What cheese is in a Greek salad?
Quick answer
A traditional Greek salad uses feta, a crumbly, salty white cheese made mainly from sheep’s milk, sometimes mixed with up to 30% goat’s milk. In Greece, the salad is called horiatiki (“village salad”), and the feta is usually served as a whole slab on top.
What’s in a traditional Greek salad
| Ingredient | Notes |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Ripe, cut into chunks |
| Cucumber | Sliced |
| Red onion | Thinly sliced |
| Green bell pepper | Sliced into rings |
| Kalamata olives | Dark purple olives |
| Feta | A thick slab on top |
| Dried oregano | Sprinkled over the feta |
| Extra virgin olive oil | Generously poured |
A classic horiatiki has no lettuce and usually no vinegar; the tomato juices and olive oil make the dressing. Some versions add capers.
What is feta?
| Origin | Greece |
| Milk | Sheep’s milk, or sheep’s with up to 30% goat’s milk |
| Texture | Crumbly, creamy |
| Stored in | Salty brine, which keeps it fresh and adds flavor |
| Protected status | EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) since 2002 |
Because of its PDO status, cheese sold as “feta” in the European Union must be made in specific regions of Greece using traditional methods. Similar cheeses from elsewhere are often labeled “white cheese” or “salad cheese.”
Feta facts
- The word feta means “slice” in Greek.
- Greeks eat more cheese per person than almost any other country, and much of it is feta.
- It’s also used in spanakopita (spinach pie) and baked dishes.
Tip
Keep leftover feta in its brine, or in lightly salted water, to stop it drying out.
For more Mediterranean dishes, see where tiramisu comes from and where paella comes from.
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