Easy Greek Cucumber Salad With Feta

When I reach for a salad, it is often full of Mediterranean ingredients and flavors. This Greek cucumber salad is no exception. Like my Greek orzo salad with feta and chickpeas, this refreshing side dish is loaded with fresh vegetables and homemade Greek salad dressing.

The salad starts with crisp cucumber, juicy tomatoes, sharp red onion, kalamata olives, and tangy feta cheese. The fresh vegetables and cheese marinate in a flavorful homemade vinaigrette of olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and fresh herbs.

Like quinoa salad with chickpeas, this Mediterranean salad boasts bold, vibrant flavors and delicious textures. Serve this refreshing salad at your next barbecue or hot summer day.

Easy Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe

Cucumber salad is always a crowd-pleasing side. This delicious cucumber salad rendition adds feta cheese and fresh herbs. The simple cucumber salad recipe is customizable. See ingredient suggestions for some ideas. You will love the fresh vegetables and refreshing taste of this recipe.

• Crisp, Fresh Vegetables - The raw vegetables retain their shape and crisp texture.
• Delicious Greek Salad Dressing - The herbaceous, fresh salad dressing brings this whole salad together.
• Tangy Feta Cheese - Tiny cubes of feta cheese marinate in the vinaigrette packing the cheese with flavor and softening its texture.
• Fresh Herbs - The fresh herbs (oregano and dill) in the Greek dressing have a noticeable impact on the delicious flavor of this simple salad.

Ingredients

• English Cucumber (chopped) - English cucumber is sweeter than the common cucumber. Peeling it is unnecessary because of its thin skin, making prep even more straightforward.
• Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
• Kalamata Olives - This recipe uses kalamata olives to keep this Greek salad authentic.
• Red Onion (sliced thin) - Onion adds a nice bite and sharp flavor. Make sure to cut the onion thin.
• Feta Cheese - You will see many recipes call for crumbled feta. The cubed feta cheese holds its shape much better when tossed with the other ingredients.
• Fresh Herbs (minced) - Fresh herbs bring this salad to a new level. Fresh oregano and dill permeate the dressing with fragrance.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - Make sure to use high-quality olive oil for the dressing to avoid a bitter flavor.
• Red Wine Vinegar - Red wine vinegar is sweet and complements the olive oil.
• Lemon Juice - Use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Dijon Mustard - Use seeded or unseeded.
• Fresh Garlic (minced)
• Salt and Coarse Black Pepper

See the recipe card for the ingredient quantities.

Instructions

1. Make the Dressing - Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir in the minced oregano and dill.
2. Place the cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and feta cubes in a large mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over the vegetable-cheese mixture and toss until everything is coated and combined.

Ingredient Substitutions

• English Cucumber - Persian Cucumbers
• Cherry Tomatoes - Grape Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes (chopped)
• Kalamata Olives - Black Olives, Green Olives
• Feta Cheese - Goat Cheese, Chopped Mozzarella, Mozzarella Pearls
• Red Onion - White Onion, Scallions
• Red Wine Vinegar - Sherry Vinegar, Champagne Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar
• Fresh Herbs - Mint, Parsley
• Add-Ins - Greek Pepperoncini, Artichoke Hearts

Variations

• Add Protein - Toss one can of drained and rinsed chickpeas or one cup of cubed, grilled chicken into the salad.
• Over Greens - Serve cucumber salad over a bed of arugula, kale, crisp lettuce, or baby spinach.
• Toss in Grains - Stir in one cup of cooked farro, quinoa, or orzo.

What to Serve with Cucumber Salad

Cucumber salad is a delicious side dish any time of the year, but it's best on a hot summer day. Enjoy this salad with grilled meats, burgers, or sandwiches. Toss it into grains like farro or cold pasta. I especially love it with slow-cooker Greek chicken and slow-cooker BBQ chicken thighs.

Suggested Equipment

• Pyrex Prepware 4-Quart Rimmed Glass Mixing Bowl
• Chef’s Knife
• Cutting Board
• Large Tongs

Storage

Store cucumber salad in an airtight container for up to 2 days. It is best to store the tossed fresh vegetables and cheese without the dressing, if possible, to prevent the cucumber from becoming soggy.

Delicious Salad Recipes

• Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
• Italian Pasta Salad
• Healthy Farro Salad
• Summer Pesto Pasta Salad
• Strawberry Arugula Salad

Expert Tips

1. Mix everything in one bowl to save dishes. Stir the salad dressing together first in a large bowl. Add the other ingredients into the bowl with the dressing and toss everything to coat.
2. Taste the dressing before tossing the salad ingredients together. Add additional salt if desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Greek salad so good?Greek salad combines fresh, nutrient-dense ingredients from vegetables to olive oil-based dressing. It is healthy, flavorful, and satisfying.

Are cucumbers peeled for salads?English and Persian cucumbers are thin-skinned and do not need to be peeled. Regular market cucumbers are thick-skinned and bitter. It is best to peel common market cucumbers before adding them to salads.

How do you keep cucumber salad from getting soggy?Dressing the salad close to service is best to prevent soggy cucumbers in a salad. Fresh cucumber will retain its crisp texture for about 24 hours once marinated before losing its freshness.

If you make the recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe, and let me know what you think in the comments below! Take pictures, tag them, and share them with me on Instagram or Facebook.