greekcucumbersalad

Greek Cucumber Salad with Feta

Fresh vegetables marinate in a homemade Greek vinaigrette in this easy Greek cucumber salad with feta cheese. This crowd-pleasing cold salad is perfect for summer barbecues and get-togethers. It is quick to throw together, healthy, and delicious.

Cucumber salad is a delicious side dish any time of the year, but it’s best on a hot summer day. Enjoy this salad with grilled meats, burgers, or sandwiches. Toss it into grains like farro or cold pasta.

Ingredients:

Greek Salad Dressing:

  • 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt plus more to taste, if desired
  • freshly cracked black pepper as desired
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill minced

Cucumber Salad:

  • 1 large English cucumber about 4 cups
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • ½ cup red onion thinly sliced
  • ⅓ cup kalamata olives halved
  • 3 oz feta cheese diced

Instructions:

  1. Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir in the minced oregano and dill.
  2. Place the cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and feta cubes in a large mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over the vegetable-cheese mixture and toss until everything is coated and combined.

Ingredient Substitutions:

  • English Cucumber – Persian Cucumbers
  • Cherry Tomatoes – Grape Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes (chopped)
  • Kalamata Olives – Black Olives, Green Olives
  • Feta Cheese – Goat Cheese, Chopped Mozzarella, Mozzarella Pearls
  • Red Onion – White Onion, Scallions
  • Red Wine Vinegar – Sherry Vinegar, Champagne Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar
  • Fresh Herbs – Mint, Parsley
  • Add-Ins – Greek Pepperoncini, Artichoke Hearts

Variations:

  • Add Protein – Toss one can of drained and rinsed chickpeas or one cup of cubed, grilled chicken into the salad. 
  • Over Greens – Serve cucumber salad over a bed of arugula, kale, crisp lettuce, or baby spinach.
  • Toss in Grains – Stir in one cup of cooked farro, quinoa, or orzo.

Expert Tips:

  1. Mix everything in one bowl to save dishes. Stir the salad dressing together first in a large bowl. Add the other ingredients into the bowl with the dressing and toss everything to coat.
  2. Taste the dressing before tossing the salad ingredients together. Add additional salt if desired.

Store cucumber salad in an airtight container for up to 2 days. It is best to store the tossed fresh vegetables and cheese without the dressing, if possible, to prevent the cucumber from becoming soggy.