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This easy, traditional Greek Salad (or Horiatiki) is made with fresh summer produce and an easy vinaigrette, and topped with delicious and healthy sardines!
This post is sponsored by King Oscar.
It's July, and the summer's thick, relentless heat is at full blast-- and so are the vegetable gardens.
Summer vegetables have burst into full production-- the farmer's markets are packed, and my little garden is bursting at its seams. And so, it seems only fitting to eat these gorgeous, plump veggies at every single opportunity.
This easy Greek Salad features summer vegetables, feta cheese, and flavor-packed sardines, all drizzled with a quick and delicious vinaigrette.
Want more sardine recipes ideas? Read this: How to Eat Canned Sardines
What's In a Traditional Greek Salad?
A traditional Greek salad-- or horiatiki-- lets the vegetables shine. It's made with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, feta, and a little olive oil-based dressing. If you've ever tried the Bulgarian shopska salad-- it's very similar.
A traditional horiatiki Greek salad does NOT have lettuce.
Why Do Some Greek Salads Have Lettuce?
Because it's delicious with lettuce!
Traditional or not, many of us have always eaten Greek salad served on a bed of romaine lettuce. It adds a little bulk to the salad, and gives you an opportunity to eat even more vegetables.
Make this salad with or without the romaine-- it's totally up to you.
Greek Salad with Sardines
Another (albeit untraditional) way to serve a Greek salad is to add sardines! These oily fish add a healthy dose of protein to this vegetable dish, and turn this side salad into a main course.
When you create a dish with simple, unaltered ingredients, it's important to use high-quality ingredients-- especially when it comes to canned fish.
For this Greek Salad, I used wild-caught Brisling sardines from King Oscar. These delicious, tiny fish are wood-smoked and hand-packed in extra-virgin olive oil, and their rich flavor complements the vegetables in this salad perfectly.
LOVE SARDINES? TRY THESE TOO: MINI SARDINE FISH CAKES, PASTA CON LE SARDE, AND FISH TIKKA MASALA.
Can I Make This Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes! You can make this about an hour ahead of time, and simply wait to add the dressing and the fish until it's time to serve. It's perfect for picnics and cookouts, as the vinaigrette will be fine at room temperature for a few hours.
How to Make a Greek Salad (Horiatiki)
There's not much to it! Simply prep your veggies, whisk together the vinaigrette, and grab a can of sardines. Serve this refreshing and light vegetable salad this summer as an easy (and light) vegetable dish.
Want more SEAFOOD SALADS? Try these:
- King Crab Recipe: Crab Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
- Salmon Caesar Salad
- Canned Mackerel Recipe: Niçoise Salad
- Seared Tuna Nicoise Salad
Want more SARDINES? Try these:
- Fish Wraps: An Easy, Healthy Lunch
- Albondigas de Pescado: Fish Meatballs
- A Canned Sardine Recipe: Mini Fish Cakes
Greek Salad (Horiatiki) with Sardines
Ingredients
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup kalamata olives
- 9 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 Persian cucumbers, peeled + thickly sliced
- 8 pepperoncini peppers
- 7 ounce block of feta cheese
- 4 ounces sardines, oil discarded (1 tin) King Oscar Brisling sardines recommended
- 1 head romaine lettuce, roughly cut (optional)
Vinaigrette:
- ¼ cup sherry or red wine vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 lemon, juiced
- pinch sea salt
- 2 sprigs fresh oregano
Instructions
- Soak thinly sliced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes.
- Cut feta into large cubes. Cut into 4 equal sections lengthwise, and then 4 across.
- Whisk all vinaigrette ingredients together, and add more salt to taste if desired.
- Without Lettuce: Arrange feta, veggies, olives, and fish and drizzle lightly with vinaigrette. Serve remaining vinaigrette on the side.With Lettuce: Toss romaine in half the vinaigrette, and then add to a serving bowl. Arrange feta, veggies, olives, and fish over lettuce. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the toppings, or serve on the side.
- Make Ahead for Picnics + Cookouts: This salad can be made up to an hour before serving. Make sure to keep the salad cool. Store the dressing separately, and add both the dressing and the sardines right before serving.
Dawn
Greek salad with sardines? That's such an awesome idea, Sarah! I love Greek salad, either with or without lettuce. Going to have to throw this one in the rotation soon 🙂
champagne-tastes
Thanks Dawn! And YESSS I'm team either for the lettuce lol. Enjoy!
Christine
This looks gorgeous! Greek salad is my fave, and my husband loves sardines, so this would be a perfect summer meal for us! Thanks for sharing!
Carmy
This sounds like something my partner would LOVE. He snacks on those little dried sardines so this would be a great way to get him to get his greens in while satisfying his love for sardines! Thanks for sharing this!
Tracy Koslicki
Ooh I didn't know traditional Greek salads didn't have lettuce! And thank you for sharing the brand of sardines - I like sardines but I've also come across some pretty not so great ones so I can't wait to try King Oscars!
Anne
I'm a HUGE fan of the Mediterranean diet, and this dish is such a perfect way to do it right! I would never have thought to use sardines, but they're such a great fit! Lots of Omega-3s too 🙂
Marisa Franca
When we had all the kids at home in the summer we often served cold plates for dinner. Your Greek salad with the sardines remind me of that. We'd take them swimming and I'd have dinner already prepared. I really enjoy the combination of cucumber and tomato, that is such a Greek combo especially with the feta. I'm going to have to save this recipe and serve it some evening.
Amanda
A greek salad was the only time I would ever eat sardines. I could never do it before, but it is just so perfect here. I love it so much!
Amy Nash
These are my favorite flavors of the summer. I love all things Greek and the sardines sound like a great compliment to the cucumbers, olives, and tomatoes in this salad. Totally making this when my tomatoes come in.
Kathy McDaniel
Greek food reminds me so much of my childhood. My grandmother used to make the best and most delicious recipes. I love the simplicity of this recipe. It has everything I want to eat! It is healthy and full of fresh flavors. I am a huge fan of sardines also. They are so good for you. Yum!!
Dana
Everything looks so good here! I almost want to skip the leafy greens and just devour a plate of the rest of the ingredients. I love how fresh, cool, and crisp this is. It's the perfect lunch—packed with flavor, protein, and so many nutrients. You know, I think I have most of this stuff kicking around my fridge right now… 🙂
Amanda
I absolutely LOVE a good Greek Salad (that Feta btw, OMG.), and how delicious made with King Oscar's wood-smoked sardines! (I just picked up another tin, actually, so good!) Such a satisfying dish, and I love that boost of protein from the sardines. What a gorgeous presentation for entertaining a crowd...or for a party of one for my lunch. 🙂
Ben
Delish! I added horseradish pickled eggs!