Feeling the Heat?? Prepare your favorite cool and healthy Greek salad at home to BEAT the HEAT
A Greek salad is a perfect refreshing and cooling option for hot days. Here's a slightly modified version with a focus on keeping things light and hydrating:
Ingredients:
For the Salad:
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 2 large tomatoes, diced
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 bell pepper (red or green), diced
- 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted
- 200g feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped (for a refreshing twist)
For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Prepare the Vegetables:
- Wash and chop the cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and bell pepper.
- Halve the cherry tomatoes.
- Chop the fresh mint leaves.
- Assemble the Salad:
- In a large salad bowl, combine the diced cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and Kalamata olives.
- Toss the vegetables together gently.
- Add Feta Cheese and Mint:
- Crumble the feta cheese over the salad.
- Sprinkle the chopped fresh mint leaves on top.
- Make the Dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Dress the Salad:
- Pour the dressing over the salad just before serving.
- Gently toss the salad to coat the vegetables and feta cheese evenly with the dressing.
- Serve:
- Transfer the Greek salad to a serving platter or individual bowls.
- Optionally, garnish with additional mint leaves or a few whole olives.
- Chill:
- For an extra cool experience, refrigerate the salad for a short time before serving.
- Enjoy:
- Serve the chilled Greek salad and relish its refreshing flavors on a hot day!
This version with mint adds a touch of freshness, making it even more suitable for warm weather. Adjust the quantities and ingredients based on your preferences, and feel free to get creative with additional seasonal vegetables or herbs.