This cucumber tomato and feta salad is a crisp, colorful summer salad made with sweet tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, red onion, tangy Greek feta, chickpeas, fresh oregano, and a bright Greek salad dressing. It's fresh, healthy, and full of Mediterranean flavor, with no lettuce to wilt, making it perfect for summer dinners, BBQs, potlucks, and grilled chicken, salmon, steak, or shrimp.
This easy Greek cucumber and tomato salad proves how good simple ingredients can be when they're fresh, well balanced, and tossed with a bright Greek salad dressing. Sweet tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, salty feta, red onion, fresh oregano, and chickpeas come together in a salad that's juicy, tangy, and refreshing - all the best of summer salads.
Recipe
Cucumber Tomato and Feta salad Highlights
- Colorful and healthy - A fresh and light but satisfying.
- Easy to make ahead - No cooking, great for summer dinners, BBQs, and potlucks.
- No lettuce to wilt - Holds better than a traditional tossed green salad.
- Light but satisfying - Chickpeas add protein and heartiness.
Ingredients You'll Need
Greek salad dressing
- Extra virgin olive oil - Use a good one, since you'll taste it. Greek olive oil is wonderful here.
- Red wine vinegar - The classic choice for bright, tangy Greek flavor.
- Lemon juice - Adds fresh brightness and balances the richness of the olive oil.
- Garlic - Fresh is best for bold flavor.
- Dijon mustard - Just a touch helps the vinaigrette emulsify, adds flavor.
- Dried oregano - The signature Greek herb; a little goes a long way.
Cucumber tomato and feta salad
- Cucumbers - Crisp Persian or mini cucumbers are ideal, or use English cucumber.
- Tomatoes - I prefer grape or cherry variety tomatoes but you can use any good red tomato, like a Roma or heirloom.
- Red onion - Adds bite and balance.
- Greek feta - Salty and tangy, buy a block in brine and cut into cubes or crumble.
- Extra virgin olive oil - The main dressing, use a good one because you'll taste it.
- Dried oregano - The signature Greek herb; a little goes a long way.
- Onion: Red onion provides nice flavor and color, or use a shallot.
If you like Greek-inspired food, try this Greek Tzatziki dip for a healthy snack with raw veggies.
Chef's Tip: Choose Real Greek Feta
Feta cheese is a traditional component of Greek salad, and the best choice is authentic Greek feta made from sheep's milk or a blend of sheep and goat's milk. It's tangy, briny, creamy, and far more flavorful than most cow's milk feta. If you're sensitive to cow's milk dairy, sheep and goat milk feta may be easier to tolerate, but choose what works best for you. For another refreshing summer salad with Greek feta, try this watermelon cucumber salad.
Substitutions and Variations
- Make it a main course - Add chicken, shrimp, or your favorite protein.
- Kalamata olives - Briny, salty contrast; adds instant Greek flavor, buy pitted.
- Bell pepper - Traditional in many Greek village salads; adds crispness and a fresh, slightly bitter note. Green is traditional, yellow and orange peppers add color.
Chef's Tip - How to Soften the Bite of Red Onion
Thinly slice the red onion and soak the slices in ice cold water for 10 minutes. Drain well and pat dry. This mellows the sharp "bite" and makes the onion taste cleaner and sweeter.
How to Make a Cucumber Tomato and Feta Salad
- Step 1: Combine all spices into a large bowl and combine thoroughly with mixture
- Add the dressing ingredients to a jar and shake well or use the blender for a creamier dressing.
Step 3: Assemble the salad. Add everything to a bowl and toss with a little of the Greek dressing, serving more on the side for those who like more.
Serving Suggestions
Use this Greek salad as a side salad or turn it into an entree salad. Add grilled sliced chicken, rotisserie chicken, grilled lamb kabobs, beef kabobs, or even salmon or grilled shrimp. Its up to you! It makes this a terrific summer dinner.
More Great Salad Recipes
Looking for more great salads? Try this homemade Caesar salad with a good and garlicky homemade Caesar dressing. For tips on how to build a better salad, read this post.
If You Make This Greek Salad
If you make this Greek salad, please add your comment. I appreciate your feedback and enjoy hearing from you. If you loved it, please give it a 5-star rating! They really help other readers.
📖 Recipe
Cucumber Tomato and Feta Salad (Greek Salad)
Ingredients
Greek Salad Dressing (makes ¾ cup, extra dressing)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 large garlic clove microplaned or chopped and smeared into paste
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Salad
- 12 ounces mini or Persian cucumbers chopped small
- 12 ounces small cherry or grape tomatoes halved or quarterd
- 7 ½ ounces chickpeas (garbanzo beans) ½ a can, drained and rinsed
- 4 ounces Greek feta cheese crumbled
- ¼ small red onion thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons fresh oregano leaves or parsley
Optional additions
- 20 pitted Greek Kalamata olives
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Instructions
Make the dressing
- Make vinaigrette by placing all ingredients in a jar. Cap tightly and shake well until creamy and smooth or emulsify in a blender.
Make the salad
- Halve the tomatoes, chop the cucumber into small pieces, crumble the feta if not already done. Add to a medium bowl then add the chickpeas, feta, onion, and herbs. Toss gently. Add a few tablespoons of dressing and stir to combine, then serve extra dressing on the side,
Notes
Nutrition
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