Imagine a salad so vibrant and flavorful that it instantly whisks you away to a sun-drenched Greek island with just one bite! This isn't just another boring salad - this is a culinary adventure packed with bold Mediterranean flavors, featuring roasted garlic dressing that will make your taste buds dance. Whether you're looking to impress dinner guests or simply treat yourself to a restaurant-quality meal at home, this Greek salad recipe is about to become your new obsession.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Cuisine: Greek
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 red onion, sliced
- 1 cup Kalamata olives
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, roasted
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) for roasting the garlic.
- Prepare the garlic by cutting off the top of the garlic head, drizzling with olive oil, and wrapping in aluminum foil. Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes until soft and golden brown.
- While garlic is roasting, wash and chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Place in a large salad bowl.
- Halve the cherry tomatoes and dice the cucumber into uniform small cubes.
- Thinly slice the red onion and add to the bowl with tomatoes and cucumber.
- Add Kalamata olives and crumbled feta cheese to the vegetable mixture.
- For the dressing, remove roasted garlic from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Squeeze the soft roasted garlic cloves into a small mixing bowl.
- Whisk the roasted garlic with olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Pour the roasted garlic dressing over the salad and toss gently to ensure even coating.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh, vibrant Greek salad.
Tips
- Roast the garlic low and slow to develop deep, rich flavors. Don't rush this step - the caramelization is key to an amazing dressing.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. The simplicity of this salad means each component needs to shine.
- Cut vegetables into uniform sizes for both aesthetic appeal and consistent texture.
- Let the salad sit for 2-3 minutes after dressing to allow flavors to meld together.
- For extra authenticity, use imported Greek feta cheese if possible - the difference in taste is remarkable.
- If you're not a fan of raw red onion, try soaking the slices in cold water for 10 minutes to reduce their sharp bite.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 250kcal
Carbohydrates: 10g
Protein: 8g
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Cholesterol: 25mg
