Here is a recipe for a quick and delicious Greek village Salad (Horiatiki Salata)
This is a wonderful salad to share at the table with family, friends and loved ones. It is one of the staples of a healthy Mediterranean Greek diet, which research has shown contributes to living a healthier and longer life.
I just love the sweet crunch of the red peppers, the refreshing cucumbers, the succulent vine ripe tomatoes, the creamy, crumbly feta cheese and the Mediterranean sun-kissed Kalamata olives. For dressing I use lemon, extra virgin olive oil, oregano and garlic salt to taste. If available, I prefer to use sheep’s milk feta which is softer. If not, then try goat milk feta. In Greece, most feta is a combination of sheep and goats milk. The growing popularity of Greek Salads in US restaurants is actually an American variation which includes lettuce. This recipe is for a traditional “Horiatiki Salata” (Village Salad), most common in Greece, which does not include lettuce.
For a total mini Greek vacation play Greek music from “Zorba” and dance your way to the table. Greek music just seems to make mealtime more lively! As you eat your Grecian Goddess Village Salad visualize yourself feeling like a goddess and sitting in a taverna (restaurant) on a beautiful Greek island overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
– You can also watch the documentaries I hosted in beautiful Greece called A Greek Island’s Destination Cooking Class (Santorini, Greece) which was chosen as #1 New York Times' About.com culinary gift. And, Crete: Under the Grecian Sun, filmed on the Greek island of Crete, which was chosen as the opening night selection for the London Greek Film Festival and the Los Angeles Taste Awards. Watch more video clips of my work. Opa!
THE GRECIAN GODDESS GREEK VILLAGE SALAD By Cynthia Daddona
3-4 tomatoes quartered 6 oz feta cheese in cubes 1 medium sized cucumber sliced and quartered 1 sliced onion (optional) 2 medium sized red peppers sliced 1/2 cup-1 cup Kalamata olives 3-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil Sprinkle of dried, ground oregano, Squeeze of 1/2 lemon 1 tablespoon of vinegar, preferably apple cider vinegar Sea salt to taste Assembly Instructions:
Mix bite size sliced ingredients, olives and toss with olive oil, oregano, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and sea salt to taste. Add feta cheese on top and serve. Optional creative additions As I mentioned, although traditional Greek village salads don't include greens, you could add arugula (also known as rocket) or field salad greens. Other possible additions include carrots, red cabbage, garbanzo beans, avocado, sardines, nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds or whatever you might prefer. Do remember, this salad is delicious as is. So enjoy!
And as they say in Greek - Kali Orexi (Good eating)!
Please credit this recipe to its creator – Cynthia Daddona, of CynthiaDaddona.com,. On her website you can sign-up for her e-Newsletter to receive wellbeing recipes on food, life, love and travel. For more delicious Mediterranean-Inspired gluten free recipes go to Cynthia's food page at https://www.moderndaygoddess.com/eats. Cynthia also hosted several independent culinary travel documentaries and videos in Italy and Greece that have been honored with awards and appeared in US and UK film festivals. To see video clips of her work and trailers of her culinary travel documentaries (Under the Grecian Sun, filmed in Crete, A Greek Islands Destinations Cooking Class filmed in Santorini and her popular video short Cooking with Mama Agata in Ravello Italy) you can go to her website or CelebrateGreece.com
Bio: Cynthia is an award-winning on-camera host/interviewer, wife, wellness author, lifestyle & travel journalist, advocate, and actress (comedy and drama). Her experiences includes hosting a 6-part live TV segment called Wellbeing for the Body & Soul on AZTV in the US (reaching 2 million) and a 13-part radio podcast called Romancing The Table on Voice America Women's Network. As a freelance journalist (on-camera, print, radio and online ) she has traveled to the Mediterranean and interviewed over 100 notables and people from all walks of life in the field of entertainment, personal growth, food and wellness. Her work has included traveling through the US, Mexico, Mediterranean and UK. She has also presented and shared her wellbeing wisdom and /or demonstrated her recipes, foodie and spiritual wisdom at festivals, spas, food events, in classes, workshops and on video,TV, radio and online. Cynthia can be contacted through her website's contact form.
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