Cretan Salad

Experience the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean with this authentic Cretan Salad, a rustic yet refreshing dish that captures the essence of Crete's traditional cuisine. Featuring crunchy Cretan barley rusks softened with a tangy splash of red wine vinegar, this salad is layered with juicy tomato wedges, crisp cucumber slices, sweet red onions, and earthy green bell peppers. Finished with creamy crumbled feta, briny olives, and a drizzle of aromatic extra virgin olive oil infused with oregano, every bite is a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. Ready in just 15 minutes, this quick and healthy recipe is perfect as a light main course or a colorful appetizer for any Mediterranean-inspired meal.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:15 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 pieces Cretan barley rusks
• 2 large Tomatoes
• 1 large Cucumber
• 1 medium Green bell pepper
• 0.5 medium Red onion
• 100 grams Olives
• 150 grams Feta cheese
• 60 ml Extra virgin olive oil
• 30 ml Red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Start by preparing the vegetables: wash the tomatoes, cucumber, and green bell pepper thoroughly.

Step 2

Cut the tomatoes into bite-sized wedges.

Step 3

Peel the cucumber and slice it into thin rounds.

Step 4

Remove the seeds and core from the green bell pepper, then slice it into thin strips.

Step 5

Thinly slice half of the red onion.

Step 6

Arrange the Cretan barley rusks at the bottom of a large salad bowl or platter.

Step 7

Drizzle half of the red wine vinegar over the rusks to slightly soften them.

Step 8

Add the tomato wedges, cucumber slices, green pepper strips, and red onion slices over the rusks.

Step 9

Scatter the olives over the salad.

Step 10

Crumble the feta cheese over the top.

Step 11

In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, remaining red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 12

Drizzle the dressing evenly over the salad.

Step 13

Toss gently to combine, ensuring the rusks are well distributed amongst the vegetables and cheese.

Step 14

Serve immediately as a refreshing appetizer or a light main course.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1334.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1396.3

Total Fat 102.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 30.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.0g
Cholesterol 133.5mg	0%
Sodium 3953.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 96.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 17.8g	0%
Total Sugars 22.2g
Protein 35.6g	0%

Vitamin D 24IU	0%
Calcium 1002.9mg	0%
Iron 12.3mg	0%
Potassium 1996.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 63.7%

Protein: 9.8%

Carbs: 26.5%