Sunshine Horiatiki Salad Bowl
This vibrant salad, captured beautifully in the image, brings Mediterranean freshness straight to the table. Its composition showcases a wonderful mix of textures and colours – crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, pungent onions, salty olives, and creamy feta cheese, all mingling in a light dressing. Preparing this dish offers a delightful way for beginner cooks to work with fresh, wholesome ingredients and assemble a truly satisfying meal.
Essential Components
Here’s what is needed to prepare this refreshing salad:
- 🥬 Fresh Lettuce or Mixed Greens (approx. 2 cups, washed and torn)
- 🍅 Cherry Tomatoes (approx. 1 cup, halved)
- 🥒 Cucumber (1 medium, sliced into rounds)
- 🧅 Red Onion (1/4, very thinly sliced into rings or half-rings)
- 🫒 Kalamata Olives (approx. 1/2 cup, pitted) – ensure halal source if necessary
- 🧀 Feta Cheese (approx. 1/2 cup, cubed) – ensure halal source
- 🍋 Fresh Lemon (1, for juice)
- 🏺 Extra Virgin Olive Oil (approx. 1/4 cup)
- 🌿 Dried Oregano (1 tsp)
- 🌿 Fresh Parsley (small handful, finely chopped for garnish)
- 🧂 Salt (to taste)
- 🌶️ Black Pepper (freshly ground, to taste)
Kitchen Tools Required
- 🥣 Large Salad Bowl (a rustic ceramic bowl like the one pictured enhances presentation)
- 🔪 Sharp Knife
- 🪵 Cutting Board
- 🏺 Small Pitcher or Jar with Lid (for the dressing)
- 🍴 Small Whisk or Fork
- 🥄 Measuring Spoons
- 🍽️ Serving Fork
Assembling the Horiatiki Salad
Follow these steps precisely to replicate the salad shown in the image. Remember, working with fresh ingredients is part of the pleasure!
- Prepare the Vegetables: Start by thoroughly washing the lettuce (or mixed greens) and cherry tomatoes. Gently pat the greens dry to prevent a watery salad. Use the sharp knife and cutting board to carefully cut the cherry tomatoes in half. Slice the cucumber into distinct rounds, maintaining a consistent thickness as seen in the photograph. Peel the red onion and slice it very thinly into rings or half-rings.
- Build the Salad Base: Place the prepared lettuce or mixed greens into the large salad bowl. This forms the foundation. Evenly distribute the halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber rounds, and thin red onion slices over the greens. Gently toss them slightly if desired, but the image shows the ingredients somewhat layered for visual appeal.
- Add Olives and Feta: Scatter the Kalamata olives throughout the salad. The dark Kalamata olives provide a striking visual contrast against the other colourful ingredients. Next, add the cubed feta cheese, distributing the cubes evenly over the top of the vegetables and olives. Next, add the cubed feta cheese, distributing the distinct white cubes evenly over the top, ensuring they are nestled among the other ingredients.
- Prepare the Dressing: In the small pitcher or jar, combine the extra virgin olive oil and the juice squeezed from half of the fresh lemon (you can add more later if you prefer a tangier taste). Add the dried oregano, a pinch of salt, and some freshly ground black pepper. Secure the lid if using a jar and shake well, or use a small whisk or fork in the pitcher. Whisking means stirring very rapidly; this action helps the oil and lemon juice, which normally separate, to combine temporarily into a lovely dressing. This technique yields the bright, golden dressing visible in the pitcher.
- Dress and Garnish: Just before serving, drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad. Adding dressing at the last moment ensures the greens stay crisp. Alternatively, serve the dressing alongside in the pitcher, allowing individuals to add their preferred amount. For the final touch, sprinkle the finely chopped fresh parsley over the top as a garnish – these fresh green specks add visual interest and flavour.
- Serve: Present the finished Horiatiki salad immediately, accompanied by the serving fork. The arrangement in the bowl, with all ingredients visible, makes for an inviting dish.
Putting together this salad is a straightforward process that yields a delicious and visually stunning result. The combination of fresh, crisp vegetables with the salty feta and olives, enhanced by the simple lemon-oil dressing, is a classic for good reason.
Take pride in assembling this beautiful bowl. Trying this recipe offers a wonderful introduction to preparing vibrant, healthy meals at home. Feel encouraged to prepare this Horiatiki salad and perhaps share photos of your lovely finished dishes!