Classic Mediterranean Chopped Salad
A fresh, vibrant, and nutrient-packed salad featuring crisp vegetables, tangy feta, and a zesty homemade dressing.
Why You’ll Love This Salad
This Mediterranean Chopped Salad is the perfect balance of freshness and flavor. With crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, red onion, and briny olives, every bite bursts with Mediterranean goodness. The zesty lemon-garlic dressing ties everything together, making it a refreshing yet satisfying dish. Whether served as a light meal or a side dish, this salad is both nutritious and delicious.
How to Make a Flavorful Chopped Salad
The key to a great chopped salad is uniformity. Finely dice all the ingredients so that each bite has a mix of flavors and textures. Using fresh produce enhances the salad’s crispness, while the homemade dressing ensures a bold and tangy finish. You can prepare this salad ahead of time and let it sit for a few minutes, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
Serving Suggestions & Variations
This salad is perfect on its own, but you can customize it in several ways. Add grilled chicken or shrimp for protein, mix in quinoa for a heartier meal, or swap feta for goat cheese for a creamier texture. If you prefer a dairy-free version, skip the cheese and add more olives for a briny kick.
Storage Tips & Meal Prep
This salad stays fresh for up to 2 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, if meal prepping, keep the dressing separate and add it right before serving to maintain the crunch of the vegetables. If making ahead for a gathering, toss everything together 15 minutes before serving to let the flavors blend without losing texture.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes! For the best texture, store the chopped veggies separately from the dressing and mix them before serving.
2. What can I substitute for feta cheese?
Goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, or a dairy-free alternative work great as substitutes.
3. How can I make this a complete meal?
Add protein like grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas to make it more filling.
4. What other dressings pair well with this salad?
A balsamic vinaigrette or a tahini-lemon dressing would be great alternatives.
5. Can I use store-bought dressing instead of homemade?
Absolutely! However, homemade dressing is fresher, healthier, and more flavorful.
Classic Mediterranean Chopped Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 large cucumber diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ red onion finely chopped
- ½ cup Kalamata olives sliced
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
For the Dressing:
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olives, feta cheese, and parsley. Toss to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients.
- Let the salad sit for about 5 minutes to absorb the flavors, then serve fresh!
Notes
- Best Served Fresh: While this salad can be stored, it’s best enjoyed immediately for the freshest flavors.
- Make It Vegan: Omit the feta cheese or substitute it with a dairy-free alternative.
- Dressing Tip: If you prefer a milder garlic flavor, let the dressing sit for 10 minutes before adding it to the salad.
