the store are often coated in anti caking agents and I find they’re not quite as good as the block variety. This salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. My recipe calls for green bell peppers because they’re often found in Mediterranean style salads. Green peppers can sometimes have a stronger flavor, so feel free to use a sweet red, orange or yellow pepper if you prefer. I typically use cherry or grape tomatoes because I always have them on hand, but it’s also fine to use diced Roma tomatoes. You can prepare the salad dressing up to 3 days before you make the salad. I often double or triple the dressing so that I have it on hand all week long. I use a mandoline to shave the red onion into very thin slices.

Mediterranean Salad flavor variations

This salad is great as-is, but you can add other ingredients to make the flavors your own.

Protein: Make your Mediterranean salad into a main course by adding grilled diced chicken, cooked shrimp, sliced steak or canned chickpeas. Vegetables: Amp up the nutrition by adding in some extra veggies such as avocado, shredded carrots, spinach or mixed salad greens. You can also add jarred pepperoncini for an extra zesty flavor. Herbs: Swap out the parsley for dill, green onions or fresh basil. Cheese: Not a fan of feta cheese? Try shaved parmesan or crumbled goat cheese instead.

Mediterranean salad is the perfect blend of crunchy veggies, creamy and savory cheese and zesty dressing. It’s a healthy addition to any meal that everyone is sure to love.