Description
This vibrant Mediterranean salad is packed with crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, and tangy feta, tossed in a zesty lemon-oregano dressing. It’s the perfect easy summer veggie dish for picnics, BBQs, or a healthy lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium cucumbers (about 10 oz), sliced into half-moons
- 3 medium tomatoes (about 12 oz), chopped or 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 small red onion (about 2.5 oz), thinly sliced
- 1 large bell pepper (any color, about 4 oz), chopped
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives (about 2.5 oz), pitted and sliced or whole
- 3 oz feta cheese (block-style), crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (plus fresh mint or basil, optional)
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1 cup cooked chickpeas, drained
- Optional: 1 medium avocado, diced
- Optional: 1 tbsp capers
Instructions
- Wash and dry all vegetables thoroughly.
- Slice cucumbers into half-moons, chop tomatoes (or halve cherry tomatoes), thinly slice red onion, and chop bell pepper.
- If desired, soak onion slices in cold water for 5-10 minutes to mellow the flavor, then drain and pat dry.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, and dried oregano. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Add cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, and olives to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently to coat.
- Add chopped parsley (and fresh mint or basil, if using). Toss again.
- Crumble feta cheese over the top and give a final gentle toss, or leave feta on top for presentation.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
- Serve immediately, or chill for 10-15 minutes to let flavors meld. Drizzle with extra olive oil before serving if desired.
Notes
For best results, dry veggies thoroughly to prevent a watery salad. Add feta just before serving for optimal texture. Customize with chickpeas, avocado, or your favorite fresh herbs. Prep veggies and dressing ahead, but toss together just before serving for maximum freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1.5 cups
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 500
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
Keywords: mediterranean salad, summer salad, veggie salad, easy salad, healthy salad, picnic salad, gluten-free, vegetarian, feta, cucumber, tomato, olive, lemon dressing